<p>I'm not sure what would be the best option for me. I'm an incoming freshman for the fall of 2013 and my first choice college is the College of Communication (haven't yet declared a major. Second choice is Liberal arts.) I want to live somewhere that is..</p>
<p>a) affordable -- don't want to break the bank.
b) has just enough privacy -- I don't mind a roommate, but I'd much prefer connected baths to community baths.
c) not too boring but not too crazy -- I'm fairly social once I get comfortable with the people around me but I am NOT the partying type. I'm also easily distracted, so if there's a party happening on my floor while I'm trying to study that would not work out too well.
d) relatively nice, new, and well-maintained, for obvious reasons.</p>
<p>For now I am primarily looking at on-campus housing, but that's mainly because I don't know a lot about off-campus housing. The only off-campus hall I've heard good things about is Scottish Rite, but that seems pricy. And also apparently they're opening a few brand new paces but again..seems pricy. </p>
<p>The two main on-campus residence halls I've been looking at are Kinsolving and San Jacinto, but I hear San Jacinto fills up quickly, and since I only submitted my admission application yesterday on the deadline, today was the first day I had the opportunity to apply for housing. So I feel like I probably missed out on that. And I hear Kinsolving is a long walk away from where everything happens. </p>
<p>What other residence halls should I be looking at? Any recommendations/suggestions would be greatly appreciated.</p>
<p>One of the benefits to Kinsolving is that it has probably the best dining hall on campus. My son lives near Kinsolving and eats there everyday. He says that many people he knows that live on the Jester side of campus come across the campus to eat at Kinsolving. That is one of the reasons he has decided to renew his dorm room for his 2nd year.</p>
<p>I second the Student Health Services Building being right next door. It actually came in really handy about a month ago when an incident occurred (I currently live in Kinsolving).</p>
<p>Also, I’m not convinced that it’s far away from everything. Kinsolving is around a block away from The Drag (Guadalupe street), where many students like to shop and go eat, such as Kirby Lane. Kinsolving is also right across the street from the Quad/Honor Dorms where people like to gather.</p>
<p>I live in San Jacinto right now. It’s a nice location, but rather far from classes to be honest. If I were to recommend a dorm, I’d suggest Kinsolving. The dorm is beautiful, the dining hall is convenient, and it has a good location (in my opinion – all my classes are along Dean Keeton so it’s much closer than San Jacinto). Plus it’s close to The Drag, which is nice.</p>
<p>But yeah, if you’re looking for specifics I’d use ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■’s comparison tool that Ya Ya linked to.</p>
<p>I lived in Kinsolving for 2 years many moons ago, but as the location hasn’t changed, I found it extremely convenient, a perfect size (plenty of people to meet, but not overwhelmingly huge) and very comfortable. Several of my best friends to this day were friends I met in that dorm… still wave to my room whenever I’m in the area!</p>
<p>I think Kinsolving could certainly San Jac will both be stretches since you applied so late. You will more than likely end up at Jester with your late app or worse, overflow housing. That seems to be the TREND as of late, and certainly not cast in stone and of course, there are always exceptions to the normal. If you know of anyone you would want to room with who turned their app in much, much earlier, you link as roommates and you will be placed based on the roommates early selection.</p>
<p>My D lived in SRD, and you still have time to get on the application list. They will mail apps out late January and that is when the “rat race” begins to get them back fast. They typically will be full three to four days after apps go out. I drove ours back the same day we got it, we would not take any chances. It is not as expensive as you think. It is less expensive than San Jac and if you factor in that the meal plan is completely inclusive and there will be no added expense when you run out of dining dollars, it made sense to our family. They truly do an amazing job of bridging home life and college life at SRD. I don’t think you would be disappointed.</p>
<p>Go to the Pearl Street Co-op.
I used to live there and it wasn’t my thing but it might be what you’re looking for.</p>
<p>It’s affordable, you get loads of free resources like free internet and printing and food and a swimming pool! The thing about it being a co-op is everybody puts 4 hrs of labor a week which isn’t really alot. For example, I’m a chef on Mondays from 2-6pm where I live because it’s what I’m good at and it’s fun. </p>
<p>You get your own room if you get a single contract and a connecting bath. Try for a clean suitemate or suitemates (max two) and you’ll have a sweet nice shower and bath. I miss that where I live now because it’s more people that I have to share it with.</p>
<p>The best part is freedom and friends too. It’s not too boring and not too crazy. I live in the craziest and I could tell you which co-op is the more studious one. Pearl has quiet hours set up though and they’re a good bunch of people that like to party but on a reasonable level. </p>