<p>I've recently been accepted and was wondering about a few things.</p>
<p>Where would be a good place to live? I want to live in the Castillian, but I'm afraid that it is full, and I don't have 50$ for an application that is just going to come back.."No." Is it too late to apply?</p>
<p>I was also wondering about the FRI. I'm hoping since I've been in a real lab before and did research with a team that I would be accepted. I'm going to ask my teacher to nominate me today, but is that it? Or do I need to do both an application from me, and my teacher?</p>
<p>Call the Castillian and ask what happens if you apply and they have no rooms. I am confident they would refund your $50.</p>
<p>You could also say “I am planning on applying today. Do you anticipate there will be rooms available” and see what they say.</p>
<p>I do not think they are full for next year yet.</p>
<p>my best friend currently lives in the castilian and he absolutely despises that place. that could easily be just his personal opinion but I have heard similar complaints/unfavorable reviews from many other students. </p>
<p>i have also heard from several students that it’s not so bad.</p>
<p>if you do a search on the UT forum, you can find a thread named something like “public service announcement, do not live at the castilian” to see all the grievances held by current/former students housed at the castilian.</p>
<p>i hope this helps.</p>
<p>Son- search the UT forum for the FRI program. There are some threads about combining Plan II and FRI that have links to info about the program. I’m guessing that you still have to fill out an ap by May 7 if your teacher nominates you, but check on the website to be sure.</p>
<p>blackbook, The Castilian is under new management this year and the serious complaints from past years do not seem to have been problems this year. I like on campus dorms better but I think the Castilian is probably fine now.</p>
<p>well on a personal experience THIS year:</p>
<ul>
<li>i have ate there several times and i do not mind the food, but i have heard conflicting opinions. maybe its b/c i dont eat there everyday.</li>
<li>elevators are grossly slow (in comparison to duren, jester, san jac, etc.), its been a problem since the beginning of the year and still has not changed.</li>
<li>my friends lose hot water about once a month.</li>
<li>a/c unit is loud</li>
<li>only 2 of the computers in the computer lab work (they have nice monitors, but they do no good when most of the computers have viruses on them…)</li>
<li>many of the rec equipment is broken (for example only 1 of the 3 treadmills work)</li>
</ul>
<p>however, as MidwestMom said, things could change next year (hopefully they will). if you do end up living there, the people seem friendly and nice so you’ll probably make a lot of friends!</p>
<p>^ lol thats funny…the letters they send out make it seem like a resort</p>
<p>honestly the Castilian is so much nicer than what blackbook seems to think – I live there now and I’m staying through the summer too. The food is great!</p>
<p>Hahah I’ve been waiting for longhorndude to post a reply about the Castilian.</p>
<p>So, for the FRI program, you can also apply separately along with your teacher’s nomination, but as far as I’m aware, you’re not required to. The three ways you can get in are:</p>
<ol>
<li>Teacher Nomination</li>
<li>Self-Application (early application)</li>
<li>Join a research fig during summer orientation.</li>
</ol>
<p>If you have any other questions about FRI, feel free to ask me.</p>
<p>[Apply</a> to FRI | Freshman Research Initiative](<a href=“http://web3.cns.utexas.edu/fri/apply]Apply”>http://web3.cns.utexas.edu/fri/apply)</p>