Residence Hall Question

Colleges and Universities A-Z Florida State University
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<p>Here's my son's housing application story, fwiw: Applied FSU for Fall 2007 in the first wave, didn't know you could check online your status after midnight of announcement day, but asked me to check when he found out at school the next morning that the acceptances were posted. Since we thought you had to be sure of your dorm selections when you signed up for housing, we didn't do that until late that evening. His housing priority number was below 300. He got his first choice dorm-Gilchrist. Friends with similar low numbers also got their first choice (Wildwood).</p>

<p>While you do have to post your top 4 dorms at the time of application (as well as pay a non-refundable deposit fee of about $250) you do have the opportunity to change your selections right up until the deadline to apply (around June 1st, if I recall correctly). The reason for this is that the learning-living community selections come out around the beginning of May, and since you have to put those dorms down on your list to get one (as well as submit a separate application, write an essay, and be selected), there is this opportunity to remove those LLC dorms if you didn't get selected. </p>

<p>If you are not sure if you want to attend FSU, and you can afford it, I would recommend putting in your housing application anyway as insurance to get a good dorm. Friends of my son who did not know where they wanted to go until they heard from selective northeast private schools, waited; their 6000 number got them the least desirable dorms. But, they are still loving it!</p>

<p>So don't fret which dorm to put on the application- you can change it later. Just get it in to get that low number! I suggest staying up past midnight, as WorriedFSUDad did! Also note that your priority number stays with you, if you choose to stay in the dorm past your freshman year-this may get your into Ragans (apartment living).</p>

<p>I think the application process has 2 criteria to assign roommates (other than the lowest priority number and the dorm selection matching)- 1) if you select a particular person as your roommate, that pre-empts your low priority number- in other words, you get the lowest priority number between the two of your. 2) the application asks some personal questions that seems to help eliminate the worst roommate combinations: do you study with music? and do you prefer early morning classes?</p>

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<p>I knew my son's low number (bleow 300) would assure him to get into Gilchrist, because most people think the new dorms are the ticket and they have more capacity (~700 each building, so between Wildwood and DeGraff there is room for ~2800 students). From my research, the LLC in some dorms fill it up, so they really aren't options: Cawthon, Landis, Jennie Murphree, Bryan. All the slots go to the LLC/Honors in those dorms. Note however, they do change which dorms go to which LLC- Gilchrist used to be the Honors dorm when Landis was being renovated. It may still carryover honors students- don't know tho...And doesn't Reynolds require all residents to sign a 'Healthy Living' contract? I think that led to us removing that as an option!!!</p>

<p>I asked my son whether he would prefer Wildwood over Gilchrist since he has friends there and their rooms are MUCH bigger than his (he has a column in his room, making it smaller than most). He said 'no way'- he loves Gilchrist. The location is part of it, but I think the authentic college Gothic architecture (both inside and out) and the gorgeous oak trees on this side of campus meet his definition of the 'true college experience'. The new dorms are cleaner tho!</p>

<p>He absolutely loves dorm life, in spite of his closet room size and the periodic, accidental (albeit inconsiderate) lock-outs of the bathrooms by one suite-mate (and one of life's lessons that make dorm living a must, imho!!) One minor difference- the new dorms don't have bookcases, so you have to supply your own, but Gilchrist supplies one 2 shelf bookcase for each resident. I didn't notice a difference in bathroom sizes, but I don't know how they could be much smaller! Another nice thing about Gilchrist that I don't know if the new dorms have it or not- there is a 'tub room' on each floor so you have access to a bathtub, but more importantly you have access to a toilet if urgent! And there is a kitchen with microwave, oven, cooktop and table/chairs on each floor, as well as a big ice machine (like a hotel) near the vending machines on the main floor. For future planning, the front desk (staffed 24/7) has lots of stuff for check out- games, vacuum cleaners, brooms, cleaning supplies, toilet paper.</p>

<p>And, while I am thinking of it, while Gilchrist has an elevator, most students take the stairs (maximum of 3.5 flights from the 5th floor to the lobby, then down a 1/2 flight to the ground; 1 floor is below the main floor). In Wildwood, there are 2 elevators, and most kids take that because of its central location. I kind of like the 'bounding down the stairs' approach....another college dorm life experience to be treasured! FWIW, Gilchrist has 2 floors assigned to males, and 3 floors assigned to females.</p>

<p>Another difference- it is quieter on the east side of campus, away from the stadium, at least during football season! But there is free entertainment from the west side of Wildwood as you overlook the Marching Chiefs practice field! And there is a new 'student tailgate' tradition in the east courtyard between Wildwood & Ragans that has a (loud!) music system and free sodas and drinks. A great place to hang out to see the awesome 'flow' into the stadium on game day...</p>

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<p>We just received the Florida Prepaid dorm plan info (letter) for Fall 2008. We have 4 years of paid tuition and fees and 1 yr of dorm (2 semesters.) Does FSU allow a student to stay in a dorm not on the Prepaid list and simply pay the differential between what the approved dorm costs and the actual cost of the chosen dorm? The letter says that "some" colleges may allow this. Does FSU? The only dorms on the Prepaid list are Deviney, Kellum, Smith and Dorman.</p>

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<p>Yes. FSU will allow you to pay the difference for one of the more expensive dorms. You can also use the prepaid dorm at the Heritage Grove Apartments.</p>

<p>Florida Pre-Paid College Program</p>

<p>If you are participating in the Florida Prepaid College Dormitory Plan, you are given priority assignment to the designated Prepaid halls provided that you apply for housing by March 1 and list a Prepaid hall as your first choice. The designated Prepaid halls are as follows:</p>

<p>Deviney</p>

<p>Dorman</p>

<p>Kellum</p>

<p>Smith</p>

<p>Things to know:</p>

<pre><code>* You are not limited in your hall choices by being part of the Pre-paid plan. If you list a hall not listed above, you will be assigned in the same manner as other students (no Pre-paid priority).
* The 2007-2008 Pre-paid rate was $1890 per semester.
* If the hall you select has a higher rental rate than the designated Pre-paid halls, you will be responsible for paying the difference in price.
* The Prepaid Program will be billed for your $225 Pre-payment.
</code></pre>

<p>If you have a preferred roommate who is not a Pre-paid participant, assignment together is only possible if your roommate is an early housing applicant.</p>

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<p>Does anyone know the blueprints of each dorms, or some dorms? On the UCF website, they offer the blueprints for each dorm, showing you how big the beds/baths are, how many people share what, ect.</p>

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<p>Dorm floor plans and other dorm information may be found here: Florida</a> State University Housing - Future Students</p>

<p>Note that the floor plans for the two newest dorms - Wildwood and DeGraff are not yet listed.</p>

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<p>Both my daughters lived in east-side dorms (Gilchrist and Reynolds). The social aspect and convenience for freshmen is great.</p>

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<p>FSU just dedicated the two new residence halls - DeGraff and Wildwood:
Tallahassee</a> Democrat - <a href="http://www.tallahassee.com">www.tallahassee.com</a> - Tallahassee, FL.</p>

<p>Note that one student described her DeGraff room as a "hotel suite".</p>

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<p>its funny because i was sleeping when the ceremony started, so i heard a loud rumble of clapping and was about to get ****ed at my roomate because i thought he was watching t.v. at 9 in the morning, when it wasn't him i look out the window towards the courtyard and foundout what was happening, they put up some nice plaques and photograph in out lobby...</p>

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<p>^College students... ;)</p>