Daughter is direct admitted to Kelley and also offered Hutton. I’m wondering about housing. Trying to figure out whether she should try to get into Kelley Living Learning Center or Hutton Residential Community or just go for a regular dorm experience. Anyone have any experience or knowledge regarding Kelley LLC or Hutton Residential Community?
The KLLC is highly touted but its major downside is its location in McNutt (all freshmen). All the negatives you may have heard about McNutt noise, partying and general craziness are true. The ambulances heading that way are called the McNutt Express for a reason. Even the KLLC and academic floors don’t help a lot for people wanting to study or sleep.
Hutton RCs are a different story and tend to be what you would expect.
I also recommend people check out the Residence Scholars program since you will live in Ashton where all rooms are singles, people carry high GPAs, and you’ll save a boatload on room and board by doing a minor chore every week. Best of all, the dorm is mixed in terms of upper and lower classes. I made friends with Seniors and Juniors my Freshman year that I never would have met elsewhere. Check it out.
My daughter lived in the KLLC last year and loved it - she misses it this year in an off campus apartment. She made great friends and lived with many high achieving, driven Kelley students. That being said, when I asked her about the ambulances in the rest of McNutt, she said it was scary but true. If she had to do it all over again, I think she would still pick the KLLC.
My daughter lived in the KLLC two years ago and chose the KLLC over a Hutton RC. She may have been perfectly happy with a Hutton RC, but she really loved the KLLC and would highly recommend it. There are so many great extra opportunities for students who live in the KLLC - exposure to recruiters on move-in day, students who are taking the same classes as you close by for study buddies, KLLC leadership opportunities, etc. You can also take some classes right in McNutt. There are some commitments when you live in the KLLC (unless this has changed in the past 2 years) - you have to take a 1 credit hour class each semester and attend a certain number of seminars. For the most part, my daughter found them worthwhile. But yes, I agree with IUBOOS and scrabblemomb, McNutt does live up to its rowdy reputation. My daughter usually studies with music and sleeps with a fan, so the noise didn’t bother her too much. To her, the advantages outweighed the disadvantages. I’d be happy to answer any questions you may have about the KLLC (or ask my daughter to answer).
My son did not try for KLLC and went for the regular dorm assignment. He requested Northwest but got Eigenmann instead. He is so unhappy and totally regrets not applying to the KLLC. Apply as early as you can to the dorms and go for KLLC or Hutton. He has a great roommate and they would both do anything if they could transfer to the Northwest, but housing says there is no chance for that. Otherwise, he loves Bloomington.