<p>DD, incoming freshman Psych major, was accepted into the Residential Scholars program, she was very excited. She also applied for Co-op. Both require housekeeping tasks, which she is happy to do (she has a job at a restaurant so she is used to cleaning!). She will need to re-order her preferences in her housing app and she is torn between Co-op (Central/Double) and R.S (Central/Single). The R.S. program has an academic component that the Co-op doesn't have, she's a smart kid and is happy to have that challenge and be surrounded by others who are too. However she was also looking forward to having a roommate through Co-op. She successfully shared a room with her sister for 15 years, so I am sure she can get along with a roommate, but she also likes to read quietly and relax. She's pretty social, but not into the party scene (I know...all parents say that! ha!). Other things we are considering is that from what I have heard Residential Scholars are at Ashton (a/c but no food) and Co-Op/Central are at Wright (no a/c but food court). </p>
<p>Anyone have experience with either (or both) programs who can give us some advice? pros/cons or things to consider?</p>
<p>A frequent poster here had a son that lived in the RS program so will perhaps respond with first hand info for you. </p>
<p>One thing I can tell you, is not to be concerned about the food court issue. It’s really insignificant in my opinion in the Central neighborhood. Both of our kids lived/live in Teter which is right next to Ashton and Wright. D’s room actually looked across the street to Ashton. Kids from Teter and Ashton walk over to Wright or Read for meals. It’s less than a 5 minute walk to Wright. Read is also very close and just a few minutes further away. The one advantage to Read is that it is a more traditional cafeteria with an all you can eat option. I have heard there are some changes planned though for Read.</p>
<p>My daughter has been a residential scholar for two years now at Ashton. It is the best deal on campus, by far! The housework is very minimal, maybe an hour/week. She was in Teter her freshman year and her room now is more than half the space of what she had in Teter. Ashton is definitely a quieter place with more serious students, which is good for my daughter because she is not a partier as well. Everyone in the RS building (which is Johnston) is in a single room, so if she wants to meet people, she just needs to open her door, go to the events at the beginning of the school year, etc. Chances are, if she does have a roommate in a co-op, they won’t end up being bff’s anyway. It’s in a great location as well, very close to the rec and Kelley. I can’t say anything about the co-op, but I do highly recommend residential scholars. And the gpa requirement is very do-able.</p>
<p>I agree that Residence Scholars is a great deal. The rooms are roughly 10’x13’, which is roomy for one person. Of course, internet, cable tv, and land line phone come with the room. Also, there is plenty of parking only about 100 feet across Tenth Street in the D lot. The campus D bus stops right by the dorm, too, as does the Bloomington city bus that goes to College Mall. The main library is only two blocks away.</p>