Stern Hall vs. Unit 2

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of California - Berkeley
1

So I’m going to be a freshman at Cal this fall, and I’ll be in FPF Berkeley for the first semester.

For housing, I really wanted a double room in one of the units, because they are way closer to the FPF Berkeley classes (and because they are newer, closer to the gym, and people seem to like them better in general), but I got placed in a triple room in Stern.

Just today I got an email saying that my application for a room change was successful, and I have about 1 and a half days to accept/decline a Unit 2 Double room.

I’m also in L&S with the intention of a physics or maths major. I’m generally not a party-person, with occasional exceptions, and I really like buckling down on work/study. I’m also an international student, if that makes a difference.

At the moment, I have a few pros and cons I can think of:

Pros

  • WAY closer to FPF
  • Closer to gym
  • Double room (big plus, I really like my privacy)
  • Newer building
  • Closer to nice food places and shops (Durant Ave etc.)

Cons

  • Co-ed bathrooms (this isn’t a major deal, but I’ll list it here anyway)
  • Smaller rooms (but could be compensated by having only 1 roommate, not 2)
  • I’ve already made some friends with others at Stern
  • Further away from the departments of math & physics

Are there any other pros/cons or other pieces of advice you would have for me? Would it be worth being closer to FPF, since I’ll spend an entire semester there?

2

Oh, and I know it’s next to People’s Park, but I don’t think I’ll be that bothered by it.

3

You’ve probably already made your choice, but here’s my two cents (after the fact):

The argument for Unit 2:

  • a few steps away from the FPF building - a nice short "commute" to and from classes every day - may be a blessing as you spend your first semester adjusting to college;
  • 2 people in a room is wayyyy better than 3, even if the rooms are smaller than Stern's;
  • spring semester classes will likely be all over the campus as you are taking not only classes for your major but prereqs and breadth classes (read: dorm location not as crucial, IMO)
  • you will meet people in your major(s) all over the place, even here
  • co-ed dorms - great way to make guy friends.

The argument for Stern:

  • you have friends already there, and the connections you make with people living may be helpful;
  • get more daily exposure to the campus as you are forced to walk through it to get to and from FPF;
  • not having to deal with co-ed bathrooms (some people just aren't comfortable with that).
4

@undercrackers Unfortunately I did have to make a decision yesterday, but your comment helps me from regretting it! I chose to go to unit 2, for the reasons you listed plus the “pros” I listed. Mainly the double room and the shorter walking distance to FPF.

I didn’t think about how even in the spring not all of my classes would be in the physics/maths departments – very true :slight_smile:

And I’ll be able to make some friends from unit 2 online before we move in anyways

5

Good decision. You won’t regret it.