<p>Hi - our s is going to start FSU this summer and we're trying to figure out the best dorms for him. We're thinking of listing Broward, Ghilchrist, Reynolds and DeGraff. What do you all think? (These are similar to his fall choices, other than DeGraff) He will have a roommate who he already knows...they are more interested in rooming together than where they live. DeGraff seems great (and new) but will the food place be open nearby? Or will the guys be better off in their first FSU experience on the other side of campus? He doesn't cook; typical athlete/social guy who will want to eat a lot and not think about it! Thanks for any suggestions. Of these dorms, which do you like best and why?</p>
<p>All are decent dorms. I'd say the east side dorms (some of which you've selected) are preferable. He'll have to have a meal plan in those dorms and there are plenty of places to eat nearby. </p>
<p>My two daughters lived in Gilchrist and Reynolds during their freshman year. Both were very social dorms, perhaps Reynolds more than Gilchrist. By the time D2 lived in Reynolds meal plans were required to live in the east-campus dorms.</p>
<p>She had the Suwanee Dining facility right next door to Reynolds.</p>
<p>Here are some links for a bit more information:</p>
<p>our s is also headed down to fsu this summer. unlike your s, he will not know anyone when he gets there. He wants to get into wildwood for the fall and is going to shoot for Gilchrist for the summer. another cc member (fsu-uf) spent last summer (his first) at fsu and stayed in gilchrist. he has said that its centralized location is great and very convenient.</p>
<p>i'll add on, I'm going to be on campus this summer again, and I still have a good chance at becoming an RA on campus, I wouldn't reccommend degraff for summer because you will feel isolated and if he's athletic he's going to get put off by the walk to the leach. I currently live in degraff and while I love being so close to the clubs and the union everything else is a bit of a far walk. That being said for summer I applied for gilchrist, reynolds, cawthon and degraff....Cawthon honestly has the best location its the most centralized dorm you can have and they have some nice refrigators.</p>
<p>Wow - I love this thread! You are all so helpful; thanks again. </p>
<p>Parent2Noles - it sounds like east-side dorms would be ideal, esp. with the dining facility right next door. </p>
<p>NYCollegeDad: We are out of state too...long story (from Fla originally)...it is a bit far (but not as far as NY!), but such as good fit for our s...we looked at so many schools and this far and away exceeded our expectations. Everyone is so nice, friendly and welcoming.</p>
<p>Thanks FSU-UF for the insights about DeGraff. That's what I was thinking (isolation, far away). Interesting to get your take on Cawthon since I knew nothing about it. I mentioned the isolation factor to s last night and he said he'd rather be "in the midde of everything" than have a brand new dorm...hard for him to know without being there and experiencing it! (Hopefully summer will help him get situated before fall.)</p>
<p>These meal plans are so confusing. I've read the threads about not getting a meal plan, getting a smaller one + garnet bucks, etc. - I think students all must get tired of the cafeteria food, but it gives me peace of mind to think that they'll have some healthy options. Do you sign up for the meal plan at orientation? We have a super early orientation date because schools in Ga graduate so early, and we're juggling AP schedules, etc. </p>
<p>Anyway, thanks again! I read the threads all the time, but don't have time to post much. I'll be back and good luck/congratulations to all Noles (present and future)!</p>
<p>oh yea during orientation they will steal your money in terms of making you get a meal plan and they(seminole dining) will scare you into thinking that without them your child will starve. </p>
<p>honestly this is what im doing for fall, im buying 500 garnet bucks which would be cheaper than the summer meals plans..i believe for summer they have a 50block meal plan for about $575, a 75 block meal plan $690 14 meal a week for about $800, I know you guys will purchase one, so i reccomend the 75 block with 150 flex bucks, its the most bang for your buck, but one piece of advice don't purchase a meal plan for fall until the beginning of fall wait and see how your kid likes the food. Everyone I know from summer still has a distaste in there mouth when they hear suwannee. Honestly its not bad but it gets old really quick, you can't eat pizza and burgers everyday and not start to hate it.</p>
<p>and definitely tell him to look at cawthon, its a great dorm, and I've lived in gilchrist during summer and honestly liked it more than degraff, degraff for being a newbuilding it has alot of problems.</p>
