<p>Hi, I'm going to attend the FPF program, and I was thinking about signing up for a private dorm.</p>
<p>Does anyone here have any insight on either Telegraph Commons or Westminster House? I'm deciding between either one of them, but I'd kinda like to know the perks and the bad stuff about each one before I make a decision. Thanks</p>
<p>I have never posted before, but I hate TC so much that I feel obligated to warn people not to go there. The only conceivable pro it its close proximity to campus.</p>
<p>This year, there was a huge rat infestation on the 2nd and 3rd floors, which are actually the newly renovated floors. Furthermore, the elevator is ALWAYS broken, which is an inconvenience given that I live on the 5th floor. The bathrooms are always disgusting, and one stall door and one faucet have been broken all year.</p>
<p>I also know that they have hiked up the rent considerably (by about 1-2K, I think) to make up the cost of renovating the 4th and 5th floors during the summer. </p>
<p>Noise is a major problem, so if that is a concern for you, I would advise that you consider living someplace else.</p>
<p>Hope this helps.</p>
<p>get an apartment</p>
<p>did you at least meet some cool ppl there?</p>
<p>I actually prefer the Westminister house. The South house can have that ‘dorm’ like feel with significantly less people (under 100). You also have access to a library, kitchen, common room and tutoring service there. I’m going to be living in the North house this year, which is even smaller than the South house. In both houses, you will never share a bathroom with more than 5 people (at least in the North- I know that for sure) and it is single gendered. Both can easily feel like home and the people are very friendly and welcoming. There is also,IMO, pretty good security in the South house- which is located near the South side of campus and actally closer than some the dorms- you need a key for just about everything.
Hope this helps</p>
<p>I would say WM is probably nicer than TC. There’s always something broken in TC (mainly elevator).</p>
<p>I second nearly everything stated in lahiri’s post. Although if you don’t mind the noise and you’re a real “social” person, than maybe you may enjoy the “atmosphere”.</p>
<p>dang i just dont want spaces to fill up too fast</p>
<p>As a current TC resident, I must agree with lahiri on some things…but there are some benefits.</p>
<p>PROS:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>CHEAP. TC, even with the price hike, is really REALLY cheap compared to official/any other housing (except coops, but getting into those as a freshman is basically impossible)
The fact that there’s no food service actually saves you a lot of money, if you’re not lazy and will just take the 51B to Safeway and buy your own groceries and cook.</p></li>
<li><p>PROXIMITY TO CAMPUS. It is really nice (esp if you are a liberal arts major and won’t have to hike up that giant hill to get to Pimentel everyday) to live only a 3 minute walk away from Sproul.</p></li>
<li><p>NEAR A TON OF FOOD PLACES. It’s pretty nice to be able to choose among 5-6 different food places…just on one block.</p></li>
</ul>
<p>CONS:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>REALLY EFFING LOUD. I live on the side that faces the street, and man… the homeless people yelling, combined with the drunks at Blake’s, combined with THE STREET CLEANING AT 2AM ON TUESDAY MORNING *** can really wear on you. However, you might be lucky and get a room that faces the courtyard. In that case, problem avoided.</p></li>
<li><p>ELEVATOR IS ALWAYS BROKEN/TERRIFYING TO RIDE. Yeah. The elevator is really something. It worked for exactly 2 weeks Fall of 2009, and then was broken all the way til Thanksgiving. I live on the 5th floor. This time period was not fun.
Now, it’s supposedly “fixed” but it still creaks and shakes and is just generally scary as hell. However, if you are healthy/live on the 2nd or 3rd floor, this shouldn’t be a big deal.</p></li>
</ul>
<p>I think those are the main pros & cons of TC (considering the cons such as the broken shower stall won’t be relevant next semester, due to the renovations of the 4th & 5th floors).</p>
<p>So basically, TC is a good place if all you care about is saving money. I didn’t find it terribly social (at least on my floor…srsly what is up with floor 5? It’s like everyone is dead) and it’s not the most “luxurious” place to live.
It will, however, save you ****-tons of money.</p>
<p>If you apply for campus housing by the June 7 deadline you have an excellent chance of receiving an offer. Unless you REALLY “Can’t Wait”, you should consider waiting until at least July before making an alternative housing arrangment. If you missed the housing presentation on Cal Day, please send an email to <a href=“mailto:homeinfo@berkeley.edu”>homeinfo@berkeley.edu</a> and we will email you a synopsis of your strategies and options. Welcome to Cal and GO Bears!</p>
<p>Telegraph commons was a great experience for me, and is in many ways better than Campus housing.</p>
<p>People above mentioned it was dirty, but this summer they’re renovating the other two floors so wherever you are your room will be basically brand new. Sure stuff was broken a bit but with the new management this year they were still learning how to run the place. By now the elevator has a new motor and the doors are working swimmingly (now with fancy key fobs). </p>
<p>Sure there were MICE (not rats, -_-) but that was only an issue if you left food out in your room. I had to get rid of a mouse but it didn’t ruin my college experience and if anything it’s something I can talk about. Also, I haven’t heard of one coming back for months so that’s a non-issue.</p>
<p>Obviously it’s a good value. Westminster House is the only off campus housing I can think of that’s more expensive than campus housing (before you even buy a meal plan). </p>
<p>Oh and social-ness: that’s just luck of the draw. Also you can’t blame your floor for being unsocial if you don’t go out and make an effort (don’t just leave your door open and complain no one says hello, go visit other people’s rooms). If anything, TC is more prone to having a good social atmosphere than Westminster because we have communal bathrooms and sweet common rooms and kitchens. In Westminster every room is an autonomous unit where people basically have no need go outside. In the beginning of the year, bumping into people on the way to the bathroom is a often how you’ll get invited to that one “thing” and end up having a great time. Also, all the bathrooms will be really nice after renovation (I prefer TC’s shower to my one at home). </p>
<p>Noise is the one downside. I lived on the channing side and it was no problem for me. I leaft my window open all year and the random Telegraph sounds actually put me to sleep. I hear if you’re on the Telegraph side it’s a little too much though.</p>
<p>Anywho, good luck with your choice! Sry this is so long I’m studying and bored.</p>
<p>EDIT: oh and to what calrentals said. Sure you’ll get an offer but it’ll probably be a triple in Clark Kerr or Stern/Bowles o_O. The sooner you apply to TC the better room you’ll get.</p>