<p>Okay, for you people who have been accepted, have you turned in your housing request form yet? I talked to a housing officer the other day and I can turn in my housing request form without even sending in the confirmation/$300 deposit!</p>
<p>Soooo... does anyone have any opinions on the best Freshman Housing??? I think I would prefer a residential style over an apartment style, but who knows.... Give me your feedback, I'm sure it will be helpful to anyone trying to turn their form in!</p>
<p>Well what kind of freshmen year experience are you looking for? You said you'd prefer residential style, so that's a start. There are many options from there. </p>
<p>New/North: Most social dorms on campus. Lots of partying, and lots of athletes and fraternity and sorority members.
Birnkrant: Still social, but not as crazy as New/North.
Pardee: About the same level as Birnkrant, probably a tad less social. Single-sex floors.
Marks Tower: Probably the least social of the freshmen dorms.
Flour Tower: suite-style
Parkside: suite-style, the newest, nicest freshmen accomodations on campus, but since not dorm style, not as social. Good meal plan.</p>
<p>New/North and Pardee are right next to each other, as well as EVK (the dining hall) and the library. Marks and Pardee are also right next to each other, and just a parking garage away from the others. Flour is on the other side of campus, but by the gym and good food. Parkside is in the boondocks.</p>
<p>What do you think about apartment living for freshman? Is it a lot less social? I would think it would still be easy to meet people if you are living in an all freshman apartment building like Century, but I don't know. What do you think? Anyone?</p>
<p>The only reason why I was a little hesistant about apartment style living was because I am from wayyyyyy out of state. With only a partial meal plan for apartment residents I was thinking that the students cook their own meals and stuff. And of course, cooking your own meals means going off campus to buy groceries. And of course I cannot even think of going off campus, I'd be SO lost. That's why I lean towards residential style housing.</p>
<p>Cboryca- Apartment living is most definitely less social. For freshmen apartments it is probably more social than other apartments, but nowhere near dorms. The reason for this is that when you are in a small dorm room with only one other person, you have to leave it a lot. In an apartment you can just leave your room and chill in the living room and watch TV or eat or do whatever by yourself or just with your roommates. In a dorm, everyone props their doors open and walks around the hallway and has to leave their rooms for the bathrooms, etc.</p>
<p>haley- A meal plan is definitely easier than having to cook for yourself, and a lot more convenient. Don't let the fact that you have to go grocery shopping stop you, though, if you really do want to live in apartments. The main freshmen apartments are literally right across the street from the local grocery store, so you could never get lost.</p>
<p>you're doomed if you get Marks Tower. very cramped, no bookshelves to speak of, or storage nooks, and if you are on the west side -- the afternoon sunny side -- you get the sauna effect when it's hot. beg and plead housing for a change if assigned there. still, you will get to know your floormates.</p>
<p>I'm leaning towards century. I would like my own bathroom is the main reason. And I do cook often. Plus it is about the same price or even cheaper than the dorms with a full meal plan. And that is including a partial plus groceries. Ive thought about this one!</p>
<p>I'm afraid if I don't have an apartment I will never eat a healthy meal...and with the reality of the freshman 15...well...let's just say I can't afford to put on another 15 pounds. Plus, the idea of having your own bathroom (obviously sharing w/another person) is really appealing...and I have a feelling, wherever I can save money...that will be key. ;) Good luck to everyone trying to find the housing option best for them...
I'm still not completely sold though. Any other comments?</p>
<p>There are always healthy options at the dining halls on campus, so if you want it, it's there. But, of course, there are always not-so-healthy choices there, too, that you have to fend off. The freshman 15 actually goes either way- gain or lose. My sister actually lost 15 pounds when she went off to college.</p>
<p>do your homework on Century. it's on the outer perimeter of "campus housing" right near the corner of Jefferson and Vermont. i would think a new student would want to get a feel for the area before making that commitment. those might not be mean streets USA but some areas are definitely higher risk than others. i'm speaking as a parent who is more than familiar with the area. some kids can say, "hey, it's cool" but coming back from the library at 10 am one night from group study or something might not be appealing to all. you can get campus security escort but that is exactly the point.</p>
<p>maybe one of the current SC students can offer commentary.</p>
<p>As a current sophomore, I echo norweejunwood statements. You're a freshman - experience dorm life! Not just because it's quintessentially a part of your college career, but also where you'll make the most friends, which as an incoming freshman, canNOT be understated. This may be a rather extreme example, but my best friend goes to that other LA school and he was placed in an on-campus apartment instead of a dorm due to a housing crunch. While in the apartment of his first quarter of college (UCLA is on the quarter system), he became severely depressed and even contemplated leaving the school altogether because he had little friendship support. He put in a request to transfer, was placed in a dorm, and now wonders how he ever contemplated leaving school in the first place. Yes, an extreme case maybe, and perhaps you may be much more resilient than my friend, but it illustrates how important meeting people once you get to college is. </p>
<p>True, you'd be sharing a bathroom, but ask anyone who's ever experienced dorm life... some of the best memories of their lives come from the dorm experience.</p>
<p>Furthermore, Century's not the greatest. While the student population around century is so dense that I would never really feel unsafe walking abck and forth from Leavey or Doheny Libraries at night, its proximity from most things on campus is a substantial detriment. It would likely be a 15 minute walk from your apartment to Leavey, whereas if you lived in Birnkrandt or New/North, you could absically step out of your lobby onto the Leavey Porch.</p>
<p>I would definitely say live in a dorm. You can live somewhere like Pardee where it's not quite as social as others, if you want. I lived in the Radisson my freshman year, and while it had nice accomodations, I wish more than anything that I could go back and get regular dorms. I met people, but our floor was pretty antisocial, and I am really sad that I missed out on the dorm experience and meeting all those people. </p>
<p>There is always Campus Cruiser to take you to Century from the library, etc, if you really want to live there and don't want to walk back by yourself. This isn't a security escort, but basically just a student taxi service, where you are driven by students anywhere within a 3 mile perimeter of campus.</p>
<p>Parkside is a very popular dorm since it is the newest one! I have to say that it feels like a hotel, and you get your own bathroom and sink! Its pretty social and there are a lot of events.</p>
<p>My friend lives in Birnkrant and it seems pretty social!</p>
<p>I think New/North is overrated. I know some people there and its not all partying...some floors are fairly quiet. I think the only reason New/North is the most requested freshman dorm is because of the special interest floors, like the film floor.</p>
<p>I lived in Century. It was not very social. Building 2 was more social than Building 1. My roommates were social though, so it didn't matter so much. If you want to live in Century, you get a pool, covered parking, a kitchen, a living room, cable, and really laid-back TA's that let you have the things you shouldn't. It is less social, so, if you live in Century just find another way to meet people-rush a sorority or fraternity or join a student org.</p>