The University of Texas Dorms

Colleges and Universities A-Z The University of Texas at Austin
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<p>I'm not quite sure why I'm doing this, but I guess I would have loved to know all this stuff before I selected my preferences for the dorms. Having been in every single dorm on campus, here is my take on some of the popular ones that I have debated on.</p>

<p>Jester
Everyone has heard of this one. It really does smell like p*ss. There really are parties and people do blast music and you can hear it 20 doors down (because the hallways really are that long). You have to wait for the elevator (sometimes even 5 minutes) to get to your room if you are on floor 6 or above. The beds are pull-out, so it's kinda like a couch until you want to sleep. The windows are 2 by 4 feet, and they seem like prison windows. Ironically however, everyone I know that stays in Jester loves it. My guess is they love the two dining halls (JCL and J2) located within the dorm, in addition to the Wendy's, Jesta Pizza, Freshen's smoothie, etc. It also has one of the best locations on campus. You are across the street from the library and it is a centrally located dorm for all your classes. Overall, if you are a generally sociable person, you shouldn't have any problems making the transition.</p>

<p>San Jacinto
The second largest dorm. In my opinion, if you are willing to pay the extra money (because it does cost more than Jester and the other dorms), it is the best dorm. It has its own cafe, Cypress Bend, which has pretty good food. The room sizes are nice and the private baths are nice as well. There are many study lounges and people actually use them (which is a great way to meet people). It is also in a great location on campus, a short walk from the library, and a short walk to classes. All the chairs (for your desk) double as a rocking chair, which is pretty cool too. lol</p>

<p>Duren
The newest dorm. The Duren rooms are pretty nice and spacious (especially if you stay on the first floor, where the rooms have 15+ feet ceilings for some reason). The private baths are nice as well. The study lounge situation in San Jacinto applies here as well. The major complaint with Duren is its location. You might as well live in a west campus apartment. I take the west campus bus to go to Duren if I am tired and I am across campus (where my classes are). It is an incredibly long walk to the gym (almost a mile, and then back). I wouldn’t pay the extra money to live here if I could room at San Jacinto.</p>

<p>Brackenridge, Prather, Roberts
These three dorms are all really similar. They are all really small and you can really get to know your neighbors. However, they are very old and it’s noticeable. The doors look like they are 80 years old (in all honesty they probably are) and so are the locks. Many sophomores and upperclassmen live here because it is quieter than the other dorms. The community baths aren’t bad because there are usually 4 or 5 rooms assigned to a bath, and you usually never encounter someone else in there. And the community bath is cleaned daily. </p>

<p>Simkins
Don’t live here.</p>

<p>Moore-Hill
I’ve only been in here a few times, but it’s kind of like a more “grown-up” Jester. The rooms are similarly sized but they don’t seem prison like. It is still sociable, but it is more quiet and tight-knit (in comparison to Jester, Moore-Hill is still a large dorm). Some rooms have a nice view of the Gregory pool. ;)</p>

<p>Andrews, Blanton, Carothers
The honors quad is amazing. The people here are very social and nice. The rooms are average, but the social atmosphere makes a huge difference. I noticed this just visiting (I haven’t lived here), but friends that have lived in the honors dorms say it’s a great transition for incoming freshman to college. </p>

<p>Littlefield
Come to think of it, I haven’t been in a Littlefield room. </p>

<p>Kinsolving
It looks like Jester as well. Not that great. The community is nice and Kinsolving dining hall is extremely convenient, but if I were a girl I’d try to stay somewhere else. </p>

<p>Well there you go, even though I got lazy at the end. Kinsolving is better than that. May all your dorm searching go well.</p>

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<p>Thank you, GoodSamaritan, for taking time to write your opinions on all of these. I noticed that there are daily tours of Kinsolving, Jester and San Jac, but not of the other dorms. It's nice that there is an online virtual tour of all the dorms, but a live tour would be even better. I guess we'll just walk around those other dorms and try to get a general feel.</p>

<p>If anyone else wants to share their opinions (residential FIGs at Whitis, for example), that'd be great! Thanks again.</p>

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<p>i love you man</p>

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<p>No problem - if you guys have any specific questions feel free to ask</p>

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<p>how much more is san jacinto compared to others?</p>

<p>it seems like the perfect dorm since it has a balance of a social and educational environment. When do you think san jac will fill up? cause i'm applying soon</p>

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<p>i live in duren.</p>

<p>I personally love the location. It's right on the drag and right across from kerbey lane, a 24 hr cafe. and i really don't mind the walk to my classes. mainly b/c i don't really go to the gym, the long walk is my exercise for the week. </p>

<p>the worst part of duren though are the beds. They are extremely high and even though they are adjustable, they are a pain to adjust. really. And the lowest it gets is still pretty high. So if you don't mind climbing up to your bed at night, than no problem for you. I mean it does give extra storage place, i guess. But I've fallen off twice already. not a nice fall.</p>

<p>plus, i live on top. and the top floor ceilings are HIGH.</p>

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<p>San Jacinto has this weird rate increase of 28% (or something) over what the regular going rate of a double room. That comes around to $2000ish more than the 7800ish rate for a regular room. The same increase applies to Duren. San Jac and Duren are the two hottest dorms on campus, simply because they are the newest and have private baths. You better get your app in ASAP if you want in. If you don't, however, DHFS sometimes lets you change your room if you pester the hell out of them before school starts in the fall. </p>

<p>I stayed in Duren for the summer - I actually liked the high beds lol, so I guess that wasn't a problem for me. and the ceilings are pretty awesome too lol</p>

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<p>So how much do these dorms cost?</p>

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<p>much too much</p>

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<p>Alright so Prather, Backenridge, Roberts and Moore Hill are all relatively the same location and room size/quality as Jester. In your opinion ... Is the added privacy of not living in the overpopulated ant hill worth sacrificing the in-room sink and vanity?</p>

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<p>Another disadvantage of Jester is the time spent waiting for the elevator.
Another advantage of Jester is not having to leave the dorm to go to the cafeteria or "market"
Disadvantage? Jester is loud.
Advantage? Jester is fun.
If you love being "where the action is" 24/7, go for Jester.
If you appreciate a more peaceful place for a retreat, try for a smaller dorm - you will get to know everyone around you.</p>

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<p>I'm not sure if this is the right thread to post in but if anyone can help it would be appreciated. </p>

<p>I will be attending Texas this spring and I have applied for housing this Spring semester. What are my chances of getting into San jacinto, if not duren? I was thinking that it would be easier to get accepted into the hall of my choice in spring since there arent as many people applying for housing?</p>

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<p>Is it hard to get into the honors dorms? Do all of the honors students who want to get in to the honors dorms get into them?</p>

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<p>Very close to all of the students who are in honors and request honors dorms got them this year. I think you would have to apply fairly late not to get into one of the honors dorms. The earlier you apply for housing the better.</p>

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<p>ok, I just got accepted to the fall '09 semester yesterday. I did this b/c I really wanted to go to either San Jacinto or Duren. Although I wouldn't mind going to the honors ones either...</p>

<p>In order for me to choose my dorm, do I need to actually need to confirm my attendance, or can I choose and perhaps go elsewhere come April 15?</p>

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<p>I live in Kinsolving and it is not like Jester, at least on the North side where the private bathrooms are. One of my best friends lives in Jester with a private bathroom so I can compare. </p>

<p>The beds are like Jester. On the North side there is a large walk in closet for the room. The desks are a a little bigger than in Jester. </p>

<p>The hallways are brighter in Kinsolving and it's not as dark and creepy. For me the location is much more convientient since it's right next to the drag and less than a 5 minute walk to my major buildings. The windows are so much bigger in the rooms and therefore the room gets so much more light and it makes a huge difference. We don't even turn the lights on during the day.</p>

<p>The Kinsolving dining hall is great. It costs a lot less than Jester and even though you can't take the food with you, I'd rather pay $4 than $10 for the same food. And there is a lot less noise. I have rarely heard someone basting their music while walking down the hallway but I have in Jester.</p>

<p>And you don't have to stay in Duren and San Jac for a private bathroom. Jester and Kinsolving have them too and you don't end up paying so much money. You should really consider what you are majoring in and where your main classes are going to be if you plan on walking because Duren is pretty far from everything.</p>

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<p>You don't have to choose your dorm for a while.</p>

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<p>Housing contracts are offered after your enrollment deposit has been satisfied. When you receive a housing contract and pay your $300 advance payment you may choose your preference.</p>

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<p>The smaller dorms with no sink in the room is without a doubt better than Jester with it's own vanity sink...</p>

<p>mainly because its 4 rooms sharing 3 or 4 sinks, so it's "kinda" like having your own sink.. but not really... as opposed to sharing a community bath with an entire hallway (with 24 other guys?)</p>

<p>So:
Brackenridge, Roberts, Prather, Moore-Hill > Jester</p>

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<p>"I will be attending Texas this spring and I have applied for housing this Spring semester. What are my chances of getting into San jacinto, if not duren? I was thinking that it would be easier to get accepted into the hall of my choice in spring since there arent as many people applying for housing?"</p>

<p>Don't do that!
Most people sign up for a fall AND spring contract, and a spring spot opens up if people decide to move out to an apartment or leave UT... people usually leave their dorm if it's Jester... not San Jac or Duren</p>

<p>I wouldn't advise that move at all
You don't have that bad of a chance if you are applying now anyway</p>