Transfer Students And Housing

Colleges and Universities A-Z The University of Texas at Austin
1

<p>I'm an incoming sophomore for UT in Advertising. I was wondering what everyone is doing about housing? I have an active housing application on file, but I might not know about those results till August. What apartments/private dorms are people looking at?</p>

2

<p>You won’t hear about on-campus housing until August. I wouldn’t plan on getting housing, as incoming freshmen have priority and the school exhausts their waitlist before offering contracts to transfers. Here’s some info about private dorms:
[Welcome</a> to the Austin Private Dormitory Association](<a href=“http://www.austindorms.com/]Welcome”>http://www.austindorms.com/)
Those usually always have availability. </p>

<p>The housing market is something like 98 percent full around the city. If you’re just beginning your search finding a place that hasn’t already been leased is going to be a challenge. I would recommend trying to find people who are looking for additional roommates.</p>

3

<p>I’m in the same situation you are in. I’m a girl, so I checked into Scottish Rite to see if they had room, but I got an email back that said they were full unfortunately. So now it’s between Dobie and Castillian, maybe University Towers, but it seemed kind of expensive. I’m going to check them out during orientation next week.</p>

4

<p>I am also looking at Dobie, Castillian, and University Towers, but I won’t be able to check them out until mid-end of July when I will be in Austin. Tell us how they are after you check them out.</p>

5

<p>@meredithmc, I don’t know how much you know about University Towers or if you’ve been there before, but I really would not recommend it… Your options seem somewhat limited, but if you are able to make a choice, try to avoid towers. I’ve heard so many horror stories from people who have lived there. There is rarely, if ever, quiet, because they are basically the party dorms. People have parties every night of the week, leaving the aftermath all over the hallways, elevators, stairs, etc.
I would definitely recommend looking for people who are trying to find another roommate - that would probably be your best bet. Good luck!</p>

6

<p>@erinlees Yeah, I’ve been reading some of the old threads about the private dorms, and I read about University Towers being pretty bad, so it’s definitely way down on the list of possibilities for me. Basically I’m trying to choose between Castillian and Dobie. I don’t want to be in an apartment because I’m kind of an introverted person and don’t know anyone at UT yet, and I want to be close to campus where the action is.</p>

7

<p>@meredithmc I have been in a similar situation for the past few weeks.I too am looking at private dorms.I have been on the wait-list to Hardin House for the past three weeks and nothing has moved.Right now I am planning to go with Dobie.I would suggest finalizing your lease soon cause from what I have seen in the past few weeks the private dorms (especially Dobie) are filling up fast and delaying the lease may end up in you being allotted the higher floors which people usually don’t prefer.
I won’t be able to visit Austin till August.So do tell us about the dorms once you visit them.
Also does anyone know how difficult is it to sublease your room at The Dobie Center in the Spring session.I wanted to get a lease for the Fall session only but they are not offering them so I will have to take the lease for the entire academic year and I would want to move out into an apartment in spring so most probably I will have to sublease my room.</p>

8

<p>I ended up touring only Dobie because I decided to submit my application after I toured it. The facility was in pretty good condition, there’s laundry on every floor (except the top floor), and the staff were very friendly. The RA that gave us the tour was very nice and helpful! The security seems pretty good, but not as good as Jester where you have to submit a code to get in. I ended up going with the studio room because the efficiency seemed quite small. There were only 4-5 studio spots left when I submitted my application, and less than 50 spots total, so I would go ahead and apply and secure the lease if you want to be there. One of the staff members said it would probably fill up by the end of this week!</p>

9

<p>I ended up at Dobie too! It’s expensive, but considering there’s not many options right now, it was basically all that was left.</p>

10

<p>I am also planning to stay at Dobie, going to go down to Austin in 2 weeks to sign for the place. For those that have already signed the lease, what is the $450 confirmation fee? is it just a deposit that we get back? Also, do you have to pay for the place at the time when you sign for the place or it is due later? I plan to just make the 1 payment since in the long run it is cheaper. Thanks for the reply</p>

11

<p>Girls,I am a transfer too ! and an international,so I am in a worst situation than you! I am almost leasing Dobie, can I PM any of you ? so maybe we can meet ant try to share a studio! Although this horror stories,University Towers looked so much comfortable that Dobie.</p>

12

<p>@bobbyn212, you might not want to wait 2 weeks to sign. On Tues. they said they would probably fill up by the end of this week. I would call and see how many spots they have left! About your confirmation fee question, it is non-refundable and I think it goes toward payment for your dorm. You can set up a payment plan that works with your financial aid, where you have to pay around $450 within a week after signing the lease, and then you make one more payment (I think) before your financial aid comes in.</p>

13

<p>Hey Everyone!
I did finally sign my lease this week.So I too am at Dobie now.
@meredithmc Thanks for all the info.The positive feedback does make me feel better for having chosen Dobie…<br>
@bobbyn212 You have to turn in your lease and pay the $450 confirmation fee to Dobie Center for them to reserve a room (whichever you choose) for you.As far as I know the confirmation fee is non-refundable.Within one week of turning in your lease you have to pay them money according to whichever payment plan you choose.If you are going with the 10 month installment plan you have to pay for 2 months(June and July).
@evelynnchou I too am an international student but I have leased a side suite.For anything else you are welcome to PM me.</p>

<p>Anyone else who has/will be leasing a side suite?</p>

14

<p>As of right now, the only place that is available at Dobie is the Efficiency and Studio Plus. I think I will have to go down in Austin within this next week to get a place before it is all gone. Also, when you guys go down there, did they give you a tour of the place right then and there? And what is the difference between the Studio Plus and The Efficiency? is one just bigger than the other? They are giving you a $300 visa card if you sign up for a studio plus, so I might consider that.</p>

15

<p>@bobbyn212 I haven’t toured the place.The staff at Dobie told me that the studio plus is bigger than the efficiency.</p>

16

<p>@bobbyn212 Yes, you just ask for a tour and they will give you one. They only show you a model room on the 27th floor, which is kind of like the side suite (I think). It had a living room, and the bedroom was apparently the size of the efficiency. I thought the bedroom was pretty small, but that’s just me. The studio plus is going to be bigger than the studio, which is bigger than the efficiency. Again, you might want to call them to see how many of each they have left.</p>

17

<p>@IntCompScMajor I got a side suite, one of the last ones. Spots are filling up quickly, so if you want to sign a lease there, do it asap. Also, efficiency is super small, so if you can, I’d go for the studio plus.</p>

18

<p>@notacatalyst That’s great!I did sign up my lease for the side suite.Did you take a tour at Dobie before signing the lease?
I am worried about the size of the bedrooms in the side suite.Its nice to have a living area but I don’t want a bedroom that is too small.
I know I can’t do anything about it now,but it’ll be nice to have a second opinion on this.</p>

19

<p>@IntCompScMajor I did take a tour of Dobie before signing the lease. It’s like @meredithmc was saying, however, the bedrooms will be three feet wider. I was freaking out a little because the one they showed us was so small. But it’s bigger than the model room. It’s still going to suck a little, but at least we’ve got a living room. And the biggest closet option, haha. </p>

<p>Side Suite: <a href=“http://www.dobiecenter.com/media_library/1353/4b9a77170f031145.gif[/url]”>http://www.dobiecenter.com/media_library/1353/4b9a77170f031145.gif&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

20

<p>@notacatalyst Thanks a ton! This was really bothering me coz one of my friends told me that the efficiency rooms at Dobie are very very small.The living room is always a plus but the bedrooms also happen to be important.
Moreover, I had the option of leasing the corner suite which I didn’t coz the staff told me they had smaller bedrooms than the side suite and I was wondering if I had made the wrong choice.
I wish I could have also visited the place before signing my lease.That would have made things way easier.</p>

<p>Yup the walk in closet is the best part!! :)</p>