<p>Can anyone enlighten me about this dormitory an/or share your experience at Tropicana? Would this be a dorm that you'd recommend to a freshman? If I live here will I be able to eat on campus meals or am I restricted to Tropicana's meal plan? Also is Tropicana mostly for athletes? Any info would be great please!</p>
<p>Tropicana is actually an apartment. I’d personally advise against living in Tropicana for your freshman year. </p>
<p>You can purchase an [off-campus</a> meal plan](<a href=“http://www.housing.ucsb.edu/dining/mealplan/default.htm]off-campus”>http://www.housing.ucsb.edu/dining/mealplan/default.htm). . .but considering the fact you already get free food at Tropicana, I don’t know if it’s worth the added cost. </p>
<p>I think multiple athletes indeed live in Tropicana (or in IV) due to the need to train during the summer–combined with the fact dorms do not open during the times those athletes train.</p>
<p>Response to: “Can anyone enlighten me about this dormitory an/or share your experience at Tropicana? Would this be a dorm that you’d recommend to a freshman? If I live here will I be able to eat on campus meals or am I restricted to Tropicana’s meal plan? Also is Tropicana mostly for athletes? Any info would be great please!”</p>
<p>Hey applesnbannanas,</p>
<p>I lived at Tropicana during my freshman year while attending UCSB, and am still living at Trop as a senior and Resident Assistant. Although I currently work for Trop, I will tell you with honesty how I felt about my freshman year at Tropicana.</p>
<p>I was really worried about coming to college and not being able to meet people and enjoy myself, however Trop made it really easy for me to meet people at programs. There was always something going on and I ended up becoming great friends with my roommate and many people around the building. I loved this aspect about Trop during my first year of college because it was impossible to meet people in classes and I found little time to join social clubs. </p>
<p>Also, the food was awesome then, and is still incredible. I was vegetarian during my freshman year and found it incredibly easy to stay healthy and eat what I wanted and needed to eat. You don’t need to buy a meal plan on campus because the chefs at Trop pack you a sack lunch to take to classes and can hold your dinner late for you if you have a late class. I loved this feature because I feel that I saved alot of money, so I don’t know if an on-campus meal plan is really worth it. </p>
<p>Tropicana Del Norte has many UCSB athletes, however it also houses many normal UCSB students. A few other things I think are awesome about Del Norte…the building is right next to the UCSB bike path, it took me about 5 minutes to bike to class…and there’s an amazing movie theatre, athletic center, and tanning bed. </p>
<p>I hope this helps, and please take this as my personal view. I am a Tropicana RA, but I also lived here my first year and had an amazing experience.</p>
<p>thanks so much adriadachi for giving me such a personal outlook!
So you’d say there’s still a fair amount of non athletes that live there? I’m worried that I’d feel left out if I’m not an athlete</p>
<p>Is Tropicana Del Norte relatively cheaper compared to other housing options?</p>
<p>yes it is kmai12, here’s the comparison
<a href=“http://i41.■■■■■■■.com/2m7z1xy.png[/IMG]”>http://i41.■■■■■■■.com/2m7z1xy.png
![http://i41.■■■■■■■.com/2m7z1xy.png[/IMG]](http://i41.tinypic.com/2m7z1xy.png%5B/IMG%5D){kind=link}
</a></p>
<p>IMO, it’s only triple-digit savings, not quadruple-digit savings like you get with a typical IV apartment. Savings you get from Tropicana versus the dorms is only chump change. </p>
<p>You might as well go dorms.</p>
<p>Hey applesnbananas,</p>
<p>I didn’t mean to worry you about the athletes, actually only 1/3 of the population at Del Norte is athletes, the rest are students, international students, etc…I would say it’s a very diverse mix!</p>
<p>Tropicana Del Norte pricing is less than UCSB’s for Triples and Doubles, and they offer a low-priced Quad option in the large C bedroom. The rates are guaranteed if you sign by May 1, 2012.</p>
<p>ariadachi,have you heard the World Elites that can provide discounts for apartments in many cities and states, including Tropicana Del Norte. The following is the pricing, please let me know whether the discount is available now, thank you!
Quad in C Bedroom $8,100/year
Rent Coverage: An unlimited meal plan, a fully furnished suite, High-speed Internet, Cable TV, water/sewer, trash removal, gas, electricity. Tenant pays for laundry. Parking is available for an additional fee.</p>