<p>The school website says that the housing applications for the Summer and Fall 2008 admits will not be available online until December 2007 (though it doesn't say when in December). Does anyone know how UCF does the assignments? Do you get a priority number like at UF and FSU and if you do, what is it based upon? Is there any advantage for the student who gets their admission's deposits submitted sooner or is it simply first come, first serve whenever the website/application is up and running?
Has any current freshman not gotten into the on campus housing (who applied for it)? Current freshman or freshman's parents- what do you hear about each dorm in terms of reputation, socializing, cleanliness, location to classes, etc? Any insider information? </p>
<p>P.S. I am not interested info on honors housing (since my D does not qualify).</p>
<p>I know that my S, who's in on-campus housing, was told that he and his roommates needed to be prepared to have their decisions made about next year by the beginning of Dec. They will be making their choices then so that they will be out of the way before the next group of freshman need to choose. As far as when he applied last year for housing, I remember he filled it out at the first opportunity to do so ... first choice, etc. I'm thinking we were told it was based upon when you were admitted, as far as the choices went. </p>
<p>A priority # is given once you send in your Housing Application & Fee. My D lived in Hercules last year and is living in the Towers this year. Both situations were great. The people that I know who did not get on-campus housing sent in their housing applications pretty late in the year. Just make sure that you get it in a.s.a.p. after it becomes available in December.</p>
<p>I still don't know how things are going to be handled here at Rosen. Our dorms aren't even close to being full, so I hope they aren't planning on making us decide right away if we want to come back next year. I'd prefer not to be here again next year, but I want to really look into what the area has to offer before I turn my back on the dorms.</p>
<p>How do you like Rosen (as a school)? Why don't you want to live in the dorms next year? Are the dorms nice? Are you happy with the school as a whole?</p>
<p>How do you like Rosen (as a school)?
-I think it's an absolute joke. I don't know why the area takes this place seriously based on what I've seen so far. I wasn't expecting college to be less stimulating than high school, but it is. I could argue that its just because I'm in intro classes so far, but since kids are struggling in these already I can't imagine the upper level courses offering much of a challenge. If that were the case the graduation rate would be like 20%.</p>
<p>Why don't you want to live in the dorms next year?
-Paying $625 a month to live with 3 random people in a relatively small place isn't great. I'd rather pay more to be on my own, or a similar amount to for more space with one roommate. There isn't any sense of community here either, so I wouldn't be missing out on the "fun college experience."</p>
<p>Are the dorms nice?
-They're new, but I wouldn't confuse that with nice. They are very basic/plain, but nothing is falling apart so I don't have the complaints that come with most dorm rooms. It's nice to be able to walk 5 minutes to get to class.</p>
<p>Are you happy with the school as a whole?
-If I could do it all over again, I probably wouldn't have come down here. It isn't just the school that is the problem, but the industry as a whole. I don't want to work with or be in charge of the people that generally work in the hospitality. They aren't the greatest people, and having to work with them really brings me down. I can only handle so many stories about getting high or drunk from middle aged folks that have no one else to work. Plus, as I said before the school is a joke academically. That has led to me finding very few people I like to talk to/do things with. I'm only going to be here 3 years (thanks for the AP program CB!), so I'm just going to stick it out and hope for a miracle that makes this place a good fit.</p>
<p>Well, I think that about covers it. Everyone else down here seems to be having the time of their life, so I hope I don't scare everyone off. I just want to warn folks not to fall victim to their marketing at the school and think everything is going to be perfect.</p>
<p>It's none of my business, but if you are finding that the hospitality industry isn't where you want to spend your days, why do 3 years to get a degree in it? Is it possible to change majors and transfer to the main campus? Honestly, everyone I know (kids and parents alike) seem very happy with the school, atmosphere, etc. And if not UCF, then maybe somewhere else?</p>
<p>You are only one semester in, and even if you write it off to experience, you won't be behind because of all the AP credit.</p>
<p>I'm a high school teacher, as well as the parent of two college students. Please consider looking for something that you love to study and do. You really won't regret it. That's what I tell my own kids, as well as my students.</p>
<p>FYI- The UCF housing website now says that the housing applications (for all 2008 terms) will be available online starting December 3rd. The housing application portal is currently down for maintainance.</p>
<p>So this works like UF where you have to reserve a spot in line? I would like to know because UCF is my safety, and if I am not as likely to go there I don't want to blow $200 when I'm not actually reserving a spot in the housing line.</p>
<p>dvm = yes, paying the housing agreement deposit is needed to reserve your "spot in line" for housing. Housing at UCF is so much nicer than at UF, even the older dorms are not bad. You would still have a good chance at on campus housing if you waited until Feb. 15, when you learn your UF decision. As long as you are not picky (requesting academic village or towers apartments), you will still get housing in February (unlike UF which has more limited housing for freshmen).</p>
<p>Well as of 5:57 AM the portal still isn't open. This is very annoying because I have to leave for school at 6:30!!!!! I've been up every few hours all throughout the night checking. Hopefully it will open before I leave :/</p>
<p>The online housing agreement will be turned on Monday, December 3, 2007. No exact time has been determined as the system is being upgraded during the morning of Monday, December 3, 2007. </p>
<p>New summer 2008 and fall 2008 residents will be able to input their top three room choices on this site beginning March 1, 2008. </p>
<p>You may also choose one roommate to live with for summer 2008 and/or fall 2008 on this site. </p>
<p>Room preferences and roommate matching are computerized process that depend on the date your housing agreement is received. It is not based on the date you enter your choices or the date you are admitted to UCF. </p>
<p>You may change your room and roommate preferences until May 1, 2008.</p>
<p>Don't be surprised if it doesn't even go up today. Last year I believe they pushed the date back a few times, and pulled the same stunt when it came to getting your assignment as well.</p>
<p>Me too. D is signed up for summer B housing and for Towers for Fall. </p>
<p>For summer they are housing kids in Hercules, Nike, Lake Claire and Towers and you cannot put your choices down until March 1. For Fall you pick either an academic contract (Apollo, Libra, Hercules, Nike, Lake Claire) OR a Annual contract at Towers. You cannot request a specific Tower until March 1. There is also an option to live at the Rosen campus too. Florida Prepaid dorm contracts do not pay for summer so you have to put in a $100 deposit for your summer dorm when you apply. If you have FPP dorm, you can check a box and they will take your Fall deposit ($250) directly from FPP.</p>
<p>Well I was finally able to signup at 9:30 (I was frantically checking every class period at school to see if it was open :P ) I signed up for the Towers for fall. Hopefully there will be space. Anyone have any experience with the towers? Think I got a chance of being placed in them applying when I did?</p>
<p>You should have no trouble getting the Towers for Fall since you signed up at the first possible date. The Towers, and there are four of them, can accomodate 500 kids in each. I have many friends who have kids currently living in the Towers. What I hear is that they are not as social as the suite style dorms but the kids love: having their own rooms, a laundry room on each floor, being able to get an assigned parking space in the garage (the other dorms just give you a permit to use the parking lots but not a reserved space), being near all the action on game day, and the shops and restaurants that are so close. The new dining hall (Knightros) will be open (in late Spring) definitely by Fall and will be right next door at the convocation center. The kids love that they can cook in their apartments OR go to the dining hall for a meal. One drawback is the Annual contract that you have to sign. You will be paying for summer of 2009 whether or not you plan to use it. You cannot sublet the Towers or get out of the summer contract. Summer 2009 costs about $2000!</p>
<p>Yeah, i did wince a bit at the prices compared to the other dorms, but after thinking through it, realized this is basically a year round' apartment to live in(as opposed to the other dorms which are mostly closed during summer I believe, and breaks as well?), which is very centrally located, and from what I hear well equipped and very nice. It also costs less than a normal apartment in Orlando. I mean, if I'm going to do the college thing, I better do it right!</p>
<p>Apparently, my S was also told -- he lives in Tower 3 now (honors section) -- that if he and his roommates are wanting to remain for next year that they might leave their stuff in their rooms for the one month before fall starts. They just have to have stuff out of the common areas. We're still trying to double check that. As far as the parking, do know that the assigned parking in the parking garage has pros and cons. Obvious pros are not looking for a space and being close by where you live ... but cons are the cost, something around $450 for the year. Also, he has had some difficulty on event days ... i.e. don't plan to be able to go in and out of the garage on football days, and sometimes on concert days, it's been a mess, depending on the time you need to leave. If the basketball team starts pulling in more outside fans in the future, that could also mean a mess. But overall, my S loves Towers/and reserved parking, as well.</p>