<p>I'm thinking about living at the co-op next year. And before you ask "What is it?" Here:</p>
<p>So have any of you been there/lived there or had friends stay there? What do you think?</p>
<p>I haven't heard many good things about the Co-Op, but you should PM Citan, as I believe he lives in the Co-Op this year.</p>
<p>I've visited. I've also spoken to people who lived there. </p>
<p>It is so dirty.... :( Don't live there. YOU GET EXACTLY WHAT YOU PAY FOR!! THERE IS A REASON WHY IT'S SO CHEAP. The food sucks too.</p>
<p>Try posting on the UCLA livejournal community too.</p>
<p>I'm living there. </p>
<p>Yes, bathrooms are pretty dirty. I personally like the food though. It's true that the food itself is not that good, but there's always a wide variety of things you can chose from, so the quantity compensates for quality.</p>
<p>I wouldn't give much credit to opinions of visitors. The first couple of days after I moved in I just wanted to get out again because I hated it. The room and the bathroom I got were so dirty. But now, after a while, I really love it here. The price, location and the people are great. Right now, I would chose the co-op over any other place, even an apartment/dorm for the same price.</p>
<p>One thing that you should now is that there are A LOT of internationals here. Maybe even the majority of co-op people are international students (like me). Some of them ESL students, some SMC students, some exchange students and most of them UCLA students or UCLA graduates.</p>
<p>So if you're interested in different cultures, it's a great place because you meet people from all over the world and it's so easy to make friends and socialize.</p>
<p>thanks Thomas!</p>
<p>I did visit it this past Friday, while it can't compare to De Neve where i'm living now...it honestly isn't THAT bad. Yeah, it was a little dirty, but w/e, I can live with it.</p>
<p>Hey, im a transfer student looking to housing options for next year and i got into the UCHA co-op. when you know what rooms you get? i think i would really like the communal and international environment. but ya, any more insight or advice from people who live/lived there would be awesome. thanks.</p>
<p>
[QUOTE]
when you know what rooms you get?
[/QUOTE]
There's a process called "Bump". Everyone who wants a new room (or is a new member) gathers in the cafeteria. All rooms with open spaces are on a huge list and everyone's name is being called based on his seniority (days he has lived in the co-op). That means, people who have lived here for a long time get to chose their new room first and therefore end up with the better rooms, for example single rooms. New members usually end up in a triple room, however, you can still choose "which" room/roommates you want. If you are lucky, you may even get a double room as a new member. It depends on how many people move in or out and at what time of the year you move in.</p>
<p>Once you get into a new room, you have "tenure" in this room, which means you don't have to bump again next quarter, only if you want to. If you know someone who has tenure in a room and there is an open space in this room, he can "tenure" you in (you have to fill out some form), you can then move
into this room immediately and you don't need to "bump". That's probably your best chance of getting a nice room right from the beginning. Make some friends and find someone who will tenure you into his/her room.</p>
<p>thanks man. that was really helpful. i keep hearing that transfers who applied for on campus or off campus university housing/apts got screwed over into triples at pretty high prices, so it looks like co-op is the best bet. im checking it out this friday.</p>
<p>co-op is awesome...cheapest place in Westwood...and no it's not dirty, unless you have OCD or something :rolleyes:</p>
<p>Emmeline must be suffering from the "Princess Complex"</p>
<p>Please consider all of these links before making the decision. While the co-op appears to be a good deal at first, you should know all the information and bad experiences others have had before you make your final choice. </p>
<p>[University</a> Cooperative Housing Association (Co-op): University Cooperative Housing Association near UCLA in Westwood Village (500 Landfair Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90024)](<a href=“http://uchanearucla.blogspot.com/2011/01/university-cooperative-housing.html#comment-form]University”>http://uchanearucla.blogspot.com/2011/01/university-cooperative-housing.html#comment-form)</p>
<p>[once</a> there was a kitty_kat: Why I would never recommend the UCHA co-op](<a href=“http://oncekitty-kat.blogspot.com/2010/07/ten-things-i-like-and-ten-things-i-hate.html]once”>http://oncekitty-kat.blogspot.com/2010/07/ten-things-i-like-and-ten-things-i-hate.html)), </p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-california-los-angeles/964950-ucla-ucha-co-op-housing.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-california-los-angeles/964950-ucla-ucha-co-op-housing.html</a></p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-california-los-angeles/199917-ucla-co-op-ucha.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-california-los-angeles/199917-ucla-co-op-ucha.html</a></p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-california-los-angeles/964950-ucla-ucha-co-op-housing.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-california-los-angeles/964950-ucla-ucha-co-op-housing.html</a></p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/uc-transfers/726125-ucha-co-op.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/uc-transfers/726125-ucha-co-op.html</a></p>
<p>Yelp: [UCHA</a> - University Cooperative Housing Association - Westwood - Los Angeles, CA](<a href=“http://www.yelp.com/biz/ucha---university-cooperative-housing-association-los-angeles]UCHA”>http://www.yelp.com/biz/ucha---university-cooperative-housing-association-los-angeles)</p>
<p>I’m not trying to spam links, just to make sure others don’t make as bad a mistake as I did.</p>
<p>Unless you’re poor broke as hell, why would anyone live in Co-Op? I never heard of it until I saw this thread. For $500, you might as well just get an apartment in Westwood. Apartments are about $500-600 if you share a bedroom with a friend. Plus, you get to do your own cooking instead of having to eat the crappy cafeteria food.</p>
<p>So yeah, unless you’re truly poor as hell and saving 100 bucks on month is that important to you, why live here?</p>
<p>Are you wondering why they ask for as much as $1000 money for deposit? That is because they do not want to give it back to you. Before I left, I asked different people at the office 4 times about one month before that I had to leave in Feb, and everyone told me it is fine and come back one week later and the signout form will be available later. But in exactly two days before I leave, when I get there the fifth time, the other person I believe he is the manager, named Arusha, finally told me that I should talk with him earlier or that I should pay the other two months’ rent which was around $990. He said if checking out earlier than official date I had to find a sublease or sth, but that is not what I ve been told for the first 4 times!! And three weeks ago I know plenty of people who were waiting for getting in here. Now they told me this, only two days left. And what’s more, when I was explaining this situation to him, He said:" I don’t wanna talk to you!" And he just locked the door and walked away!! I dont know how likely I can get back my money, but seriously DO NOT CONSIDER LIVING IN COOP EVEN THOUGH IT SOUNDS LIKE A DEAL BECAUSE THEY WILL SWINDLE YOU OUT OF YOUR MONEY LITTLE BY LITTLE…</p>