<p>I just wanted to post and say that I'm a current UD student, and can hopefully answer some questions if you have any. I'm an art major, in the visual communications program, and can definitely answer questions about that if you're interested. I can try to answer questions about the area, dorms, etc. Im originally from Delaware as well. You can post them here, or send me a message, and I'll do the best I can to help you!</p>
<p>Katy, how hard is it to navigate the shuttle bus system? My D has classes clear across campus from her dorm and I wonder if she’ll be able to get up and running with that quickly. Thanks for coming here to help us out!</p>
<p>The buses are pretty fantastic. There are schedules that come out each semester and then are pretty set in stone. Routes usually operate every so many minutes, for example the Laird bus route would pick up at the library every 12 minutes on the dot through out the day, so it’s easy to memorize the schedule if you use that route frequently. They also have late-night shuttles, and there is one new route specifically for late-night studiers at the library. There are also weekend late-night buses for those who go out to parties and such, that go as late as 4am. Most buses start at around 7am in the morning for early classes, so it’s pretty hard to find a time when a bus isn’t running. There is also a Saturday bus that goes to the shopping center, and one bus even has a stop at the train station near the Field House. They’ve got it covered :)</p>
<p>Hi, Katy. I don’t think my D is too excited to have been assigned a single room (Rodney F). What’s Rodney like? I do see on the description of the dorm that has A/C! I think she’d rather have the roommate…</p>
<p>katy, great to hear about the reliability of the buses, since S will be in George Read. Anything to know about living on the Laird campus?</p>
<p>DD was in Ray St one year and the Towers last year. Besides the bus, she found having a bike very helpful. She got them at the lost and found garage sale.</p>
<p>LINYMOM - My friend Karen was an RA at the Rodney dorms for about 2-3 years, so I’ve been over there quite a bit. The rooms are a bit on the smaller side, so it doesn’t surprise me that it’s a single. Though, the Rodney dorms are like a community moreso than some of the other dorms. If I remember, I think they are co-ed, but by floor, so all girls floor, then all guys floor. The area that Rodney is in is nice, plus it’s right by one of the dining halls. It’s a short walk to main street, plus Newark just build a strip mall right across from Rodney, and they have this really cute smoothie shop, a Buffalo Wild Wings, and some other shops. It’s a good dorm for freshman, I dont think your daughter will have any trouble making friends.</p>
<p>Booklady - I lived on Laird last year, in James Smith, right near George Reed. I had a bunch of friends that lived in George Reed freshman year, so I’m very familiar with the building. It’s one of the newer buildings, really nice. Elevators, which is always a good thing, not all the dorms have them. Typically there is a “suite”. Two roommates share one room, and then share a bathroom with another two-person room. Most people get along with their suitemates. The bathroom is pretty huge. The rooms are a nice size too. It’s right by a dining hall, but the dining hall there can get crowded. That particular dining hall did offer late-night dining and express service, where you can take your meal to go, on the weekdays, which was nice. They just opened up a new market place by George Reed which is really nice, and even has fresh produce. The buses stop right out George Reed, and Laird campus typically has the most bus stops, and has late night service. It’s a really good area to be in. George Reed also likes to group people by major, if the person’s major is required freshman year. This was the case with art major, as we had to take foundations. This was really nice because you got to hang out with your class friends outside of class and work on projects together. I’m not really sure how they handle other majors though.</p>
<p>LINYMOM - I forgot to add that I love the bathrooms at Rodney, the floor shares them, but Rodney for some reason has many many showers and toliets, PLUS bathtubs, and thats the only dorm I’ve seen have a bathtub. I always thought that was cute, in case someone needed to relax :)</p>
<p>Thanks very much, katy!</p>
<p>Katy: Thanks so much! Good inside info that I will share with D. I’m not worried about making friends at all, but it’s good to hear all of that about Rodney. I think she’s “meeting” lots of other freshmen in her dorm on the FB page and she seems excited. She’s working out of state right now… wish she was here so we could go shop together!</p>
<p>Glad I could help :)</p>
<p>If you have one near you, Target has a great selection of dorm/college supplies.</p>
<p>Do you think the dorms on Laird Campus are far away from Main Street/some of the other dorms like Rodney or Russell? I saw Russell and Thompson Hall and they were okay, but I saw the outside of George Reed and it looked gorgeous, of course. But I’m worried about feeling like I’m far from everything else and out of the loop of what’s going on. What do you think? :)</p>
<p>jcdancer9 - Laird campus is fairly close to Main St, probably a 15 minute walk, maybe a little less. Rodney is probably the closest, but it’s all the way at the end of Main Street, so it’s closer to Deer Park, Grottos, Dunkin, etc. Russel is probably the furthest away. I lived in Gilbert a couple of years ago (they torn that building down last year) which was right next to Russel, and I didn’t like the walk to Main St, but the bus routes can drop you off a block away. Laird’s rooms are a little nicer than Russel, even though Russel did go through a renovation lately. Rodney is the older dorm out of all of them, but it’s a nice area. At Russel you’re closer to the Perkins student center and the Scrounge, and the library. At the Scrounge they have all sorts of student events, like swing dance clubs, comedy nights, open mic nights. Each dorm has unique qualities really.</p>
<p>I dont think any of the dorms are secluded, it’s so easy to get around on the bus you can go anywhere pretty much any time of day. Out of all three, Laird campus has the nicer dorms.</p>
<p>Hope that helps :)</p>
<p>Definitely! Thanks :)</p>
<p>Hello!</p>
<p>I have just found out that I’m going to be sharing a double room in Dickinson Hall D…I really don’t know much about the place. Any information maybe? I’d love to know about the showers…if it’s coed by room/floor…location…dining etc.</p>
<p>All I’ve got to go by in terms of real opinions is that it looks like a prison and it’s a ‘party’ dorm…haha. Needless to say I’m a little nervous…</p>
<p>Thanks lovely.</p>
<p>Hi Katy, I was wondering when the students receive their key to their mailboxes? Who generally hands these out and when? I was thinking of having some mail there for the day we drop off and didnt know if my D would have access to it.</p>
<p>Also, if sending large packages, do you know if you use the same mailing address or does it need to be shipped somewhere else?</p>
<p>Thanks so much !</p>
<p>Jayne</p>
<p>Here’s what the website has to say about packages:</p>
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<p>Your room key also opens your mailbox. I wouldn’t send mail ahead of time, as it may not get there. Packages should go to the normal address.</p>
<p>Good info, especially if all the “stuff” doesn’t fit in the car. Then again, if it doesn’t fit in the car, it probably won’t fit in the dorm room!</p>
<p>JBE: They can go to their dorm at 5 pm, before Freshman Fest, and check in to get everything (keys, and whatever else - I don’t know). There are many groups that can get in before the official day. I will look for you!</p>
<p>Shrina1591 - Well, I’ve never actually been in Dickinson, so I can’t say too much. If the dorm does gender by floor, there would be a shower/bathroom on each floor for that gender. If it’s co-ed on the same floor, there would probably be two separate bathrooms for each. I lived in Gilbert one year, which was one of the oldest dorms on campus (and has now been torn down) and if the showers there were nice, I’m going to assume the rest are probably pretty good 
Sorry I can’t help more.</p>
<p>jbevangelista - The mailing address that shows on the housing information can also be used for packages. The best way to send them is USPS, even though it seems like they’ve updated how UPS packages are handled. Most of the time, the packages go to the RA Office/Package center for that dorm, and there are certain hours they can be picked up. The student will get a notice in their mail box that they have a package waiting. I’ve seen that with FedEx, that the delivery person will come to the dorm, try reaching the student with the phone outside the dorm, and if they aren’t there, they leave a notice sticker on the dorm door, which could be taken down by anyone, so I wouldn’t recommend sending anything FedEx, and if you do, I would leave special instructions including the students phone number, to make sure they know when the package has arrived.</p>
<p>And yep, room keys open the mailbox :)</p>