<p>I'll be an exchange student at UIUC starting fall 2009 for 2 semesters and I am not sure what housing to apply for. I will be in my 4th year and I like to party each weekend. I have been leaning towards certified housing because of the better rooms, but i don't really know that much about which is best. Bromley Hall looks alright, but all I have to go by is what they have on their website and websites always tend to make things appear nicer than they actually are.</p>
<p>Which do you think is better: dorms or certified housing?</p>
<p>Any tips or suggestions as to which certified housing/dorms are best?</p>
<p>if you like to go out (assuming to the bars and stuff) then you need to live somewhere in champaign, that is where all the fraternaties, sororities, bars, and a significant amount of restaurants are. As for private certified vs dorm, I personally like dorms because your meal plan works at any university dorm on campus, which is nice since you dont know where you will be at what time.</p>
<p>Being an exchange student, and assuming you’ll be in champaign, your options are:</p>
<p>Peabody drive residence halls - right across the ARC, the best gym on campus, it is several hundred thousand square feet, so it is HUGE
Gregory drive residence halls - in the same block as the peabody halls, but not connected to them, so they are also close to the gym.<br>
Sherman hall - lots of international and exchange students live here, it has single rooms with A/C, but they are pretty small rooms, and you wont be socializing much since it is a graduate dorm with 24 hour quiet hours. It is however very close to the bars and frats, but the other two are only 2 blocks away so it isnt bad. </p>
<p>I’d try for peabody and gregory (in that order), they are more social and you are more likely to make friends who go out often as well</p>
<p>The point you make about the meal plan in the dorms is a very good one. As for Sherman hall, i’d rather have a roommate, so Peabody and Gregory are a better choice for me.</p>
<p>Are there any good back-up options if I can’t get a spot at Peabody or Gregory?</p>