Recently received these two options so which should I go with as an engineering major focused on studies while having fun with friends? Thanks.
The substance-free unit in Unit 1 is Freeborn. D was talked into it by a roommate and was down with it since partying is just not a priority. Met some good friends and future roommates and knocked it out of the park academically. If you go this route:
- you are agreeing to stay substance free (smoking, drugs, alcohol, etc.) not only inside the dorm, or near the dorm, but in general during your time living at the dorm. Not strictly adhered to, btw (at least away from the dorm), but if caught by an RA (or a particularly vindictive somebody), you may get reported. The consequences are not spelled out in the housing contract;
- quieter, cleaner, less drama due to the absence of substances;
- "quiet" might be a misnomer - it faces several frat houses on Durant and College that can get VERY loud, especially the first week. Not an ongoing problem as far as I know;
- full of STEM majors (many pre-med) - they don't need the distractions;
- 7th floor is all-female, the rest being co-ed. It is one of the original 3 buildings in Unit 1, so it's older, and it shows.
Unit 3 is a “normal” dorm, if you know what I mean. I’m sure others can chime in. May be construction noise as it is close to the new dorms they are building.
Neither of these will be particularly close to your engineering classes (that’s Foothill), but these are your choices. Both are going to feel very tight with 3 crammed into a 2-person room. Cafe 3 is the closest dining hall - may be slightly better than Croads (Crossroads - Unit 1/2), but dining hall food at Cal is hit and miss in general. Lots of great eats “off campus”.