University of Texas - Off-Campus Private Dorms

<p>Hey,</p>

<p>So I'm doing a bit of research on off-campus private dorms at the University of Texas (I am coming for the Fall semester, 2011)..
I did see the main UT Dorms thread on this forum, but there were about 46 pages and the majority of it focused on on-campus dorms, so I thought I would streamline things and make this thread purely about off-campus private dorms.</p>

<p>I have read a bit about the Castilian (being unsafe with bad food) and Dobie (perhaps a bit better?) - are these 2 the most popular? Or just the most debated? I haven't read much on the other private dorms such as Hardin House, Scottish Rite (which is what I assume everyone is referring to when they say SRD?) etc. </p>

<p>If someone could provide a bit of a summary to any of the private dorms, similar to the summary of the on-campus dorms, that would be great!</p>

<p>Also - what's the approximate deadline for accommodation for Fall?</p>

<p>Avolin,</p>

<p>I only know about SRD (Scottish Rite). My daughter fell in love with this place over a year ago, and because of how fabulous (my opinion) this dorm is, it fills very fast and contracts were delivered Monday of this week and we FEDEXed ours that same day. They told us a year ago that during “contract” week, they will get to capacity. So with that said, by the time you read this, I am not sure there will any slots left. </p>

<p>About SRD…all girls, I think around 300 total. Boys only allowed on the residential floors Friday-Sat-Sun from 12 noon to 10 PM. Very secure place. House mother at night and on the weekends as well as RA’s on each wing/floor. All bathrooms were just renovated and are community (there are some suites) and are beautiful. Rooms are cleaned once a week and the housekeepers will change bed linens if the student leaves them out on cleaning day. There are really beautiful common rooms and what used to be the ballroom has big screen TVs where good ole Wii battles can take place. The attic is a big study loft and the laundry facilities are spacious and have tables for studying, etc. Wifi in the whole dorm. Food is excellent and they will make a sack lunch for any girl not near the dorm at lunch time. There is a huge swimming pool and beautiful gym with trainers and group classes. Prices fall between Jester and San Jac.</p>

<p>Whoever told you the Castilian has bad food and is un safe…LIED to you big time! The food is awesome and the kitchen staff is so friendly. They cook almost everything from scratch! No other dining hall can say that for sure. As far as safe…is true your guest don’t have to go through a million check in stations and leave their ID with anyone to come visit you like at other places. There is 24 hour security and someone is always at the 11th floor desk. You should definitely come by and check it out and make your own opinion about it.</p>

<p>…The Castilian IS unsafe for a place that calls itself a dorm. Anyone can get inside. The desk doesn’t card people at late hours and when I was there it was usually students at the desk late a night, more than once talking with friends. If you don’t look suspicious they won’t say a thing to you when you get on the elevator up to where the rooms are. </p>

<p>They even gave me the key to my room even though I had forgotten my ID when I checked in. I could have been ANYONE. </p>

<p>Even most of the apartments have cards you have to scan in order to get into the building. The dorms make you swipe your card to get into the residential hallways. The Castilian has nothing.</p>

<p>I am convinced AshleyUT911 works for the Castillian. Just read her posts. It makes me crazy!</p>

<p>I’ve heard bad things about the Castillian as well. I have a friend (female) who lives there and she was once followed up to her room by an old man late at night. I’m now convinced that AshleyUT is part of a cult, along with longhorndude (no offense intended, it’s just that the thought of a Castillian cult struck me as really funny for some reason :P)</p>

<p>and about food made from scratch…I would say Hardin House and SRD have the corner on that…and that is based on the tours we took a year or so ago.</p>

<p>Oh, lots of people like Castilian perfectly well. They just don’t all post here about it. I like the on campus dorms better but really, I think Castilian and Towers are fine. Less convenient meal plans - I like that the on campus plan can be used for at jester or at Kinsolving depending on where you are at what time of day. Castilian has fewer rules but some people LIKE places with fewer rules. Less secure but also less strict. Castilian has the best parking availability - you can’t argue with that. :)</p>

<p>I don’t know anything about the Castilian, but it does bug me that they appear to hire people to post on CC.</p>

<p>Ha, people might think I work for SRD if they didn’t look at my number of posts! My mom lived there all four years, from 1956-1960, and I also lived there four years, from 1980-1984. When I was there, guys were hardly ever allowed on the floors, except for an open house once a semester, and during the spring formal (when I got caught with a bottle of rum, oops, which was against the dorm rules even though the drinking age was 18 back then).</p>

<p>collegeshopping, I lived on the first floor, in one of the double sunrooms. It was the wing closest to the front door. I liked the sunroom because it was bigger than regular singles and had lots of windows. It didn’t have a sink, but I didn’t really miss it. I hope your daughter likes SRD as much as my mom and I did.</p>

<p>I actually live in the Castilian currently. As for the food, it’s definitely not a 5 star restaurant, but it’s edible. It’s also true that literally anyone can walk in and take the elevators to any floor at any time. I’ve personally never really had problems with that kind of stuff or really seen any stuff happen, but it’s definitely possible. It has a pretty good location as well(with the exception of the fact that there is a meeting ground for homeless people nearby).</p>

<p>I personally like it there, but there are some definite flaws: even on the quiet floors, people are loud as Hell sometimes. If you’re not in your room, the maid staff can enter and exit at anytime. I’ve never heard/experienced them stealing anything, but if you’re paranoid, it may be a concern. </p>

<p>I don’t hate it, but I’m not in love. I’m moving out after this semester. I’ve been to Dobie and it seems pretty nice though… I don’t know how bad/good it really is though. </p>

<p>P.S. You may want to buy some shower shoes if you live in the Castilian.</p>

<p>Does Scottish Rite have closets in the rooms?</p>

<p>Yes, and built-in dressers.</p>

<p>Thanks for everyone’s feedback so far!</p>

<p>At this stage, I’m looking at staying at University Towers - it seems to suit my requirements best.</p>

<p>As I am an exchange student from Australia…(I’m not sure whether the same applies with local students), but are there many people that go to Austin without any planned accommodation and work it out when they get there? Is it true that the private dorms will still have space (not SRD or the in-demand ones), but say Towers/Castilian/Dobie? Is it also true they will also offer cheaper rates because it’s so last-minute, and they’re desperate to fill rooms?</p>

<p>I didn’t actually realise how expensive private dorms are…like at LEAST $1000/month (I’m only staying for the Fall semester of 4 months so it’s a bit pricier than renting for the entire year)…
But I still feel it’s the best living situation for me, given I don’t know anyone in Austin and I’m not self-sufficient enough to look after myself in an apartment…</p>

<p>I’m staying at the Castillian next year anyone else?
the people there have helped me a lot so far and are super nice.</p>

<p>I was looking in to the Towers at first but the distance was a little much for me since I’d be walking to class.</p>

<p>umm the dobie was cute, but my friend thats rooming with me preferred the castillian.
Just my thoughts.</p>

<p>Oh and don’t submit a housing contract for UT unless you plan on staying on campus, haha cause I did but then changed my mind to a private dorm and now I have to pay $300 to UT for cancelling my contract! ■■■.</p>

<p>I need some help on this too. My friend and I (both male) are looking for a private dorm to stay in for next year. I have done quite a bit of research and can’t seem to find what the best dorm is. It seems that every dorm has people who completely love it and people that hate it. Which dorm is well kept, has private bathrooms, and is close to the school?</p>

<p>Yeah, as an exchange student I definitely won’t be staying on-campus (not allowed to!)</p>

<p>@jettski1: Dobie is really close, has private bathrooms, etc…but I’ve read it’s a little quieter with less parties, etc… depends what you’re into I guess.
I’ve chosen Towers since it seems to be the most all-rounded… Distance aside (I need the exercise anyway…it’s about 0.8 miles to McCombs School of Business, says Google Maps), it is apparently the party dorm but has good food. Whereas I’ve read some bad reviews of Castilian food + their lack of security.</p>

<p>Any more comments about when to pay for private dorms would be appreciated! Should I wait until I arrive in Austin in August and risk it but possibly pay a lower price, or secure a room and apply now?</p>

<p>jettski1, I have found that no matter WHAT I’m researching on the internet, somebody always hates it, whether it’s hotels, restaurants, cruises, etc. I think a lot depends on YOUR attitude. Nothing will be perfect. You have to read all lyou can, then just make a decision and go with it. Part of the college experience is learning to deal with imperfect situations and people.</p>

<p>forums and ive talked to a ton of people and these are my thoughts:</p>

<p>The towers: A lot of partying goes on here, but at the same time it’s really easy to be anti social because of all of the space that you have so you hardly need to go out of your room like the other dorm style living areas. it’s also the farthest from campus out of the private dorms.</p>

<p>Dobie:
Is the closest to campus. I’ve also heard a lot of international kids stay here. Umm I personally haven’t visited it but my roommate has and she said it’s okay, but it doesn’t really look like the pictures. But none the less it is decent and livable.</p>

<p>SRD and Hardin:
both are all girls dorms and are really good to stay at if you plan on going greek, because so many of the people that stay there do.</p>

<p>The Castillian:
It’s only five minutes from campus and the rooms aren’t huge but they’re a decent size fora dorm style living. They are pretty relaxed on their rules from what I’ve heard, which could be good or bad. It’s pretty (again according to my roommate). She fell in love with it when she went on tour cause she said the staff was nice and it was better than the on campus dorms. Oh yeah this one has a tanning bed:) yay for tans! haha.</p>

<p>@ sunshine011 - yeah that pretty much sums up my thoughts about all the off-campus dorms too, but that was an awesome summary!</p>

<p>still, does anyone know about DEMAND for these dorms, and whether it is best to apply early or risk it by applying later just before start of semester, in hope for a better rate?</p>

<p>Which is the better dorm: Dobie or Castilian? And would you recommend freshmen to live there?</p>