<p>I am a first-year at the college. I believe we have to submit our application by mid-November. I was wondering about what would be the best option.</p>
<p>My friends told me that Bice is nice and that its "right behind cabell'. I just walked to the building and saw it from outside and I think that the "right behind cabell" statement is absolutely an exaggeration.</p>
<p>I'd like to go to Brown but given how narrow my chances will be, I was also considering Copeley, Gooch-Dillard, Lambeth and IRC. </p>
<p>Does any one have any advice or any recommendations? If yes, why do you recommend it?</p>
<p>Also, is off-grounds housing advisable if I dont intend to buy a car?</p>
<p>I'd go for Lambeth (where i am right now). It's right next to Rugby, there's a bus stop 2min away, there's a ton (800) of residents of whom ~90% are second years, and there's a C3 in the middle of the complex. They're re-doing a lot of the apartments with new appliances, wood floors, new furniture. And those that aren't getting remodeled this summer (or were done last summer) are at least getting new furniture this summer, so they'll be nice next year. Bice seems to have a different group of people living there, and I've heard it's kind of a crappy location other than being near Student Health/Cabell.</p>
<p>So, if you can't do Brown, i'd go Lambeth if you want a more normal, fun, college-type housing. Copeley/Faulkner are far away (as in you need a bus to get onto central grounds) and are mostly upperclass/graduates. Gooch/Dillard rooms are singles and TINY, and G/D is pretty anti-social and far away from everything as well. IRC is good if you want that type of living/program.</p>
<p>C3 = convience store. They have apt stuff, plus frozen foods, bread, basic food stuff, juice, etc etc (much like crossroads) and food stuff you can use PLU$ on</p>
<p>I too felt that gooch/dillard was pretty cut-off from all the happenings and the only reason why I was perhaps considering it was because it is close to Alderman (where I currently live) and see now that seems to be a little silly reason. :)
But I just though it would also be easier to walk to classes from G/D but I guess from that perspective IRC would be closer.</p>
<p>Nah, getting from G/D to anywhere sucks. Trust me haha.<br>
As for the IRC, the only problem is that you have to walk up Emmet everyday and even that's a tad out of the way.
Lambeth is a 10-min walk to central grounds, mostly because an intersection you have to cross (university/rugby/carr's hill). But you can catch a bus up on Beta Bridge (orange/grounds loop) so it's pretty easy.</p>
<p>Lambeth is apt. style, with 2 or 3-bedrooms that each have two people (so 4 or 6 people per apt), then you have a kitchen and either 1.5 baths (2-br apts) or 2 full baths (3-br apt)</p>
<p>You can take the Green bus from the IRC if you're lazy enough/in a time crunch enough. The IRC is where I would have chosen to live had I not gotten into Brown as a first year, I am pretty sure, or alternatively off grounds. I have a lot of friends there (none of whom are international, LOL) and they like it a lot (all are multi-year residents). Brown is amazing so don't undermine it before giving yourself a chance to get in, but also you definitely are right that you need to be realistic with the acceptance rate chances. If you only like Brown for the location, your essay will be transparent that you feel that way and you won't get in. Lambeth is a great option if you're a typical UVA student who wants that same dorm environment. Bice's appeal is the somewhat close location to Cabell and also the existence of a kitchen. G/D suites sort of have a kitchen, are close to the stadium, and that would be about it (tiny rooms!!! and far away from classes). Copeley is super far away, you DO have to take the bus to get to class, so you would probably be better off in G/D than there haha.</p>
<p>Upperclass Open House
Saturday, October 27th 12pm-3pm
<em>We need two or three apartments to volunteer to be exhibited</em>
You and your suitemates should be present to answer any questions!!
Your apt must be VERY clean and fire code compliant. </p>
<p>neato. A friend of mine found the Brown invitation yesterday while steam tunneling. I have no idea if he wil live there or not, he doesnt seem to fit in there to me, but hes a cool guy.</p>
<p>@ hazerlob: well, one of my primary considerations for Brown is of course the location but I also want to get in because I've heard a lot about Brown having an environment that is conducive to intellectual development. Nevertheless, as much as I'd like to be known as a brownie, I wouldnt want people sterotype me as one - of course that concern arises only IF i get in :) and hence I've constantly been mulling over brown as an option and so I agree with you that I should not apply if I feel I wont fit in just for the sake of the proximity to clemons!</p>
<p>@shoebox - thanks a lot for the information. I guess that that's during the family weekend, where they plan to take families on "sight-seeing" trips for housing options. But I definitely plan on attending the information session you posted about. From all the good opinion/advise I've been getting from this forum - I've narrowed it down to Brown, IRC and lambeth so far. I am not considering G/D and Copeley b/c proximity to campus is a major factor for me. (I tend to oversleep). :)</p>
<p>@ehiunno - sorry, I'n new to the lingo here but what does "steam tunneling" mean?</p>
<p>@cavalier302 - point noted. I've also been keeping an eye out for off-grounds housing and sort making a mental note of the bus-stops near off-grounds housing but again, relative proximity would be an issue.</p>
<p>Also, this is another question for all.
I've been living in a suite-styled dorm and so far I like that. However, I do not know whether I would like the dorm-styled living. Any opinions about the differences one will feel. In addition to that - I have to live in a single room if I cant find a room mate by the deadline date!</p>
<p>So....if one would have to put IRC and Lambeth in order of preference, which order would they be in and why?</p>
<p>PS: Sorry, I'm asking so many questions but I just want to make sure that I make the right choice since I have to live in there for the coming academic year.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Steam Tunneling: you walk/run/skip/etc your way through the underground steam tunnels. They are there because they provide steam to all of the grounds buildings/hospital for heat. If you go down there, don't touch the pipes.</p></li>
<li><p>Lambeth is suite style, but double rooms, with a kitchen. Brown I know is singles in a "suite" type style. Don't know about IRC.</p></li>
<li><p>If you don't find a roommate, it's not a big deal. In my apt, there were only 5 people to start with and they assigned a transfer to the extra space. So don't fear if you don't have a roommate, a group of 4, or a group of 6.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>As for order:
I'd put Lambeth. It's an experience, and you're around hundreds of other 2nd-years. You can always live in the IRC as a third and fourth year when you've developed your languages a bit more. Lambeth has its faults, but I don't know anyone who regrets living in it. There's nothing better than sitting on a picnic bench, drunk, at 2am, and have 20 people that you know walk by and then whatever happens happens.</p>
<p>Off grounds should be your primary choice, probably somewhere on Brandon if you think all your classes will be in the Cabell area, or JPA/14th/elsewhere for whatever other reasons you have.</p>
<p>On grounds is generally all pretty bad, except for Brown primarily for its location (though you don't get a kitchen, they make you get a dining plan, and it doesn't seem like you get parking either). I would say Bice is the best for the non-application on grounds stuff, because it's the closest in general. After that go with Lambeth if you have to, but at that point I would really start looking harder for off grounds housing. Gooch/Dillard is the worst, and you don't want Copeley or Faulkner either due to the distance.</p>