<p>I have a few questions. If anyone could answer them I’d be very grateful.</p>
<li>Is it a good idea to join a coop as a freshman?</li>
<li>Is it any fun?</li>
<li>Will I miss out on the dorm experience?</li>
</ol>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>whats co-ops</p>
<p>i'm looking at this option right now, and it seems really nice. i think im going to try first semester in the co-ops and see how it is. use the search function, youll find a big thread about co-ops.</p>
<p>"3. Will I miss out on the dorm experience?"</p>
<p>Well obviously since you aren't going to live in a dorm, you will miss the dorm experience. However, many co-op residents are quite happy with their housemates and love the experience.</p>
<p>One thing about co-ops: room assignments are made on a first-come first-served basis. Everybody pays the same, but living situations vary. So if you do want ot join, come in early. Also, do check out every house, as they are quite different in culture, size and quality. Overall, I guess it is a great value (anyone care to provide the price difference?) By and large, Coops have great locations, mostly east side of campus, north and south.</p>
<p>They're probably good option for a mature freshman, hanging out with upperclass(wo)men has its perks.</p>
<p>I foot the bill for someone living in a co-op, who lived in a dorm last year, and I believe it is approximately 45% of the cost of a double dorm room in foothill.</p>
<p>Room assignments are not first-come first-served (at least in my S's coop). Acceptance into the co-op system is F-C F-S, but room assignments are done through a complicated seniority system based on how long you've lived in co-ops</p>
<p>I agree with CalX's conclusion, if you are a reasonably mature freshman, the co-ops are a viable option</p>
<p>thx for the correction AW.</p>
<p>With this cost differntial above, Co-ops are a fantastic bargain. I mean at this price difference, you can afford to dine at Chez Panisse every week for the price of a dorm setting with less space. Coops have the added advantag of having more living space per student (lounges, living room) and more intimate settings (dining room as opposed to mega-cafeteria.) </p>
<p>Freshmen should visit coops before the end of the term, because there is a great amount of variation and some of the houses could be a poor personal fit.</p>
<p>Is anybody taking the co-op tour tomorrow at cal day? Please come back with comments, as I was unable to make it to Berkeley due to conflicts.</p>
<p>The Davis house is great. It's a Julia Morgan house along the stairway to to football stadium, with bay views.</p>
<p>Also, some of the bigger coops recreate the dorm atmosphere, but some are pretty wild. Others are smaller and very, very sedate.</p>
<p>The best advice is to VISIT before you make your selections! That is all.</p>
<p>Has anyone here actually applied to the co-ops? And do you know when freshmen find out what house they are assigned to?</p>
<p>I applied for co-ops be back in April and got a reply at the very beginning of May. They placed me at the African American theme house. I sent the contract back, and asked to be put on the waiting list for Euclid and Kidd.</p>
<p>I myself should have vistied the co-ops before I decided to accept my contract. Man, I didn't know it would be so dirty... I mean the people seem very nice (now), but I don't know if I can stand cleaning barf or whatever that is in sinks and bathrooms that are so bleh...........</p>
<p>Are you in Cloyne Court?</p>
<p>No actually Lothlorien. I guess the co-ops just aren't for me. In this sense I am glad I tried to stay here over the summer and test it out, and now I know.</p>
<p>About a third of coops are pretty crunchy and not very clean (Chateau, Cloyne, maybe Lothlorein.) Same with the fraternities, about one third are pretty dirty. Their residents view the social side as much more important than their hygene...</p>
<p>what do you think would be better (social scene/cleanliness aspects) sticking with a quad @ bowles or going for a good co-op?</p>
<p>Everyone student should live in the dorm at least once.</p>
<p>GBread, I think it depends on the individual and the luck of the draw. The dorm experience can be great, but there is no guarantee. Both dorms, greek, and co-ops provide some social scene; each a bit different.</p>
<p>In the dorms, one is bound to find mainly (only?) first year students, whereas the co-ops have a greater range including graduate students. Dorms may be cleaner (more sterile?). </p>
<p>From my one data point (that is my S of course), his dorm experience was very bland and socially a dead end. He has thrived in the co-op. When I've visited his co-op, it has been reasonably clean and the bathrooms have been fine. (but I am far from being a clean freak)
If you are considering the co-ops, really the best advice is 1) put in an application so you are in the queue and 2)visit them and see if the social vibe and cleanliness level suit you</p>