There’s a few threads comparing dorms/apartments at UT, but they’re a bit old so I wanted some fresh opinions.
If anyone’s curious, I’m an auto-admit and already received my acceptance for linguistics at COLA. Still waiting to hear on those honors programs which is slowly eating away at me haha.
Personal things to consider: proximity to the COLA building, food availability, environment, and price. I’m female and not a party person. I’m thinking about living at either Jester, Kinsolving, or the honors quad, but I’m still open to anything. Any suggestions?
My questions to current/past students and the incoming class of 2021 are: where are you living / planning on living and why? What have you heard about other dorms? Feel free to discuss off-campus housing as well.
My son is living at Dobie, upperclassman. It’s about $830 a month for a 12 month lease with a roommate, but it does have some issues with things breaking down once in awhile (maintenance). It’s right across from campus so it’s convenient but my daughter who will attend there next year as a freshman, definitely wants to live in a dorm. She’s hoping for honors.
@cgigi22 I definitely really recommend staying on campus at least your first year so you can meet people and ease of getting to and from classes. Then after that off, campus but nearby might give you cheaper and more spacious options if you meet friends to room with. Farther away is cheaper but make sure youre on a bus line. My DD is admitted to nueroscience but waiting to hear about Plan II. Pins and needles!
I have a freshman at UT this year. After reading the Campus Watch for the last few months, I’d say if you are not a party person to avoid Jester. Kinsolving is a great women’s dorm, with one of the two all you can eat dining halls on the first floor, plus Kin’s Market and a coffee shop. They have a tutoring center and a work out area there as well. My daughter said it is quiet, and she likes that. To save money, ask for the community baths. My daughter rarely has any trouble with getting the laundry facilities, which are on her floor, when she needs them. She is re-upping to live there again next year. My incoming Longhorn will apply to live in Kinsolving too. Good luck and Hook em!
Good luck to you also! Honors dorms are what we’re hoping for! Make sure to put the $75 dorm.deposit ASAP because they assign priority based on signing up.
@CorpusChristi Thanks! That’s the $50 fee, isn’t it? I don’t know if they’ve started giving out housing contracts yet but I’ve got my initial deposit covered!
Son is a freshman in the Honor’s Quad. Has no complaints- bathrooms are clean and he never has a problem waiting to take a shower or doing laundry. Takes turns eating at Kins & Littlefield across the street. He will opt to stay on campus again next year. He says “it is just too convenient.”
Another Honors Quad parent here as well. My son is in Carothers (note that you don’t get to choose which of the three dorms you prefer). Nice dorm, intimate, and the bathrooms and showers are indeed clean and convenient. The Quad is right off the Drag and the cafeteria options close and reasonable. His room is smallish, but he and his roommate get along well, which helps any dorm experience. A good fit for him with the demanding dual degree. He’ll move to an apartment with friends next year, so I hope he enjoys cleaning his own bathroom!
Additional word: Particularly for OOS students, living in the dorms is beneficial helpful for making friends, getting involved with groups. Since 90% of the students are from Texas, there is an initial adjustment period for out-of-staters and of course internationals.
I stayed in the honors quad (Blanton) for my freshman and sophomore year about nine years ago. They renovated it from my freshman to sophomore year and it improved significantly. I loved it - super convenient and made lifelong friends. It was important for me coming from a working class community to be with a lot of high achieving and driven people. I am glad to hear other people are reporting positive experiences.
All sound advice! Does anyone know anything about the roommate match system and how well it works? Not too worried about it but I’ll most likely be applying for a contract without a set roommate.
I don’t know but my daughter could definitely use that information too when the time comes. She has to see first though if she will get into honors. She’s not a partier either.
Roommates are “pot luck”. Last year there was no roommate match information to be filled out. Because our daughter is in Women in Natural Sciences, she was matched with a roommate from that same program. They are getting along great so it worked out fine for her.
