Looking at housing options for my D at UT, she is admitted, not quite ready to commit, we are out of state and will have to wait until mid March at least to hear from our state schools to make a final decision. Talking to other students it seems many who want to be in the Greek system live in Calloway House, Hardin House or the Scottish Dorm which are all privately run and require a separate deposit, contract etc. Most of these have at least some part, sometimes large parts, that are non-refundable. I am looking for general comments on location, food, student population and opinions, etc. in order to try to narrow it down a bit as we may have to accept some $ loss if she decides not to attend UT. Will be visiting at the end of February but I think we will need to sign a contract before that so any help would be great. Am also interested in hearing about the University Housing.
D lived at SRD last year and many (most) of her friends lived at Hardin. Hardin is definitely “all greek” while SRD is “half greek” SRD is nicer, but with smaller rooms. It also has much better food. Location is big difference between the two as Hardin is in the midst of West Campus while SRD is on the North end of campus. D was very happy at SRD and I was very pleased with the safety and communications from management. D applied in March once she decided she would go to UT and was off the waitlist in April. Hardin did not fill up two years ago but I understand it did last year. D did not consider on campus housing since she didn’t submit an application in time.
I would contact all 3 and see if they are even available. In years past, all 3 have been on waiting lists many months at this same time. Last year I signed a Callaway lease in October. My daughter decided to live at University Towers and I had to sublet my Callaway lease which was stressful as they have crazy rules as to who you can sublet to. The waiting lists are usually long but do move. We are also out of state, committed “late” in March last year and daughter literally could not be happier!!! Best decision ever!
Have done applications, etc. and at this point can probably get a spot at Hardin and on Callaway wait list which they seem to think will work out, not sure about SRD, kinda wondered if she would be only out of state kid there? What is university towers?
This is my LHD’s second year at SRD and she loves it there. The historic building is beautiful, location next to campus is perfect, food is great, and it has a friendly community feeling. I would agree that SRD is about half Greek. You can choose not to join Greek life and easily fit in at SRD. Hardin House and Callaway House are significantly more expensive than a traditional double room at SRD. If you’re interested in SRD for 2017-18, I recommend that you check into it ASAP. Contracts for next year went out earlier this week and they’ve already started the waitlist.
I loved SRD so much I lived there all four years, and almost lived there during grad school. Just a beautiful, comfortable place to live. And yes, excellent food.
Last time I was there, there were some photos hung in a basement hallway. One photo is of a bunch of girls in the 50s, in the swimming pool. One of them is my mom! She lived there from 1956-60. I was there from 1980-84. I was kind of sad my daughter didn’t go to UT and get to live at SRD.
I still have a nightshirt from SRD - “Spoiled Rotten Daughters.” Yep! 
University Towers is another private dorm. Nice enough and good location but not luxury. It’s almost 100% out of state kids.
One other thing to add, you probably already know this, but Hardin and SRD are girls only with very strict visitation (i.e., males, including Dad’s and brothers, are only allowed beyond the lobby between noon on Sat and 10:00 PM Sunday, if I remember correctly) while Callaway is co-ed. It is my perception that more boys live at Callaway than girls, but the girls that live there really like it.
SRD has loosened up! We were only allowed to have men on the halls at one open house per semester.
My OOS daughter is in Calloway and is in a sorority and it’s the best decision she has ever made. She loves that it is co ed and she has made many nice guy friends. She considered Hardin House but is so glad she picked Calloway
DD lives at SRD. Loves it and said it was a great decision. Some of her besties live at Calloway and Hardin so she is there often. I think she is happy with her choice. She does have lots of guy friends at Calloway but I think she likes that she can come home to a peaceful, really nice place with great food when she wants to. Great study spaces, parking etc. Contracts went out Monday so the waiting list is growing…
HH is very traditional, and indeed very Greek. It is a wonderful place to meet friends, and it does a great job of instantly giving a student a community - something so important in a university this size. Note that once the next wave of UT Admissions ( most likely around 2/17) is out, HH will fill up immediately. Some of my best life-long friends I met while we were living together at Hardin House.
As a clarification, I know two years ago when D decided to go to UT in March, she was put on the waitlist on SRD and spots were available in Hardin. In fact, Hardin did not go to a waitlist that year and I understand did not fill before the summer. I understand that last year it did fill up early, so it is very hard to predict from year to year. I say this because it drives me crazy when the for-profit/private campus housing folks try to use fear to make parents commit with deposits before they are ready – whatever is right for your student and your family is always the path “meant to be.” 