<p>Hey, so I'm an incoming first year, and I was just assigned Gooch/Dillard as my dorm. I have a double, and there's another single in my suite. My question is, how far from central grounds will I be? Also, how socially isolated will I be? Thanks.</p>
<p>Some more questions I just thought of: How large are the doubles? Am I screwed living in Gooch? Or do people over exaggerate how bad it is? FWIW, I’m in Gooch 382</p>
<p>How’d you find out your dorm assignment already? I thought notifications were in early July??</p>
<p>I went to the housing page and under housing offers for returning students (although I’m a first year, I decided to see if it worked), I logged in, and I noticed that there was a link to view my assignment. I called UVa housing to see if this was normal, and they said it was probably inaccurate, although I didn’t feel very confident in her answer. Does this happen for anyone else?</p>
<p>I actually just went and checked it again, and now they updated it to say: “Your application for upperclass housing was received, but no rooms were available by the time your lottery number was reached. Additional assignments are being made as rooms become available. You will receive an e-mail when your assignment has been made.” Weird, especially considering I’m a first year!</p>
<p>I believe that is just the standard default system text for upperclass housing when nothing is yet in the system - which it wouldn’t be for 1st years.</p>
<p>But what about the housing that it originally said I had? After I called housing up and told them, they told me (not confidently), that it was a mistake, and then it was taken down.</p>
<p>You’re an incoming first-year student. There will be a link for first-year students on the front page of Housing & Resident Life when your assignments are available. What you currently see could not be more self explanatory and is not going to get you your housing assignment.</p>
<p>If it were your housing assignment you can see on the map just how far it is from central grounds…not far. Are you ‘screwed’ (such a subjective term)? No, you’re not. I’ve known first-year students who lived in McCormick, Gooch/Dillard, and Alderman. All had different aspects unique to that area that they loved. All loved their first year experience and couldn’t imagine it anywhere else. As for Gooch/Dillard being socially isolated…only if that’s what YOU want and create for yourself. My son had a group of friends who lived in G/D first year. They had a/c, a common area, and a flat screen TV (he didn’t have those in McCormick). Where do you think he was on game nights? The girls didn’t mind as long as he brought food (bringing friends was appreciated as well, hey it’s not just guys that like cute visitors 
). Their suite was anything but isolated socially.</p>
<p>Thanks for the info, but why was there a housing option already displayed for me?</p>
<p>Because computer software for thousands of students has glitches. Nothing is perfect. Just chill, and check on the right date.</p>
<p>I know I’m being paranoid (or maybe just excited for college!), but I feel like it was more than a glitch. My roommate in G/D was the one I requested, so idk. Obviously, I’d prefer to not be so far from campus, but I guess it wouldn’t be that bad to live there (although Alderman would be a lot nicer!)</p>
<p>The housing assignments are mainly generated by computer, and it goes through many possibilities before deciding on the final rooms. Your roommate would not change. Hope this explanation makes sense.</p>
<p>Thanks! 10char</p>
<p>I don’t think Gooch is a bad place to live. It is a beautiful setting, and you are still close to many of the buildings where many first year classes are held. It also is nice having a living room and air conditioning, which the old dorms don’t have.</p>
<p>Hey yankeeboy,</p>
<p>I’m a rising Third Year now and I was in Gooch 384 my First Year, so I can definitely offer some insight into what’s it like being at Gooch. I think it’s actually an extremely peaceful place to live away from the hustle and bustle of central grounds; you never feel too detached from everything else because (1) there are over 600 others living with you in that complex so lots of shared sympathy and (2) UTS transportation can get you on grounds in 2 minutes, or you can just walk 10 minutes/run 5 minutes and you’ll be right in the heart of campus. </p>
<p>Social life is the best in my opinion as it’s easy to get out and visit friends. The people you meet there will likely be the first you spend significant time with on campus, so you’ll always have a good base of friends there. Toss in the fact that you’re all a little ways off central campus and that means you’ll be spending a lot of quality time with them on those lazy saturday and sunday afternoons, weekday nights, etc. Gooch/Dillard in my experience really wasn’t too tightly monitored when I was there, but it’s gaining a reputation for being more and more party-oriented. My good friend was an RA in Dillard last year and had to bust quite a number of kids for drinking in dorms/excessive noise. While I’m sure many residents drink or have drank in dorms, very few generally get caught.</p>
<p>Also, he lived in a rare suite with a double room. The double is located on the lower level of the suite right next to the bathroom. The extra space you get from sharing a room isn’t all that much, so I would definitely say you didn’t get the best assignment. I had a single like ~95% of Gooch/Dillard and it was nice because I could spend time alone in my tiny room as well as come downstairs to our fairly large, well furnished common room and chill with suitemates. That being said, it’s the people that will make your experience worthwhile, so hope that you get some people you get along well with in your suite cause you will see each other a lot.</p>
<p>And lastly, Gooch 382 is the building closest to Alderman Rd. and bus stop. Very convenient, easy access. Also a 3-4 minute walk away from Runk Dining Hall, which has mixed reviews. In my opinion, amazing weekend brunches but lackluster dinners. </p>
<p>Let me know if you want to know other specifics via PM! Hope your orientation goes well and you enjoy your First Year at UVa.</p>
<p>Thanks a lot for all that info.</p>