<p>I'm just curious if any of you have been (were - or are) on the waiting list for Callaway House in Austin? My daughter just submitted her app and there are 70 or so girls on the waiting list .... it's tough to gamble and play the waiting game, but this seems to be her first choice. The other choice is Scottish Rite Dorm, and now the location of Callaway is swaying her to West Campus. Thanks for any insight!</p>
<p>I can vouch for SRD! I loved that place. </p>
<p>Thanks! She has at least 'til early February before she has to make a decision … so we’ll see. Personally I also love SRD - it’s just the location she’s a bit concerned about. And she’s convinced herself that everyone either lives at Hardin or Callaway. </p>
<p>Nope, lots of girls from the “top” sororities live at SRD. When I visited a couple of years ago, I saw so many beautiful girls! Blew me away. 
I was the awkward engineering nerd among many beauties, ha! But I found my prince, anyway. </p>
@koolmom5105 have you called to see where you daughter is on the waitlist now? Mine has been on the waitlist for Callaway and has recently moved up to 17. When I called, they said that’s a very good spot because they usually fill up to 60 off the waitlist. Was SRD not on a waitlist?
Hardin House and SRD are generally considered the plum private dorms for girls.
The boys’ wait list is apparently not moving as quickly. I submitted my son’s Callaway lease on October 30, and now he is at at number 51 on the wait list for boys. He hasn’t moved all that much from where he started. I was thinking that given that I hadn’t checked on it since before all the admissions decisions were released a few weeks ago, he would have moved up a lot more since last time I checked. They said that maybe all the boys are hanging on and hoping against hope that they will get into UT, kind of like my son, who is wanting to pursue appeal, waitlist and PACE, rather than just going to the Mays School of Business at A&M!.
My DD was number 24 I believe on the waitlist and she only moved to 17 with all the recent admission decisions sent out 3 weeks ago. We signed the contract right when they came out in October as well. They did tell me that they usually get to 60 off the waitlist so anything between 1-60 is a good spot to be in. I didn’t actually realize that had a boys list and a girls list. Not sure if the 60 applies to both. I would assume so. However, I’m wondering if we should go ahead and put down housing at UT on campus just in case. Hardin and SRD are other girl options but I would imagine they’re also on a waitlist now.
If you’re in the Texas Parents group and a member of the facebook group there’s several parents that have signed leases they’re looking to sell. You can’t be on the waitlist for them to sublease to you
Just called Callaway. The lease lady said that April is the peak cancellation month …after East coast schools notifiy admission decisions. Interesting that parents are selling the “re-lets”. It comes with a fee of $250 per the lease.
I called yesterday asking about the wait lists. I was told it was very very long and likely wouldn’t get a position if we went on wait list. I asked about a variety of floor plans, etc since they each have a different wait list. All were long. They were seriously pushing Castilian. Did anyone read all the horrible Google reviews about Castilian that have been posted recently? Just beware.
Someone said Castillan was recently bought out by callaway so maybe they’ll fix the issues. I heard they’ve renovated it as well. If you really want in Callawaybtheres some parents who have leases to sublet. You can’t be on the wait list to sublet one though.
@MOMOF5TX You have to wonder why a facility (Castilian) with a 20 million renovation still has availability. Major complaints written three weeks ago are from the centralized heating/cooling plus complaints about food and cafeteria hours (saturday/sunday 6pm close? really?) Yes I believe more improvements will have to be made. Considering it’s enormous cost - the parents have a right to be angry.
I can’t sublet yet - not sure which school till everything is in. I’m just preparing. Thanks for the info.
She’s in the 40s so not looking too optimistic. We didn’t send in the contract 'til Nov. just trusting things will work out the way they’re supposed to.
SRD has a wait list now - but nothing like Callaway. A friend called Hardin last week and they didn’t have a wait list then.
@comptechmom @MOMOF5TX @WrigleyMom pls explain the sublet process at Callaway - this is news to me. Since students with contracts still have time to cancel, why is there a need or option to sublet? My daughter will hold out as long as she can for Callaway b/c she’s met some sweet girls she wants to room with there … so we’ll see.
@koolmom5105 How did she find roommates? I don’t know anything about the sublet process and agree if they have the ability to back out I’m sure they’d do that but it may have to do with them being return residents and their contract. Not really sure. If your daughters room isn’t full mine would love to meet potential roomies
@koolmom5105 @MOMOF5TX This is a great learning experience for me. According to the lease it looks like you can re-let (get a substitute tenant). However the term of the contract is for the academic year so I have to assume those people who are looking for someone to take over their contract would be interested in the current year (now) and not starting with next year. I guess you could in theory pay for part of this year if you wanted to secure a spot but that seems like a bit much. Why would people want to leave Callaway - people leave for a variety of reasons including leaving school, wanting a different location, not enjoying your floor or people around you, etc. I’m hearing mixed reviews of Callaway from a bunch of high schoolers and we are local. As with all dorms - you don’t know what you will get.
On a side note - we did submit an application to Callaway but are now really are interested in SRD. What is interesting is if I don’t return the lease they won’t refund my $50 housing application fee however if I return the lease and we are put on the long waiting list then we write a letter (before space is available) I will get the $50 refunded. How messed up is that?
Anyone on waiting lists is encouraged to have a backup plan. So it seems like you might lose money in this whole process because you will have to pay multiple application fees, etc. Welcome to UT.
@MOMOF5TX my daughter’s connected with some girls who have contracts at Callaway who want to room with her - it’s a long shot, I know. We’re also local - the girls are from out of town. She’s rushing and the girls she knows are living at Callaway or Hardin, and in perfect world, she’d like to be with them. Life!
If you signed a lease…then check section 9 “Re-Let and Lease Assignment”…“Resident may, with the written consent of the Callaway House, secure a Lease assignment with a substitute tenant previously unknown to the Callaway House”. Remember the lease is binding unless you cancel prior to May 1 and then only if your child is not going to school in Austin. If a Resident can assign/ re-let to a third party and your child really, really wants to stay there…then find a Resident that is going to cancel (social media) and pay them more the $250 re-let fee to get their space. You can get a space without have to move up the waitlist if you have a high number.