<p>They’re a dry campus, but I know for a fact that kids drink in their dorm rooms. (Pre-gaming they call it). Shots before the actual party OFF campus. :-/ I’ve known of kids who have had noise violations and at the same time, alcohol was confiscated, but they didn’t get kicked out of housing. But, that was ONE time. It might be that if they break the rules AGAIN, they might not be so lucky. And, if a kid is visiting another dorm room where there’s booze, even if it’s not their own, they still get written up. SO BE CAREFUL or you might be paying for housing TWICE–on and OFF campus! I don’t condone any of it, but that doesn’t mean it’s not happening. :-/</p>
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<p>CASurfer posted:</p>
<p>I’m not much of a party person, but I heard that if you are caught with alcohol, you are kicked out of the dorms or even Cal Poly, even if it’s first-offense. I just would like to know if that’s true or not from students who actually have experience from it… If not, what’s it really like? Are there actually dorm parties or no?</p>
<p>I’m definitely focused on studies, but I would like to know what it’s really like so I can adjust accordingly.</p>
<p>CASurfer, my daughter lived in Yosemite, Tower 0, closest to campus last year and absolutely LOVED it! She met her roommate through Facebook. It was really great having a co-ed floor. The guys were like her brothers, except for the one who became her boyfriend later! They’re now back to being just good pals. </p>
<p>One nice thing about the Towers, is you don’t have long hallways, so it’s more cozy getting to know your dorm mates. And the rooms all open into a small, central lounge, so it’s easy to socialize and study. When I visited, I noticed in the evening some kids all sitting at the small table with open books or reading papers. </p>
<p>When they first moved in as freshmen and during/after WOW, they had a fun, little Tower 0 Mixer in the lounge. I have some cute pictures of the kids dancing and having a good time. They do have a curfew for noise, though. As mentioned here earlier, the rooms are VERY spacious compared to the Red Bricks, even with the tripling up this year in some rooms. They’ve always been doubles in the Towers until now. The might got back to that if there aren’t as many incoming freshmen next year. Red Bricks always has triples, along with doubles.</p>
<p>My daughter had initially put down Muir in Red Bricks as her second or third choice, but now she’s glad she went with Yosemite. She’s now living with one of her dorm mates in Poly Canyon Village and has kept in close touch with many of her Tower mates, especially the ones on her floor. She joined a sorority this year, along with her good friends from the dorm. Different chapters, but they’re all having the time of their lives. Lots of philanthropy, too. She’s also in two major-related clubs. It’s all good at Cal Poly SLO! :)</p>
<p>casurfer: Cerro Vista is mostly for freshmen. Maybe some transfers. Poly Canyon Village is mostly for sophomores, transfers and upper classmen if there’s room. There often is. I know of a few juniors there now. My daughter will move off campus next year. We wanted her to live in PCV this year, though. </p>
<p>I don’t know the pros and cons of each dorm, other than what some have mentioned here. Red Bricks are more traditional, long hallways, smaller rooms, closer to UU, etc. The towers of Sierra Madre and Yosemite have a more intimate lay-out without the long hallways. As mentioned, Yosemite has co-ed floors. They really aren’t that far from the main part of campus, but then Tower 0 where my daughter lived also happens to be the closest to campus and Vista Grande (VGs) eatery. North Mountain are more like motel rooms. They open up to the outside. No interior halllways. That would be my last choice, but I know kids who did just fine there. I think where ever you end up, you’ll make good friends and enjoy your home away from home. I had heard that some kids living in triples in the Red Bricks are having some issues with their roommates. But, that could happen anywhere. Just worse in tight quarters or if two of the roommates are good friends. Odd man out. :-/</p>
<p>I am currently a freshman living in Cerro Vista. It’s mainly freshman, but there will be a few transfers here and there. I have friends in just about every type of housing.</p>
<p>Yosemite has co-ed floors, kind of. Each floor is separated into two sides with a common room in the middle. Girls live on one side and the guys live on the other, but it is really easy to freely walk to the other side. It is definitely really social and from what I’ve seen; the tower and floor-mates hang out a lot. The downside is that you’re farther from campus and you have to deal with excess noise and random drunk people.</p>
<p>I’m not sure about the configuration of genders in Sierra Madre, but everything else is pretty much the same as Yosemite. It is a bit closer to campus, but not by much.</p>
<p>The red bricks are pretty social as well. You share a common room on each floor and one side is the boys and the other side houses the girls. I believe they’re the only housing with air conditioning, haha. It’s good if you want to meet people with the same major as you (or similar majors). Depending on which one you live in, the location is the best. It can get a little loud sometimes, but it’s generally a decent environment.</p>
<p>North Mountain pretty much looks like a motel. The rooms are huge though if you end up getting a double. A triple still looks pretty decent though. You share a bathroom with another room and the assignment of genders is random. There is tons of space to chill outside and it’s definitely very peaceful there.</p>
<p>A lot of people say Cerro Vista is very far from everything, but it takes me about the same time to get to classes as people who live in the red bricks. It is a drag since it’s hard to meet people, but honestly it should be fine as long as you don’t live under a rock. My friends always come over to my apartment and it’s no big deal as long as you know the shortcuts. I myself don’t party, but I know for a fact that it is a lot easier to get away with it in the apartments since the RA’s can’t really walk into your place without knocking first (They do have keys to get in if they really want to though). </p>
<p>My son is home on break and said the cops won’t stop you unless they have a good reason. He also thought there is a $300 fine on the first offense if caught with alcohol in the dorms. 2nd offense, you might get expelled.</p>
<p>"I’m not much of a party person, but I heard that if you are caught with alcohol, you are kicked out of the dorms or even Cal Poly, even if it’s first-offense. I just would like to know if that’s true or not from students who actually have experience from it… If not, what’s it really like? Are there actually dorm parties or no?</p>
<p>I’m definitely focused on studies, but I would like to know what it’s really like so I can adjust accordingly."</p>
<p>Three of my friends have been documented for alcohol in the dorms, you certainly do not get kicked out as it is a fairly common issue. One of them was released on a warning, the other two had to write essays, have meetings with housing and are on “housing probation” aka if they screw up again the consequences will be more severe. Generally the school takes marijuana and drugs much more seriously and if your caught in your dorms with those it’s not unusual to be kicked out for a first time marijuana offense. </p>
<p>Second of all there are no dorm “parties” with alcohol, drinking in the dorms is about pre-gaming for a party that is off campus or just with a few friends for some other reason. A full blown party in a dorm, although funny, would be broken up before it started. If you room in Yosemite or Sierra Madre you will see drinking much more often. Red Bricks and North Mountain Halls are more quiet, but it does happen in all of them but it’s likely you won’t know. It sounds like your not into the party scene so I would recommend the Red Brick associated with your major, North Mountain Halls, or Cerro Vista, all of these are more than suitable for a study oriented student.</p>
<p>Jared53: I thought Red Bricks were the most social? That’s what I’ve read… I want to be in the social dorms. I am a very social person and do like to go to the occasional party. </p>
<p>I thought Yosemite and Sierra Madre were really old? I’m stuck between Red Bricks, Yosemite, Sierra Madre, and Cerro Vista. North Mountain is out. Definitely want a roommate or two. Now I’m confused… =/</p>
<p>yosemite and sierra madre are the newest dorms. they have a different set up with no long hall. the rooms are really big. they are easily the most social and party kind of dorms.
yosemite has coed floors and sierra madre one gender per floor.</p>
<p>I have a few questions for my top 3 dorms choices: Red Bricks (Tenaya b/c I’m a Business major), Sierra Madre, and Yosemite.</p>
<p>Tenaya: Is Tenaya in particular a social dorm? How many people live per floor (first vs. second and third)? Also heard internet doesn’t really work well, true?</p>
<p>Sierra Madre: Do they have more people than Yosemite per floor (they look bigger on the map)? Again, how many people per floor (first vs. second and third)?</p>
<p>***Yosemite: Is it true that there’s only 12 people on the first floor of each tower as opposed to 24-30 on the second and third? I was considering this my first choice, but if I was on the first floor I wouldn’t like the fact that there’s only 12 people to socialize with really… Is there any way I could request the 2nd or 3rd floor? Is the first floor for people who apply later or is it just random?</p>
<p>Also, about how many minutes does it take to walk to say, the dining halls? What about across campus?</p>
<p>For all three: Is it true or not true that you need a key to get into the other floors of the dorms?</p>
<p>All I can comment on is that the Internet in the red brick dorms is not as good as the rest of campus – but, it is not bad. So, there is no excuse not to stay in the red brick dorms because of that. My kid is in Santa Lucia and the Internet connection is good enough for online 3D video gaming that really works well. Skype on the other hand really, really sucked. However, at his suggestion we changed to ooVoo and it works great with excellent clarity of picture. We oovoo every Sunday night.</p>
<p>By the way, in my opinion there is not bad housing at Cal Poly. The red brick dorm shocked me at how nice they were. I remember what my college dorms were like when I was in college and these are totally different. My kid is in a triple and even though it is cramped, there is enough storage space and all the furniture looked brand new to me. Plenty of storage space and quite comfortable. Funny enough, but I have a theory that all the physically large kids get doubles and the smaller kids get the triples. I have absolutely no basis for this opinion other than personal observation. My kid is 5’10’ but 140 lbs and his roommates are both smaller then him. Across the hall is a double with two 6’2" plus 200 lbs or more lacrosse players. Next to them was a triple with three guys all under 5’7" and around 150 lbs or less. then another double with two big guys… Both my wife and I noticed the way the rooms were divided up. Again, I have absolutely no proof that this is how rooms were decided, but it was really uncanny how it seemed that every double had pretty big guys in it and all the triples were filled with smaller guys. So, if you are Asian or Latino or just a smaller guy expect a triple even if you ask for a double!! That happened to us. The crazy thing is that I have no recollection that we put height or weight on the application or any other forms. We did put ethnicity though and we are Asian mixed.</p>
<p>Jared53: I thought Red Bricks were the most social? That’s what I’ve read… I want to be in the social dorms. I am a very social person and do like to go to the occasional party. </p>
<p>I thought Yosemite and Sierra Madre were really old? I’m stuck between Red Bricks, Yosemite, Sierra Madre, and Cerro Vista. North Mountain is out. Definitely want a roommate or two. Now I’m confused… =/</p>
<p>Anyone?</p>
<p>Casurfer it’s great that you want to be social, you will have a blast here. The red bricks and yosemite/sierra are both social, but I would have to say Sierra/Yosemite are a little crazier. Occasionally I go to parties with some friends from Sierra and there dorms seem to be a little more active on weekends than mine. Either choice is fine and you will have fun either way. As long as you don’t focus on partying and never make problems walking back from a party than you will be fine. The police are looking for people who are in danger to themselves or others (ie puking on the streets, falling into trashcans or starting fights), walking back a little drunk is common and not a huge issue. </p>
<p>Also, no matter what dorm you are in there is room for surfboards. Me and my roommate both surf and snowboard, currently we have 2 surfboards and snowboards in our room and our fine on space. There are some really fun waves around here.</p>
<p>Cerro is not social at all, you live in an apartment style with about 5 people. It’s extremely hard to meet people inside of Cerro.</p>
<p>Red bricks are the most social because the design of the building makes everyone live very close/tight to each other. You’re forced to meet the people around you whether you want to or not. By the end of the quarter you’ll know everyone your floor + more. </p>
<p>I am unsure of Sierra/Yosemite but they are closer to the frat parties so on weekends you probably won’t see anyone in the dorms.</p>
<p>Cerro is as social as you want it to be. You can meet people and hang out, or you can go sit in your room. Your choice, although being able to cook and get some privacy when you want it is nice.</p>
<p>I’ve been reading about the dorms and the information has been very helpful. It did raise a few questions.</p>
<p>I applied to cal poly for architecture this year and was wondering if anyone knew if certain majors have certain dorms/if room mates are placed together by major or any further information regarding that. </p>
<p>I was also wondering if you are able to request a roommate if you have friends going to the same school or if for freshman year it’s random.</p>
<p>Yes, you can apply to certain dorms that have more folks of one major or another. For example, Santa Lucia is mainly engineers, etc. And yes you can select your own roommate and apply to room together. Some folks find their roommates on Facebook or other online postings. Some may choose a high school friend if you are both accepted to Cal Poly (although I do not suggest this). Here is the link for housing with a wealth of info about this topic [University</a> Housing - Cal Poly](<a href=“http://www.housing.calpoly.edu/]University”>http://www.housing.calpoly.edu/)</p>
<p>Housing at Cal Poly is really good. Call them and the phones are usually manned by current Cal Poly students working on campus and they generally spill the beans on all the actual info regarding housing.</p>
<p>camusician - Sequoia is one of the red bricks and it is the learning-living dorm for architecture and other majors within the College of Architecture and Environmental Design. Some advantages to this dorm for an architecture major: 1) the dorm’s study lounge has drafting tables and is a gathering place for the arch majors to work on their projects. When you’re up all night, it’s nice to have company. 2) About half the residents are in the CAED so you always have someone to help with classes. The other half are students in other majors, so you still have variety when you get sick of architecture talk. 3) There is programming specific to the majors. Professors will come into the dorm and speak about topics such as ‘how to design the portfolio due at the end of every quarter’. Anyone can come to those, but it’s convenient to have them in your building instead of across campus; it makes it more likely you’ll take advantage of them.
Sequoia is worth a look for CAED majors. Good luck on your application.</p>
<p>minimegs: What’s community council? Did he get to keep his housing?</p>
<p>Still have a few questions for the dorms, if anyone can answer I’d be very appreciative. =)</p>
<p>Tenaya: Is Tenaya in particular a social dorm? How many people live per floor (first vs. second and third)? Also heard internet doesn’t really work well, true?</p>
<p>Sierra Madre: Do they have more people than Yosemite per floor (they look bigger on the map)? Again, how many people per floor (first vs. second and third)?</p>
<p>***Yosemite: Is it true that there’s only 12 people on the first floor of each tower as opposed to 24-30 on the second and third? I was considering this my first choice, but if I was on the first floor I wouldn’t like the fact that there’s only 12 people to socialize with really… Is there any way I could request the 2nd or 3rd floor? Is the first floor for people who apply later or is it just random?</p>
<p>^^^ When my daughter lived in a Yosemite tower last year they didn’t just socialize with kids on their floor. In fact, I have several photos she took of fun events up in their 3rd floor lounge with kids from all three floors. They called the 1st floor “The Man Cave”. They definitely socialized with everyone, girls and guys alike. That’s the beauty of having a dorm that isn’t just one long hallways. There’s 60 students in a Yosemite tower (not sure about Sierra Madre) and they do become close, no matter the floor.</p>
<p>I have no idea how they place kids on floors. I believe it’s random. I didn’t see a place where you can request a particular floor. I just know that the guys in “The Man Cave” all looked happy and, like I said, they were friends with my daughter and others on the 2nd and 3rd floors. Everything is within close proximity in these towers. Only takes a minute to run up or down the stairs to socialize or study.</p>
They’re now back to being just good pals. </p>