I’m doing BHP (the Business Honors Program) at UT.
Could anybody recommend the most convenient dorms for me?
I’d like to be close to Perry Library and the Business building, but if the Honors Quad is worth the walking distance, I’m willing to go for it.
I need a very quiet dorm, and I’m not really looking for a party-ish atmosphere.
I’d like dorm rooms that are pretty too. I’d prefer dark woods and old charm over brand new particle board cabinets.
I’m getting the Community baths since I want to spend the least possible.
My choices so far are: 1) Honors 2) Brack/Roberts/Prather 3) Moore-Hill 4) Whitis Court 5) Jester West
Any suggestions? I don’t know what the difference between Brack/Roberts/Prather,Moore Hill, and Whitis Court really is.
Jester west is across the street from the PCL and on opposite diagonal ends of an intersection from the business school. There multiple floors with multiple halls in them, so it’s a gamble on whether your room will be in the more quieter sections (it all depends on who gets assigned around you too). It’s not like the “louder” sections are even that loud anyway, there are RAs for a reason. No dark wood look, but honestly nobody ever really thinks about that kind of stuff since they cover everything with their personal items anyway. Dining hall INSIDE the building.
Brackenridge, Roberts, Prather, and Moore-Hill usually have that dark wood look to it, a couple hundred feet farther from the PCL and business school, quieter atmosphere, NO dining hall (I believe the closest dining hall is in Jester).
It gets really hot and really cold in Austin, so keep in mind that you will have to walk outside in whatever extreme climate to eat. Some people from the honors quad or whitis court don’t even bother studying at the PCL late at night during the winter months because traversing the frozen tundra back home isn’t worth.
@OhSorryYo made some good points to consider. I think the “Frozen tundra” seems a bit extreme given that some students choose to go to school in really cold weather states!
My S loves the convenience of Jester West. Almost all of the floors will be newly renovated by the time you get there. Hardwood floors - a nondescript but functional floor plan. With the reno came brand new mattresses. What you get at Jester West that you don’t get at others on your list is a sink in your room (maybe in Honors? not sure). Community bath is the way to go IMO. My S has reported that he has been in the community bath by himself except on 2 occasions all semester. That seems way better than sharing a bath with 3 other suite mates and having to clean it!) His bathroom is conveniently located directly across the hall from his room, so that is a plus that doesn’t always happen.
I think what you get from the others on your list is a closer knit community and some charm in rooms that are not all the same. I have especially heard this about the Whitis Court community - plus bigger closets, convenient hall kitchens and rec rooms.
For what it is worth, I like your list. I think you will probably get Honors, and that should work well for you.
@Galore, they do 4 floors each summer. Started at the top. And last summer got finished with down to floor 8 or 9, I think. So after this summer, the only remaining to be renovated will be floors 1 - 4. Don’t quote me though - this was what we learned last year when early move-in requests became a challenge for some students because their floors were still under construction til the normal move-in date.