Picking the right campus housing for your freshmen year is the first decision you should make after you have been accepted and chosen to attend U of I. The earlier you send in your housing information, the more likely you will get your dorm of choice.
Should I stay at University Housing or Private Certified Housing?Once again this is a personal preference decision that you must make on your own. These are some concepts to consider when making your decision. These are general comments and you should research the individual facilities before you make a decision (Private Certified Housing). Most PCH facilities offer Reciprocal Agreements with the University which allow you to switch your housing back to University dorms or vice-versa if you do not like your housing situation (Reciprocal Agreement form).
- Is it worth the extra money? While PCH states that their prices are very competitive with that of University Housing, more often than not you will be paying more.
- Will I have more space? Private Certified Housing usually does offer more room for you as a result of their room layouts and most offer semi-private baths. Great if you do want more space.
- Aren’t the PCH facilities better? Generally, yes. Bromley for instance has its own pool. Will you ever use the pool is a different question. Once again this is a price issue. You will be paying a little more for these facilities when you could walk across the street to IMPE or WIMPE if you live in the Six Pack or Allen Hall. Also, the University has made a big push to update their own dorm facilities such as the computer labs and dining halls.
- Will I be safer in PCH? Dorms are dorms and you will always run the risk of having something stolen if you do not take proper precautions. Several of the PCH complexes do have security on staff, but this can also pose a problem when you want to have friends over and security limits the amount of guests you have. All dorms are secured with key-card entrances and will have staff at all times of the day on the premises.
- Is the food better? Once again it depends on the exact dorm. Many people sign up for PCH thinking that the food will be better and can be in for a rude awakening. Not all PCH has the same cooking services so it is difficult to make a general comment. Most, if not all, University housing facilities offer food all day long (until Midnight) while some PCH only offer food during normal meal times.
- Who lives in PCH? The same kinds of people that live in University Housing. However, PCH does tend to have a large percentage of upperclassmen residents. It is important as freshmen to meet others your own age who are sharing the same experiences as you. This can obviously become difficult if you are placed on a floor composed mostly of sophomores and juniors who have already established themselves on campus. Additionally, if a residence has a large percentage of upperclassmen, these residents have more likely than not arranged to live with friends and may not be inclined to reach out and meet others in the dorm.
Should I choose a roommate or go random?
This can be a pretty tough decision with obvious advantages and disadvantages for either option. Going to a big school like U of I, you will probably have some friends on campus, especially if you come from a larger high school. There is no clear cut answer as to what you should do, so please be fully advised on your two options before you make a decision.
Rooming with a friend
Advantages: The obvious advantage is your comfort level. The first month or two of your freshman year can be difficult because of all of the adjustments to lifestyle you will be making. Living with someone you know can ease you into the ‘college experience’ and can also help you meet more friends and develop relationships with more people in a shorter amount of time. Sharing a dorm with a friend can also make communication much easier for when you are planning what to bring, discussing where you want to live, etc. Finally, requesting to live with a friend can also help ensure that you get a double instead of the all too cramped triple in the corner.
Disadvantages: While living with a friend can be great, there relationships just as often can go sour. It can be quite different living with someone than having a couple classes with them in high school. Moreover, if you decide to live with a close friend, you can jeopardize that friendship. Many people change while they are in college; some for better, some for worse.
Advice: If you are looking for the comfort of living with someone you know and do not want to risk having the ‘random roommate from hell’, I would suggest living with someone you are friends with, but not too close with. You will still get to see all of your other close friends in the hallway, at the cafeteria, in class, or at a party, but will not have to risk losing your best friend over a silly argument. Living with someone you know who isn’t a close friend will still allow you to have a familiar face those stressful first few weeks and let you communicate with ease while you plan for the upcoming year.
Randomly assigned roommate
Advantages: Having a random roommate can be a great experience. If you and your roommate get along, you can have a strong friendship for the rest of your life without jeopardizing any of your already established friendships. Also, a random roommate can bring a fresh perspective to your life and introduce you to more people outside of your inner-circle of friends.
Disadvantages: The clear disadvantage is getting assigned a roommate who you absolutely despise, and this does happen. Colleges accept a broad, diverse set of incoming students each year, all who need roommates. While such diversity can introduce you to ‘fresh perspectives’ mentioned above, sometimes these different views, attitudes, and habits clash and can create a bad situation. This clash can cause a great deal of stress during an already stressful time in your life when you should be focusing on meeting people and solidifying your GPA. Also be aware that many upperclassmen still live in dorms and there is a chance that you will be rooming with someone a couple years older than you. Some dorms are more notorious than others for having upperclassmen residents.
Advice: If you choose to go random, be aware of the possibilities and open to adjusting your habits to help ensure that this partnership works out. As corny as it sounds, communication is key so that you can both understand the person you are living with and their habits. Be pro-active in getting to know your roommate and making the best of the situation. Even if you do not become best friends, rooming with a random person can be an enjoyable college experience. If you and your roommate completely clash and you find your roommate unbearable, talk to your RA and try to work on finding a new room for the next semester.
University Dorms
The ‘Six-Pack’ (Peabody Drive and Gregory Drive Residences)
These dorms are by far the most social of any of the residences on campus. While some perceive this social atmosphere to be a disadvantage, this perception is a bit far-fetched. The social atmosphere does not mean constant partying, but rather more social residents who will want to meet you, participate in activities and intramurals, play catch in the field, or go down to dinner with you. If you do want to party, there are plenty of people in the ‘Six-Pack’ that will join you, but this partying will never and should never be a distraction to you. You may hear infrequent, random yelling around 2 AM when the bars let out and some residents stumble home, but this should never be a deciding factor.
Beyond the well-known social factor of the ‘Six-Pack’, these dorms do have some advantages and disadvantages that you should be aware of. It is in the opinion of G2C that the advantages of living in the Six-Pack in addition with the un-matched social atmosphere far outweigh any disadvantages.
Advantages:
- Two cafeterias
- Close proximity to IMPE athletic facility
- Mostly underclassmen
- Spacious surrounding outside areas
- Closest proximity to most Greek houses
- Close proximity to Business School and Armory
- Only a 5 minute bus ride/10 minute walk to the Quad
- Close to both stadiums
- Pro-active RA’s
- Underground tunnels to help travel between dorms during winter
- Many common study areas located on the floors, in the lobby, and in tunnels
- Close proximity to the University’s largest parking lot (E-14)
Disadvantages:
- No Air-Conditioning
- Food is average compared to other dorms
- Far walk to Engineering Campus (~12 min bus ride on 26-Pack bus)
- Tunnels do not connect Gregory residences with Peabody residences
- Construction on new ‘Six-Pack’ housing
- You may have to walk outside to get to other dorms or to Late-Nite
- Heavy traffic during football and basketball games
- No quick way to get to WIMPE athletic facility
- Crowded laundry room
- Old work out facilities
ISR (Wardall & Townsend)
ISR (Illinois St. Residence) is notorious for having upperclassmen and completely lacking a social atmosphere. While some may prefer such conditions in their living quarters, this dorm is not suggested for most incoming students. The two main positives of living in ISR are the air-conditioning in each unit and the nice cafeteria. It is because of these two reasons that the University houses students and parents here during orientation. Do not let these factors make the decision for you. Air-conditioning is only necessary for the first and last couple weeks of each school year. Also, while the cafeteria is admittedly the nicest on campus, students can eat at any cafeteria on campus and the cafeterias serve the same food 95% of the time.
Advantages:
- Nice cafeteria
- Air Conditioning
- Nice Late-Nite dining
- Close proximity to the Quad and Engineering Quad
- Close to Green St. and bars
- Large percentage of upperclassmen residents
- Not social
- Far walk to Business Quad
- Not located near any Greek housing
- Co-eds in separate buildings
- Not close to either athletic facility
FAR/PAR
These two residences are in the far corner of campus and are popular destinations for freshmen as an alternative to the ‘Six Pack’. FAR, along Florida Avenue, consists of two towers twelve stories tall. PAR, along Pensylvania Avenue, has four buildings three stories tall. The two residences share a private drive between them with a bus stop right outside the front doors.
FAR/PAR is known for it's diversity. Certain floors can be very social, but others may be more quiet. With this dorm it is really the luck-of-the-draw. Because of this it is seen as a good middle ground compared to the 'Six Pack' and ISR. In terms of location, they are close to veterinary medicine and agriculture facilities, but unless you're looking for exercise you'll want to take the bus. They border a cemetary and intramural fields, so the area can be rather quiet.
Advantages:
- Generally a more diverse resident population
- Not as social, little distractions
- FAR has air-conditioning
- Co-eds in same buildings (layered floors)
- PAR’s dining facility will be newly renovated<
- Close to second largest parking lot
- Close proximity to intramural playing fields
- The acronym FAR says it all in terms of location
- No air-conditioning in PAR
- Not close to either athletic facility
- Most students keep doors closed
- Not within close walking distance to most classrooms
Allen Hall
Ask someone who has lived in Allen Hall and they will most likely tell you the same thing: Allen Hall is artsy and liberal. Besides for this dorm providing a ceramics studio and dark room, the residents are really the main contributors to this atmosphere and stereotype. Additionally, all residents of Allen Hall participate in Unit One (http://www.housing.uiuc.edu/living/unit1/). Unit One provides special learning and activity programs not offered at other dorms. This program does bring the residents together more than other residences and can provide for a social atmosphere and more friendly people than what you would find at ISR or PAR/FAR.
Advantages:
- Close proximity to WIMPE recreation center
- Relatively good food
- Close proximity to McKinley Health Center
- Numerous programs to participate in
- Close proximity to Urbana Greek Houses
- Friendly residents
- Lots of study space
- Generally liberal resident population (this is usually the chief concern of students not in favor of Allen Hall)
- Not very close to either of the two main student parking lots
- Usually need to take bus to get to Green St and housing/apartments in Champaign
- Floors are not co-ed
Didn’t Get the Dorm of Your Choice?
Don’t stop trying. Openings happen all of the time during the summer months as students change their minds about schools, roommates, etc. By persistently calling Housing, you have a decent chance of sweet-talking your way into the dorm of your liking. While perhaps not the most ethical, a decent excuse can often get students in, such as:
- I need to live close to my sibling for various reasons
- I have a medical condition that requires me to stay cool and I need air conditioning
- I have a medical condition that requires me to stay closer to my college
