<p>My son will be a freshman, and didn’t get in the dorms. We are about to sign with Museum Walk apartments and wondered if anyone has any experience, good or bad, with them. He would be in a 3BR/3BA on the first level. How are cleanliness, maintenance, transportation, furniture, amenities, management… Thanks!</p>
<p>I am not familiar with Museum Walk however that community is managed by the same company (Paradigm) that manages Oxford Manor, where my dd will live come August. I have heard mixed reviews on the cleanliness and maintenance from this company. I think that the biggest problem is that the bus that services that area will be full during peak hours (since Museum Walk is on the last stop with The Estates). My d chose a 3br/3bath at Oxford Manor (on Archer) in part due to the better bus route. Most of your son’s classes will be in the northeast section of campus (Turlington or Carlton Auditorium). If you want your son to literally walk to class from his apartment then you should look at the Courtyards or Windsor Hall (dorm style place). Also have heard great things about the Landings on 13th…great (quick and easy) bus route to campus.</p>
<p>Just found a recent good review on Museum Walk and they like their bus stop!</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.apartmentratings.com/rate/FL-Gainesville-Museum-Walk-Apartments-580310.html[/url]”>http://www.apartmentratings.com/rate/FL-Gainesville-Museum-Walk-Apartments-580310.html</a></p>
<p>I signed a lease at The Landings for this up-coming academic year. It definitely is nice. It’s owned by the same company, Paradigm. I think one of the better aspects of The Landings is it’s a smaller complex. Larger apartment complexes tend to take time to get to whatever problem it is you may need, i.e. maintenance, garbage, etc. Route 20 is the ONLY route that passes through that area and it takes forever. Also, the heart of UF’s campus is on the other side of campus from where Route 20 enters. You should definitely factor in transportation, and there are plenty of other bus routes that run quicker and are more efficient than the 20, atleast, IMO.</p>
<p>I’m also a freshman and I just signed a lease at Museum Walk. They told me that chances are one of my roommates would be another freshman (possibly an Engineering major) who is moving here from Maryland. Is that your son, by any chance?</p>
<p>Anyway, to answer your question, I live in Gainesville and my mom and I spent a few days visiting apartment communities around here, and Museum Walk was definitely the best one we saw.</p>
<p>Along the same line, Does anybody have any experience with Hidden Village?</p>
<p>How come you guys aren’t staying on campus it’s an amazing experience? did you not get housing or is it that off campos housing is better for you?</p>
<p>because it is easier to smoke pot and drink beer off campus.</p>
<p>haha, good reason i guess</p>
<p>I toured Hidden Village and it was pretty ghetto. Their smallest one bedroom has the cheapest rent in town, so a lot of trashy people live there. There were rusted out, broken down cars in the parking lot and people sitting in lawn chairs in front of their apartments. However, their larger one bedrooms are all almost brand new and really nice inside. I just could not get over the ambiance outside.</p>
<p>Is it really that amazing sharing a bedroom with at least one other person and a bathroom with multiple others? I just can’t imagine that <em>not</em> being a pain in the arse. What if your roommate has a different schedule, or you want some “privacy” with a girlfriend/boyfriend, or you have different tastes in music, or any of a billion other issues come up? Ugh.</p>
<p>Um… the living arrangements I’m sure you get used to like you do in sleep away camp, military, etc. Its the partying, socializing, being surrounded by friends and acquantances, and basically the whole freshmen experience that attracts people to the dorms first year. I wasn’t belittling living off campus just wondering why people chose it over on campus living.</p>
<p>Yeah, I hear you about the social life, but it’s just not worth it to me. I think I could stand sharing a room with someone for a few weeks, but not a whole school year. Anyway, it’s not like you can’t make friends outside the dorms. Hopefully not, anyway. :P</p>
<p>it’s UF so i’m sure making friends and having a hell of a time won’t be a prob on or off campus</p>