<p>Cuarto’s ridiculously far. During winter, the number ONE thing you don’t wanna be doing is travelling in the cold and rain. If you do end up here, you can always take the bus back to campus (don’t worry, it’s free for students). I do know the suites are super nice and big, and you get your own bathroom which is AMAZING. Generally though, you don’t want to request Cuarto because you might just get it anyway. Cuarto also has its own private pool.</p>
<p>Segundo is nearest to Rite-Aid, the ARC, and the University Mall (Old Tea house, Hawaiian BBQ, etc.). I know the floors for a lot of these buildings do not have carpet, so if you have friends over it’s gonna suck for them to sleep on the floor. Fortunately, the new dorms (Alder, Thompson, Miller), where the honors people live, are much nicer with lounges on every floor and generally newer and better buildings. If you’re planning on participating in Greek life or just partying/socializing a lot, this is the OPTIMUM place because you’re so close to the rest of the city and frats. Plus, people who want to live in Segundo generally want to party after school gets out so you’re living with the people you want to hang out with. Great, right?</p>
<p>Tercero is closest to the science/engineering classes. It’s also where I am personally living at now, and it’s really a blessing to be able to walk to class in 2 minutes. You do smell cow, but not in the winter and you really do get used to it. The Pierce and Thille (A-M) buildings do not have elevators, so if you’re stuck on the 3rd floor like me, you gotta deal with it. They also only have one lounge and a study room on the first floor, but this is perfect for socializing because most people in Segundo only know their floormates whereas we know most of our entire building. They have one bathroom per floor (1st and 3rd floor girls, 2nd for guys, EXCEPT for K building which is opposite). However, the new buildings (Kearney and Laben, and they’re also in the middle of constructing brand new dorms!) do have elevators and multiple lounges and bathrooms. Those are superrrrr nice, about the equivalent of Alder/Emerson/Miller in Segundo.</p>
<p>*If you choose to live in Segundo, one way to guarantee your spot there is to join the ISHP (honors program). I don’t know if DHC (the other honors program) does housing. Also, you get priority registration if you are in honors! Now THAT is nothing short of a miracle.</p>
<p>**If you choose to live in Tercero and you don’t mind living in Pierce/Thille, pick a theme house to guarantee your residency in Tercero. The people are not as creepy as you think they might be. Just exercise some common sense, i.e. if you don’t love asians then you might not want to live in the APATH building, if you’re a guy you probably shouldn’t request the all-girls building. Now, for a personal tangent: If you are an engineer, K building is the BEST place to be because your classes are probably the hardest thing you’re ever gonna experience in college, so getting help and forming good relationships with other engineers is the best thing possible.</p>
<p>***If you want to live in Cuarto, just go with the system and see if you end up there. If you’re not in Cuarto, trust me there are PLENTY of people who would die to trade with you. Just ask around and request a room swap.</p>
<p>And now, roommate tip: it’s completely random. You can find your new best friend, or you could be uncomfortable the entire year. To minimize surprises and inconvenience, room with a friend. Otherwise, if you don’t mind opening up your life to a complete stranger, by all means go for it. Just don’t expect anything: I’m a 1st year, and my roommate is a 3rd year!</p>
<p>Hope that long explanation helped? I tried to add some things you can’t really find on the student housing page. Feel free to ask more questions!</p>