<p>I’ll be living in a double mini suite, $15500 and I just checked and realized that a single mini suite is only about $300 more a year! How is that even reasonable? A regular double room is $13900 while a regular single room is $15714, that’s understandable. However, isn’t mini suites bigger, nicer and cleaner? How the hell is a triple mini suite $13800 while a triple regular suite is $15300, about $200 short of a double mini suite?!</p>
<p>Frosh and sophmores generally don’t get singles unless they are in DSP and have physical limitations. Actually, other than for RAs, there are no available mini-suite singles, and to the extent there is one not being used by an RA, it would be given to someone with a physical limitation. Do you really believe that under those circumstances, it would be fair to charge substantially more? Further, the singles are ridiculously small – large enough to get a wheel chair in, but substantially smaller than the giant mini-suite room that able bodied non-wheelchairbound students get. You should be thankful.</p>
<p>what about u? why is the mini suite triple more expensive than a regular suite triple? explain that.</p>
<p>Mini Suite triples are substantially larger than regular triples. You each get your own closet and can pretty much debunk all the beds. Plus, the bathroom is shared by 5-6 people instead of 20.</p>
<p>Since none of us on CC set the prices for housing, you probably will not get satisfaction here. The assoc vice chancellor that handles housing might have someone who can answer your questions with more details. [Residential</a> and Student Service Programs : AVC LeNorman Strong](<a href=“http://www.housing.berkeley.edu/avc/]Residential”>http://www.housing.berkeley.edu/avc/)</p>
<p>However, I am a bit confused by your last post. In your OP, you list the minisuite triple at 13800 and the regular suite triple at 15300. That would make the regular suite cost higher than minisuite. As I look over the fee chart, it seems that a regular suite is $1,500 more than the same room type in a minisuite. Seems pretty consistent. Double in mini = 15495 + 1500 = double in reg suite of 16995. Triple in mini = 13800 + 1500 = triple in reg suite of 15300. Single in minisuite at 15775 + 1500 = 17225 but actually the reg suite single is a slightly cheaper at 17200. </p>
<p>Since Clark Kerr rooms (single, double and triple) are more than the other dorms, the charge seems related to the average size of the room type which is bigger at CK. One might presume that the regular suites are more expensive than minisuites due to being larger. That would also be consistent with the naming of the cheaper types as ‘mini’ suites.</p>
<p>rider, for some reason it doesn’t exactly work that way – it should but it doesn’t.</p>
<p>At Clark Kerr and Foothill, the suites have a separate lounge for each suite. While the bedrooms are larger than standard dorm rooms (i.e. non-mini suites in the units), the mini-suite bedrooms are actually larger than those at either Foothill or Clark Kerr. But the mini-suites have no separate lounge (there is a lounge on each floor, but not within each suite). That’s why it’s called a mini-suite. There is a little foyer as you walk in the front door to the mini-suite. The foyer has nothing in it, but is the connector to the two bedrooms and the bathroom, creating the “suite” aspect. </p>
<p>My son had a foothill double first year and his room was tiny compared to the unit one mini-suite bedroom (also a double). He and his roommate were not only able to fit in all their stuff, but a small sofa and table, and still had plenty of room to move around and entertain.</p>
<p>It was strange because the Foothill dorm cost $1,000 more than the unit 1 mini-suite.</p>
<p>mini suites are harder to get into</p>
<p>location location location. Foothill is regarded as the place for scientists and engineers since it is closer to the Engineering and Chemistry buildings.</p>
<p>how big are the mini suites actually? I mean, on the descriptions Berkeley described it as “spacious” but really? spacious? in berkeley?</p>
<p>I think my son’s double was 14 x 17, but they are all different sizes.</p>
<p>See photos here: [UCB</a> Unit 1 Housing - Buildings - Mini-Suites - Photo Gallery](<a href=“http://unit1.berkeley.edu/buildings/suites/pictures.html]UCB”>http://unit1.berkeley.edu/buildings/suites/pictures.html)</p>
<p>So in theory is it a mini suite double is ALOT bigger than the regular doubles right? the pictures make it seem really small…</p>
<p>Just come into my room and then you can decide for yourself</p>
<p>A triple regular suite is better than a triple mini-suite…it’s a huge common room with desks, a private bathroom, and a kitchen that’s connected to a smaller room with beds (1 bunk, 1 single).</p>
<p>UCLA77 - the room charge would include all the space - thus the lounge that exists in full suites adds more footage to the total, even if the bedrooms themselves are smaller. Kind of an oxymoron since the room itself is bigger but the footage available to the student, their share of a bedroom plus their smaller share of lounge and bathroom, ends up smaller in the minisuite.</p>
<p>is the lounge really even necessary?</p>
<p>yes rider, I agree! My son was happier with a bigger room – didn’t spend a lot of time in the lounge in either space, more often in his room. I was just happy about the reduction in cost and he was happy with the increase in his personal, almost non-communal space, so it was a win-win situation as far as I was concerned.</p>
<p>In the pictures, the double mini-suite looks fairly small…I don’t see a big difference between a regular double and a mini-suite. Can anyone confirm/refute this?</p>
<p>The housing prices for the dorms are ridiculous however you want to put it. Live there your first year and find an apartment.</p>
<p>Mini-suites are large enough that I can fit a minifridge + the drawers along the perimeter of the wall rather than in the closet or something… if that helps any?</p>
<p>Some mini-suites are substantially larger than others, but there are few of those.</p>