<p>@JewBacca If it has a kitchen, it’s considered off-campus. But the off-campus apartments are also much cheaper… if you lose $5,000 in aid, well, that’s about the price difference between standard dorms and Wada. You’d have to pay the cost of food on top of that, but the equivalent of the dorm meal plan is only ~$2,000. So, you’d pay a little more, but the rooms are way nicer so it’s not like you’re paying extra for nothing.</p>
<p>Reading talk about shuttles reminds me of the UCB shuttles they used to have that took you from BART to the campus, and from campus to dorms. They were named Humphrey Go-Bart and Vincent Van-Go. </p>
<p>I too am really struggling with which housing to list as my first choice. I was just officially admitted on Wednesday so it has been a whirlwind trying to get caught up, on top of this I am taking a three week intersession class, and working FT. This thread is so helpful. I am in norcal so I am going to drive to Cal tomorrow to look at the various locations, I just can wrap my head around this decision based on all the info on the web. I do want some type of meal plan (I think). I am 20 and have never lived away from home. I am an athlete so it ail be similar to having a job as far as the hours involved so I don’t think I will be able to prepare many meals. Because I am not much older than a freshman, I wouldn’t mind being in the dorms, but I feel like I must have a single as I cannot risk any sleep interruptions from a roommate with daily 5am workouts. </p>
<p>@uclax2 do you lift? What sport are you playing at Cal?</p>
<p>@UCLAx2 I feel like a broken record, but I’ll keep repeating this… there’s not a lot of singles and they’re in high demand, so there’s a good chance you’ll have to share a room. Martinez apartments is all singles, that’s probably your best bet if you want a single. Note that Martinez is off-campus in terms of aid and it’ll be mostly transfers/upper div students. Alternatively, get some earplugs, they’re not completely ideal but they work pretty well when you get a snoring roommate. I’d also suggest you eat at the dining hall on your trip to campus and take a look at the nearby food places, eating out tends to cost about the same (possibly cheaper?) and the food is better. 
But you don’t get a say in meal plans unless you’re in the campus apartments.</p>
<p>@JewBacca yes I lift, right now I am doing CrossFit 6x per week. No lifting partner at this time. I was a year round swimmer since age 4, swam 2 years at community college. I was planning to chose a 4-year to swim at (this would have significantly limited my college choices). I know several swimmers who crossed over from swimming to crew, so I created a “BeRecruited” page for crew, the head coach at Cal called me within less than 24 hours. So, I am now a rower! I also did a recruit visit to UCLA, but after visiting Cal I knew that is where I wanted to be (team wise, school wise, and location wise). I feel like the luckiest person in the world. I left HS with a course record that would not have allowed me to attend a CSU. Now I am headed to Cal with a CC GPA that made me competitive (3.8) but I admit that I was a special admit and did not get in through the regular admit process.</p>
<p>@failure622
Yes I saw your post and I gleaned the limited singles from the website. I do so much appreciate the info you have posted. I will definitely put Martinez at a first choice. And thanks for the idea of eating in a dining hall if it’s open. Although I’ll admit, my parents were going to take me to a swanky restaurant. The whole purpose of this excursion is to get the lay of the land do I will definitely go with a dining hall if they are open.</p>
<p>Go Bears!</p>
<p>@UCLAx2 that’s incredible. I’m genuinely happy to hear about how you got it ^^</p>
<p>@moritee THANKS!</p>
<p>Is anyone here going to Calso on June 27? or am I the only one? 
</p>
<p>I was very fortunate during my visit yesterday. I ran into an old friend/teammate from HS. She was an RA in Martinez last year. She gave me the lowdown on the various options. The area is beautiful. And I even got some great info from the elevator attendant who told me that my team tends to eat at Crossroads (right next to Martinez). The visit was very helpful. </p>
<p>And, I learned something, I didn’t know the BART station was so close to campus (one block from the front entrance). We hopped onto BART and rode into Sam Fran, it was so EASY! $7.80 RT and I was in the city within about 20 min. I loved the vibe of downtown Berkeley, lots of people out. </p>
<p>Go Bears!</p>
<p>@uclax2 so what is the low down on the situations lol??</p>
<p>@JewBacca
My old school mate said Martinez was the best! She told me about the RA for next year, it is a married couple with a new baby. The environment sounds really connected, like a big family, that is really attractive to me! She encouraged me to be happy with a double if I end up in a double in Martinez. It was kinda amazing that I ran into her, I was inside a cafe and she was jogging by and saw me on the window. Synchronicity is my middle name. The Channing Bowdich apts are right across the street from Martinez and next to the Unit dorms that are mainly freshman. This is very exciting for me personally because the team is said to eat most meals together at the dining hall there. This really would be the best of both worlds for me. I hope I am placed there.</p>
<p>Now I see your lol - apparently teasing me for my lowdown comment (that wasn’t somewhat of a joke I’m the first place). I was just happy to have some detail about the environment.</p>
<p>@uclax2 no I am not teasing, I want to know what is up with the housing and you are withholding information over here :-w haha</p>
<p>@JewBacca I am an open book. I “thought” I loved Cal before from two prior visits, one informal day and a tour with my mom, then on my official recruit visit (I went to class with my hosts and attended the very popular Wealth and Poverty class taught by Robert Reich). But as of yesterday, I know that was puppy love and this is now the real deal. I think it just really changed for me KNOWING that I am going there rather than looking around and hoping. The campus was beautiful, lots of frisbee games going on. I had a squirrel attack me for my cookie. I am going to have to read this when my first set of exams comes up and I think ■■■ was I thinking? I could’ve gone to Sac State! lol</p>
<p>Sac state, with a Sac State job afterward… Berkeley is a good choice lol. </p>
<p>@UCLAx2 Yeah, it wasn’t until I visited the campus Memorial Day weekend (five days!) that I knew for sure that I made the right decision. </p>
<p>Did anyone go to CalSo today? </p>
<p>nvm I can’t read… </p>
<p>@ocnative Yes I did. It was a long day. I just returned back home. I can answer any questions you might have.</p>
<p>Hey @Freetofly112! </p>
<p>How was the orientation for you? Was it well organized? Any pros and cons? </p>