<p>I am currently living in the Villas, so I feel as if my 2 cents is necessary.</p>
<p>To address the “dorm replacement” thing, I think the aim of this is approach is to target Juniors/Seniors (and even a few Sophomores) who have lived in the dorms, made some friends, done all of that, but are ready to move into their own place. The price is so high because it is a lot like living in the dorms. The apartments are only available to students, there are all sorts of amenities (shuttle to campus, free printing, 24 hr gym, free tanning, common building with many televisions, etc.), and utilities (except electric) are all covered. Overall, I the cost of living in a quad. in to dorms is roughly equal to the cost of living in the Villas.</p>
<p>I personally, like the Villas. The comfort of having your own room, own bathroom, and having to share with a maximum of 3 other people is comforting. Unlike the dorms, I feel like these apartments are designed for people who have already made a group of friends and aren’t looking for activities in the dorms and RAs. The security is good, the staff is nice, and I like the fact that I can do my own thing and not always have to worry about being a little loud or getting in trouble for having some people over. The walls are not thicker, nor thinner than the ones in the dorms… the issue of occasional noise has to do with loud neighbors from what I have noticed. Keep in mind, this is a community of young college aged kids and it will be noisier than if you were in an apartment with older people who are quieter. </p>
<p>All in all, I feel like the Villas are a decent value, considering you get a lot of privacy, lots of amenities, and you get an opportunity to further grow up and live on your own.</p>
<p>Side note: In the absence of dining halls and cafes, I have lost quite a few pounds and have taught myself how to cook. The food available in the dining halls and campus, although sometimes delicious is flat out bad for you. Living in the dorms and having a meal plan forced me to eat pretty greasy foods occasionally… moving off campus (regardless of where), encourage your child to learn to cook or better yet, teach them some basics… having a full fledged meal plan isn’t worth it anymore once you move out of the dorms.</p>