University of Florida Housing Options
0 Comments Published by Gator Grad on Sunday, February 17, 2008 at 2:59 PM.
UF housing options sound pretty complex, and it seems like all the incoming UF students have questions about housing, and rightfully so! This single decision (often made without much information, photos or advice from current University of Florida students), will have a huge impact on the new freshmen or graduate student's list. This page explores what I would consider to be the best UF Housing options for University of Florida students.
UF Housing Options FAQ:
FAQ#1 What's the best dorm for UF freshman?
It really depends on the student. There's no one UF freshman housing option that is the best fit for everyone. Most dorms don't offer any guarantees- you aren't guaranteed a/c, you aren't guaranteed the size room you ask for, you aren't guaranteed the building you request, you aren't guaranteed a good roommate-- but there are exceptions. Depending on your values, I'd consider checking out the luxury dorms for UF students webpage, which gives photos and virtual tours of dorms that fit well for the following desires:
* Don't want to share a bathroom with 40 people?: Windsor Hall or Hume
* Want a female-only dorm? Then consider Ivy House .
* Want to be guaranteed that you'll be placed in a Single Dorm room? There is no guarantee that you'll get a single dorm room at most UF dorms, but both Ivy House and Windsor Hall guarantee you will get the floorplan that you sign up for and reserve.
FAQ#2: I want the NICEST dorm I can get. Which one should I sign up for?
If you're looking for a luxury dorm with upscale amenities, Windsor Hall is definately the best choise-- and it won't break the bank either (their double dorm suites are less expensive than many standard dorms at UF). Windsor Hall offers 2 luxury dorm buildings. Both are newly built. One is female-only, and the other is co-ed. Features include attached private bathrooms for each dorm suite, attached kitchenettes for each room, double-sized closets for each tenant, laundry rooms on each wing of each floor, convenience elevators, assigned parking, on-site gym, large sparkling pool, and coded entry. Check out the photos on their website to get an idea of what it's really like-- or read their dorm reviews written by UF students.
FAQ#3: I want to live in student housing, near other UF students-- but can't stand dorms.
Most students want to live in a social atmosphere where they can easily meet other students with similar goals and interests, but dorm life isn't for everyone. Students typically know if they'll be happy living in the dorms or if sharing a bathroom with 35 or 40 other people will drive them up the wall. For students looking for student housing where they an meet other UF students (but have some privacy and space, too), I'd recommend The Courtyards student suites . Located across the street from UF and walking distance to libraries, classes, hang-outs, restaraunts, football games and nightlife, The Courtyards is a great alternative to the typical UF dorm setting. You get your own private bedroom suite in an apartment with other UF students. Each apartment has a living room, kitchen and dining room. The suites and apartments are fully furnished (basically, you move in your CDs, Ipod and clothes and they provide the rest). Utilities and cable and Ethernet are all turned on before you moved in and managed by the staff, so you can focus on school and socializing. It's a great place to meet other students, and it's the best alternative for students who just can't stand the idea of living in a dorm, but that want the full UF student experience.
* For UF students who want more privacy or can't stand dorms: The Courtyards Student Suites
FAQ#4: I'm an incoming Grad or transfer student. I want to live near UF but not in a dorm.
Grad housing (and housing for upper classmen who have been admitted as transfer students to UF) can be hard to get on campus, because many of the spaces in the dorms are reserved for UF freshmen-- plus, many of the older incoming students don't want to live in a dorm and share a bathroom with 40 other people or wear flip flops in the shower. For most incoming grad students and transfer students, the best bet is getting a studio apartment near UF and walking to UF classes and libraries. Especially if you will be TA'ing and spending lots of time on campus. If you know other people who'll be living in Gainesville, consider renting a larger apartment or a house and splitting the expenses. It's a trade off: you can maximize your living space and amenities while minimizing your expenses, but you'll have roommates. Whatever you decide, do use a service with a search for apartments near UF, so you can walk to class. Several options are available:
* For Grad Students: cheap studio near campus, unfurnished: University Park grad student housing
* For Grad Students who'd prefer an on campus private single dorm room at UF, but can't get one due to lack of availability for Fall or Spring 2008, try a furnished studio with utilities and furniture included: the Studios at Windsor Hall . You can also apply for on-campus housing, via the off-campus housing portal.
* For UF Transfer Student Housing, read this blog post on UF Transfer Student Dorm & Housing Options.
FAQ#5: I have questions about on-campus housing. How can I get those answered?
The on-campus housing FAQ is your best source for answers. You can find it here.
UF Housing Options FAQ:
FAQ#1 What's the best dorm for UF freshman?
It really depends on the student. There's no one UF freshman housing option that is the best fit for everyone. Most dorms don't offer any guarantees- you aren't guaranteed a/c, you aren't guaranteed the size room you ask for, you aren't guaranteed the building you request, you aren't guaranteed a good roommate-- but there are exceptions. Depending on your values, I'd consider checking out the luxury dorms for UF students webpage, which gives photos and virtual tours of dorms that fit well for the following desires:* Don't want to share a bathroom with 40 people?: Windsor Hall or Hume
* Want a female-only dorm? Then consider Ivy House .
* Want to be guaranteed that you'll be placed in a Single Dorm room? There is no guarantee that you'll get a single dorm room at most UF dorms, but both Ivy House and Windsor Hall guarantee you will get the floorplan that you sign up for and reserve.
FAQ#2: I want the NICEST dorm I can get. Which one should I sign up for?
If you're looking for a luxury dorm with upscale amenities, Windsor Hall is definately the best choise-- and it won't break the bank either (their double dorm suites are less expensive than many standard dorms at UF). Windsor Hall offers 2 luxury dorm buildings. Both are newly built. One is female-only, and the other is co-ed. Features include attached private bathrooms for each dorm suite, attached kitchenettes for each room, double-sized closets for each tenant, laundry rooms on each wing of each floor, convenience elevators, assigned parking, on-site gym, large sparkling pool, and coded entry. Check out the photos on their website to get an idea of what it's really like-- or read their dorm reviews written by UF students. FAQ#3: I want to live in student housing, near other UF students-- but can't stand dorms.
Most students want to live in a social atmosphere where they can easily meet other students with similar goals and interests, but dorm life isn't for everyone. Students typically know if they'll be happy living in the dorms or if sharing a bathroom with 35 or 40 other people will drive them up the wall. For students looking for student housing where they an meet other UF students (but have some privacy and space, too), I'd recommend The Courtyards student suites . Located across the street from UF and walking distance to libraries, classes, hang-outs, restaraunts, football games and nightlife, The Courtyards is a great alternative to the typical UF dorm setting. You get your own private bedroom suite in an apartment with other UF students. Each apartment has a living room, kitchen and dining room. The suites and apartments are fully furnished (basically, you move in your CDs, Ipod and clothes and they provide the rest). Utilities and cable and Ethernet are all turned on before you moved in and managed by the staff, so you can focus on school and socializing. It's a great place to meet other students, and it's the best alternative for students who just can't stand the idea of living in a dorm, but that want the full UF student experience.* For UF students who want more privacy or can't stand dorms: The Courtyards Student Suites
FAQ#4: I'm an incoming Grad or transfer student. I want to live near UF but not in a dorm.
Grad housing (and housing for upper classmen who have been admitted as transfer students to UF) can be hard to get on campus, because many of the spaces in the dorms are reserved for UF freshmen-- plus, many of the older incoming students don't want to live in a dorm and share a bathroom with 40 other people or wear flip flops in the shower. For most incoming grad students and transfer students, the best bet is getting a studio apartment near UF and walking to UF classes and libraries. Especially if you will be TA'ing and spending lots of time on campus. If you know other people who'll be living in Gainesville, consider renting a larger apartment or a house and splitting the expenses. It's a trade off: you can maximize your living space and amenities while minimizing your expenses, but you'll have roommates. Whatever you decide, do use a service with a search for apartments near UF, so you can walk to class. Several options are available:* For Grad Students: cheap studio near campus, unfurnished: University Park grad student housing
* For Grad Students who'd prefer an on campus private single dorm room at UF, but can't get one due to lack of availability for Fall or Spring 2008, try a furnished studio with utilities and furniture included: the Studios at Windsor Hall . You can also apply for on-campus housing, via the off-campus housing portal.
* For UF Transfer Student Housing, read this blog post on UF Transfer Student Dorm & Housing Options.
FAQ#5: I have questions about on-campus housing. How can I get those answered?
The on-campus housing FAQ is your best source for answers. You can find it here.
A few incoming freshmen have asked what their options are for housing both on and off-campus. Several questions have been posted about off-campus dorms and how those work, so I thought I'd give a quick summary.
Types of Dorms:
* On-campus dorms - publicly owned and university managed dorms for students
* Off-campus dorms - privately owned and privately managed dorms for students
Examples of on-campus dorms for UF Students:
* Broward Hall
* Beaty Towers
* Trusler Hall
* Hume Hall (honors)
Examples of off-campus dorms for UF students:
(there are only two in Gainesville):
* The Ivy House - female only, luxury dorm
* Windsor Hall - 2 buildings (one is co-ed, the other female-only) luxury dorm
Suite-Style Dorms:
(attached bathrooms)
* Windsor Hall Off-Campus (guaranteed placement with housing agreement)
* Hume On-Campus (no guaranteed placement with housing agreement)
* Beaty Towers On-Campus (no guaranteed placement with housing agreement)
What is an off-campus dorm?
Off-campus dorms are one of the two types of dorms available for UF students. Even though they are considered "off-campus" dorms, they are actually located closer to many of UF classes and libraries than many of the dorms that are technically ON campus. They are also walking distance to sororities, inter-mural sporting events, club meetings, etc. They are called "off campus" because they are not owned by the state. They are private entities which are professionally managed, and they offer completely different structures than the on-campus University of Florida dorms. They should probably be called "near-campus" or "nearly-on-campus", but they are commonly called "off-campus dorms".
UF's On-Campus Dorms: how do they work?
After receiving your acceptance, you sign up for your Fall 2008, Spring 2009 or Summer B 2008 dorm preferences. It's important to remember that on-campus housing is run on a LOTTERY SYSTEM which means that there is NO GUARANTEE that you will actually receive housing on-campus OR that you will receive your dorm preferences. On your housing preferences, you will decide which of the following 3 things is most important to you. Choose from:
(a) Living with your request roommate (if not A, than receive random roommate assignment)
(b) Living in one of your requested dorms (placement into one of these dorms is not guaranteed)
(c) Living in your requested room style: single, double or triple (placement into style is not guaranteed)
Students who say that living with their requested roommate is most important are less likely to receive the style and dorm placement (Beaty, Broward, Hume, Jennings, Lakeside, etc) that they request. It's important to keep in mind that these are preferences and not get your heart set on these requests. Many students are terribly disappointed when they receive their Fall housing assignments in July. Getting your heart set on your preferences just sets you up for disappointment later--- especially since most students request the same dorm placements.
It's also important to keep in mind that you are lucky if you get housing placement on-campus at all, because it is not guaranteed, even after you send in your housing agreement. With over 10,000 students admitted and less than 6,000 on-campus single-student dorm spots, you can see that many students must be turned away each year. And that 10,000 includes the non-air conditioned dorms!
Off-Campus Dorms: how do they work?
These dorms are newly-built, luxury dorms for UF students which offer single, double and triple dorm suites. All dorm rooms have air-conditioning, luxury bathrooms, gourmet kitchens; additional amenities (like private bathrooms or Jetted Jacuzzi bathtubs) vary deciding on which floorplan and dorm you choose to live at. All off-campus dorms offer luxury amenities and luxury services, for students who are looking for their best housing option. One of the most important distinctions for UF students is that there is NO LOTTERY with off-campus dorms. That means that when you sign your off-campus dorm housing agreement, you are GUARANTEED placement into both the dorm AND the room style that you request.
For many students, this is one of the top advantages of the off-campus dorms: you can have the peace of mind of knowing that you are getting exactly what you request in off-campus dorms. If you sign up for a single dorm room, you are guaranteed placement into a single dorm room. If you sign up for a double dorm room, you are guaranteed placement into a double dorm room. They offer a social, luxury setting where it’s easy to meet other UF students, and yet quiet enough to study and relax after a long day of classes.
If you are interested in an off-campus dorm, it's important to sign up early (just like on-campus). Because they only sign as many housing agreements as there are rooms, and because the luxury amenities create a lot of demand for off-campus housing, it's important to sign up early, while spots remain available.
"I was accepted to UF for Spring 2009. What dorms can I live in during Fall 2008, if I want to come up to Gainesville with my friends who were accepted for Fall?"
This year, a large number of students who applied for admission in Fall 2008 at the University of Florida were accepted for Spring 2009 instead. No matter when you start, what's most important is that you were accepted to UF, one of the best colleges in the nation-- Congratulations! Many of the students who were accepted to Spring 2009 at UF have decided that they want to move up in the Fall 2008 semester so that they can become familiar with Gainesville, join clubs, participate in student events (including UF FOOTBALL games-- woo hoo!). One option is to take classes at the local community college (Santa Fe) in the Fall and transfer those credits over to UF in the Spring. That's a great choice. Unfortuantely, you will not be able to move into any of the UF on-campus dorms until Spring 2009. However, you do not technically have to be attending classes in the Fall 2008 semester in order to live in the off-campus dorms. Consider all your options, and congratulations on your acceptance to UF!
Though it's only been a few days since UF freshmen acceptances were posted on Friday February 15th, it's already time to begin making your final housing decisions for Summer B 2008, Fall 2008, and Spring 2009.
Types of Dorms:
* On-campus dorms - publicly owned and university managed dorms for students
* Off-campus dorms - privately owned and privately managed dorms for students
Examples of on-campus dorms for UF Students:
* Broward Hall
* Beaty Towers
* Trusler Hall
* Hume Hall (honors)
Examples of off-campus dorms for UF students:
(there are only two in Gainesville):
* The Ivy House - female only, luxury dorm
* Windsor Hall - 2 buildings (one is co-ed, the other female-only) luxury dorm
Suite-Style Dorms:
(attached bathrooms)
* Windsor Hall Off-Campus (guaranteed placement with housing agreement)
* Hume On-Campus (no guaranteed placement with housing agreement)
* Beaty Towers On-Campus (no guaranteed placement with housing agreement)
What is an off-campus dorm?
Off-campus dorms are one of the two types of dorms available for UF students. Even though they are considered "off-campus" dorms, they are actually located closer to many of UF classes and libraries than many of the dorms that are technically ON campus. They are also walking distance to sororities, inter-mural sporting events, club meetings, etc. They are called "off campus" because they are not owned by the state. They are private entities which are professionally managed, and they offer completely different structures than the on-campus University of Florida dorms. They should probably be called "near-campus" or "nearly-on-campus", but they are commonly called "off-campus dorms".
UF's On-Campus Dorms: how do they work?
After receiving your acceptance, you sign up for your Fall 2008, Spring 2009 or Summer B 2008 dorm preferences. It's important to remember that on-campus housing is run on a LOTTERY SYSTEM which means that there is NO GUARANTEE that you will actually receive housing on-campus OR that you will receive your dorm preferences. On your housing preferences, you will decide which of the following 3 things is most important to you. Choose from:
(a) Living with your request roommate (if not A, than receive random roommate assignment)
(b) Living in one of your requested dorms (placement into one of these dorms is not guaranteed)
(c) Living in your requested room style: single, double or triple (placement into style is not guaranteed)
Students who say that living with their requested roommate is most important are less likely to receive the style and dorm placement (Beaty, Broward, Hume, Jennings, Lakeside, etc) that they request. It's important to keep in mind that these are preferences and not get your heart set on these requests. Many students are terribly disappointed when they receive their Fall housing assignments in July. Getting your heart set on your preferences just sets you up for disappointment later--- especially since most students request the same dorm placements.
It's also important to keep in mind that you are lucky if you get housing placement on-campus at all, because it is not guaranteed, even after you send in your housing agreement. With over 10,000 students admitted and less than 6,000 on-campus single-student dorm spots, you can see that many students must be turned away each year. And that 10,000 includes the non-air conditioned dorms!
Off-Campus Dorms: how do they work?
These dorms are newly-built, luxury dorms for UF students which offer single, double and triple dorm suites. All dorm rooms have air-conditioning, luxury bathrooms, gourmet kitchens; additional amenities (like private bathrooms or Jetted Jacuzzi bathtubs) vary deciding on which floorplan and dorm you choose to live at. All off-campus dorms offer luxury amenities and luxury services, for students who are looking for their best housing option. One of the most important distinctions for UF students is that there is NO LOTTERY with off-campus dorms. That means that when you sign your off-campus dorm housing agreement, you are GUARANTEED placement into both the dorm AND the room style that you request.
For many students, this is one of the top advantages of the off-campus dorms: you can have the peace of mind of knowing that you are getting exactly what you request in off-campus dorms. If you sign up for a single dorm room, you are guaranteed placement into a single dorm room. If you sign up for a double dorm room, you are guaranteed placement into a double dorm room. They offer a social, luxury setting where it’s easy to meet other UF students, and yet quiet enough to study and relax after a long day of classes.
If you are interested in an off-campus dorm, it's important to sign up early (just like on-campus). Because they only sign as many housing agreements as there are rooms, and because the luxury amenities create a lot of demand for off-campus housing, it's important to sign up early, while spots remain available.
"I was accepted to UF for Spring 2009. What dorms can I live in during Fall 2008, if I want to come up to Gainesville with my friends who were accepted for Fall?"
This year, a large number of students who applied for admission in Fall 2008 at the University of Florida were accepted for Spring 2009 instead. No matter when you start, what's most important is that you were accepted to UF, one of the best colleges in the nation-- Congratulations! Many of the students who were accepted to Spring 2009 at UF have decided that they want to move up in the Fall 2008 semester so that they can become familiar with Gainesville, join clubs, participate in student events (including UF FOOTBALL games-- woo hoo!). One option is to take classes at the local community college (Santa Fe) in the Fall and transfer those credits over to UF in the Spring. That's a great choice. Unfortuantely, you will not be able to move into any of the UF on-campus dorms until Spring 2009. However, you do not technically have to be attending classes in the Fall 2008 semester in order to live in the off-campus dorms. Consider all your options, and congratulations on your acceptance to UF!
Though it's only been a few days since UF freshmen acceptances were posted on Friday February 15th, it's already time to begin making your final housing decisions for Summer B 2008, Fall 2008, and Spring 2009.
UF Summer B 2008 Dorm Housing
0 Comments Published by Gators in Gainesville on Saturday, February 16, 2008 at 10:32 AM.
Congratulations UF Class of 2012!!
Those of you with Summer B acceptance letters probably have a few uncertainties and questions, especially about where you'll be living. The first thing you have to remember is not to fret!! You've been accepted to UF, and that's what's important! There are several great things about starting in Summer B: you'll have time to get situated before the Fall semester begins, you'll have time to become familiar with the campus, and Summer B classes tend to be more laid back than fall. I've done some research and tried to organize all the information in a helpful manner.
Freshmen Dorms - Summer B 2008
It can be hard to find information on the housing programs around UF. The following dorms are open to freshmen for Summer B:
June 15 - Windsor Hall opens for Summer B
June 25 - Remaining residence halls open at Noon for Summer B 2008
June 30 - Classes begin for Summer B
August 09 - Residence halls close at 4pm for Summer B 2008
If you live in an on-campus dorm, you may need to move out between Summer B and Fall 2008 (you can apply after you've been placed into your Summer B dorm).
If you choose to live in an off-campus dorm, you are guaranteed that you can stay in the same room during the break between Summer B and Fall 2008. Windsor Hall is an off-campus dorm that has many advantages:
* Guaranteed Placement with Housing Agreement
* Guaranteed A/C
* Guaranteed Placement into dorm layout your select as your preference
* Often less expensive than the other UF dorms
* All dorm suites at Windsor Hall have attached bathrooms and kitchenettes
A Few Notes on Summer B:
In my opinion? Windsor Hall. On-campus dorms don't open until 5 days before classes start. I'd recommend heading up to Gainesville as early as possible to get an idea of where you're living, how the town is laid out, where your classes are and just to get a general head start. Windsor Hall opens up a full 10 days before the on-campus dorms do - it's certainly worth checking out. The attached bath and kitchenettes also make Windsor a much nicer place to live for anyone. Windsor also has a pool and trust me, being able to walking downstairs to a private pool is priceless over the hot Gainesville summer month.
Don't know who you are going to live with in the dorms? In that case, Windsor Hall is definitely the right choice for you. On-campus dorms offer a random roommate system (ie: they randomly match guys with guys and girls with girls in their double, triple and temporary triple dorm rooms). In contrast, Windsor Hall offers professional roommate matching based on a 66 point questionnaire that asks everything from study habits to music preferences.
Let's just say that the professional roommate matching at Windsor Hall (and the guaranteed A/C and dorm room placement) is all worth it's wait in gold.
Those of you with Summer B acceptance letters probably have a few uncertainties and questions, especially about where you'll be living. The first thing you have to remember is not to fret!! You've been accepted to UF, and that's what's important! There are several great things about starting in Summer B: you'll have time to get situated before the Fall semester begins, you'll have time to become familiar with the campus, and Summer B classes tend to be more laid back than fall. I've done some research and tried to organize all the information in a helpful manner.
Freshmen Dorms - Summer B 2008
It can be hard to find information on the housing programs around UF. The following dorms are open to freshmen for Summer B:
- Murphree
- Sledd
- Buckman (no AC.)
- Jennings
- Springs
- Lakeside (far-side of campus)
- Windsor Hall (off-campus but closer to UF classes than many on-campus dorms, located right off of UF's Sorority Row, with attached bathrooms, assigned parking, on-site gym and pool, and guaranteed placement)
NOTE: UF recently changed which dorms will and will not be open over summer b. See updates here.
Important Dates for Summer B Students:June 15 - Windsor Hall opens for Summer B
June 25 - Remaining residence halls open at Noon for Summer B 2008
June 30 - Classes begin for Summer B
August 09 - Residence halls close at 4pm for Summer B 2008
If you live in an on-campus dorm, you may need to move out between Summer B and Fall 2008 (you can apply after you've been placed into your Summer B dorm).
If you choose to live in an off-campus dorm, you are guaranteed that you can stay in the same room during the break between Summer B and Fall 2008. Windsor Hall is an off-campus dorm that has many advantages:
* Guaranteed Placement with Housing Agreement
* Guaranteed A/C
* Guaranteed Placement into dorm layout your select as your preference
* Often less expensive than the other UF dorms
* All dorm suites at Windsor Hall have attached bathrooms and kitchenettes
A Few Notes on Summer B:
- Bright Futures does not cover most summer sessions.
- Placement in on-campus dorms is NOT guaranteed, especially with so many students being accepted for Summer B.
- Placement into an on-campus dorm with AC is also not guaranteed, unless you choose Windsor Hall. Many students think that they are going to "luck out" and get the dorm of their choice from their preferences, but 1 in every 8 dorms on campus that are open over summer do not have AC.
- Florida summers + No AC = bad news.
- Class sessions are longer and the courses are accelerated but don't worry, it always works out fine.
In my opinion? Windsor Hall. On-campus dorms don't open until 5 days before classes start. I'd recommend heading up to Gainesville as early as possible to get an idea of where you're living, how the town is laid out, where your classes are and just to get a general head start. Windsor Hall opens up a full 10 days before the on-campus dorms do - it's certainly worth checking out. The attached bath and kitchenettes also make Windsor a much nicer place to live for anyone. Windsor also has a pool and trust me, being able to walking downstairs to a private pool is priceless over the hot Gainesville summer month.
Don't know who you are going to live with in the dorms? In that case, Windsor Hall is definitely the right choice for you. On-campus dorms offer a random roommate system (ie: they randomly match guys with guys and girls with girls in their double, triple and temporary triple dorm rooms). In contrast, Windsor Hall offers professional roommate matching based on a 66 point questionnaire that asks everything from study habits to music preferences.
Let's just say that the professional roommate matching at Windsor Hall (and the guaranteed A/C and dorm room placement) is all worth it's wait in gold.
Compare UF Dorms: Broward Hall
0 Comments Published by Gator Grad on Wednesday, February 6, 2008 at 1:07 PM.
I'm surprised at how little information (photos, virtual tours, reviews, UF dorm comparison charts) are included on the official UF Department of Housing website for dorms like Broward Hall and Beaty Towers-- this would really help incoming freshmen when it's time for them to chose their UF housing preferences for Fall 2008 and Summer 2008! We'll begin this series of comparisons by showing you a traditional dorm (Broward Hall) and how it compares to 2 of the most upscale dorms for University of Florida students (The Ivy House and Windsor Hall).
As you can see in the chart below, we've compared information about things like bathroom layouts (because many people ask about communal bathrooms) and how many people share a bathroom in the dorms. I've compared the information on housing assignments work from dorm to dorm, and whether or not the UF housing agreement guarantees you a spot. For students concerned about not getting placed into a single (or worried about being placed into the dreaded 'temporary triple'), I've compared the housing policies on those items. I've also compared style (conventional dorm vs luxury dorm, on-campus vs off-campus), as well as information about pools and gyms that the students living in the dorms can use. Some parents are looking for UF dorms that are female-only (and some are looking for co-ed dorms), so we've compared that, too. I've also given some information on dorm rates, so that you can compare your bang-for-your-buck at each of the dorms.
As you can see, The Ivy House is the most affordable dorm option for UF students (and still- very luxurious, it even includes private Jetted Jacuzzi Bathtubs). Unfortunately, the University of Florida Department of Housing hasn't released their Fall 2008 UF Dorm Rates, so we are comparing the 2008 rates for Ivy and Windsor Hall with the 2007 rates for the on-campus traditional dorms. UF has informed us that students should expect an approximately 5% rate increase over last year's rates-- which would put the UF double dorm room cost at just under $500 per month--- which is more expensive than Ivy House, which is the most comparable (with shared baths) and similar in price to the current specials for Windsor Hall.
Links:
* Virtual Tours of The Ivy House (luxury dorm)
* Virtual Tours of Windsor Hall (luxury co-ed dorm)
* Broward website
As you can see in the chart below, we've compared information about things like bathroom layouts (because many people ask about communal bathrooms) and how many people share a bathroom in the dorms. I've compared the information on housing assignments work from dorm to dorm, and whether or not the UF housing agreement guarantees you a spot. For students concerned about not getting placed into a single (or worried about being placed into the dreaded 'temporary triple'), I've compared the housing policies on those items. I've also compared style (conventional dorm vs luxury dorm, on-campus vs off-campus), as well as information about pools and gyms that the students living in the dorms can use. Some parents are looking for UF dorms that are female-only (and some are looking for co-ed dorms), so we've compared that, too. I've also given some information on dorm rates, so that you can compare your bang-for-your-buck at each of the dorms.
As you can see, The Ivy House is the most affordable dorm option for UF students (and still- very luxurious, it even includes private Jetted Jacuzzi Bathtubs). Unfortunately, the University of Florida Department of Housing hasn't released their Fall 2008 UF Dorm Rates, so we are comparing the 2008 rates for Ivy and Windsor Hall with the 2007 rates for the on-campus traditional dorms. UF has informed us that students should expect an approximately 5% rate increase over last year's rates-- which would put the UF double dorm room cost at just under $500 per month--- which is more expensive than Ivy House, which is the most comparable (with shared baths) and similar in price to the current specials for Windsor Hall.
Links:
* Virtual Tours of The Ivy House (luxury dorm)
* Virtual Tours of Windsor Hall (luxury co-ed dorm)
* Broward website
UF Dorm Reviews & Ratings
1 Comments Published by Gator Grad on Tuesday, February 5, 2008 at 8:01 AM.
Calling all UF students! I'm taking submissions!
I'm taking submissions of UF dorm reviews from current and previous University of Florida freshmen, sophmores, juniors, seniors and graduate students. Just click on the comment button below. I want to hear from you! Tell my webpage visitors about your experience living in the UF dorms or in off-campus dorms near the University of Florida campus. I'll be posting your reviews and dorm ratings onto mywebpage, to help the incoming freshmen make the best choice when deciding their UF housing preferences. Did you live in Broward? Buckman? The Ivy House? Hume Hall? Beaty Towers? Let others know what your experience was with the UF housing assignments based on your UF priority application date. Did you think it was fair? Did you get one of your choices? Were you placed in one of the dreaded temporary triples? Tell others about your UF dorm room layout-- single dorm suite, double dorm suite, triple dorm suite? Did you have a shared bathroom? What did you think about the communal bathrooms? Are you glad you made the choice you did?
Now that you know more about the other dorms, would you make a different decision, if you could go back and change your housing preferences?
Let me know! I'll begin posting the reviews, ratings and explanations next week!
I'm taking submissions of UF dorm reviews from current and previous University of Florida freshmen, sophmores, juniors, seniors and graduate students. Just click on the comment button below. I want to hear from you! Tell my webpage visitors about your experience living in the UF dorms or in off-campus dorms near the University of Florida campus. I'll be posting your reviews and dorm ratings onto mywebpage, to help the incoming freshmen make the best choice when deciding their UF housing preferences. Did you live in Broward? Buckman? The Ivy House? Hume Hall? Beaty Towers? Let others know what your experience was with the UF housing assignments based on your UF priority application date. Did you think it was fair? Did you get one of your choices? Were you placed in one of the dreaded temporary triples? Tell others about your UF dorm room layout-- single dorm suite, double dorm suite, triple dorm suite? Did you have a shared bathroom? What did you think about the communal bathrooms? Are you glad you made the choice you did?
Now that you know more about the other dorms, would you make a different decision, if you could go back and change your housing preferences?
Let me know! I'll begin posting the reviews, ratings and explanations next week!
It's almost here: February 15th is just a few weeks away, and high school seniors from around the nation will be screaming, "I GOT INTO UF!"
To help the new University Of Florida Class of 2012 make the best choice for their housing preferences, I'll be posting UF dorm photos, pictures, dorm reviews and ratings and even a few dorm comparisons. Which is the best UF dorm for me, you might ask. UF freshmen dorm options are limited (especially if you are someone who is worried about getting a UF single dorm room), so I'll attempt to provide you with more detailed information, so that you can make an informed decision. That way, you won't be totally shocked when you see your temporary-triple dorm room for the first time--- and I'll also give you advice on how to avoid such pivotal first-year UF student mistakes! With any luck, I'll talk some current students into letting us share their photos of Broward Hall, Beaty Towers, Hume Hall, Lakeside, Springs and Tolbert area dorms, too. We're hoping to share info on UF double dorm room layouts and how they vary from building to building, too.
Want to see more dorm pics? Check out the links below (unfortunately, Jennings doesn't provide any more photos of the interiors, but you can see photo galleries and virtual tours for Ivy and Windsor).
Links:
* The Ivy House - luxury dorm for UF students
* Windsor Hall - luxury co-ed dorm for University of Florida students
* Jennings Website
To help the new University Of Florida Class of 2012 make the best choice for their housing preferences, I'll be posting UF dorm photos, pictures, dorm reviews and ratings and even a few dorm comparisons. Which is the best UF dorm for me, you might ask. UF freshmen dorm options are limited (especially if you are someone who is worried about getting a UF single dorm room), so I'll attempt to provide you with more detailed information, so that you can make an informed decision. That way, you won't be totally shocked when you see your temporary-triple dorm room for the first time--- and I'll also give you advice on how to avoid such pivotal first-year UF student mistakes! With any luck, I'll talk some current students into letting us share their photos of Broward Hall, Beaty Towers, Hume Hall, Lakeside, Springs and Tolbert area dorms, too. We're hoping to share info on UF double dorm room layouts and how they vary from building to building, too.
Want to see more dorm pics? Check out the links below (unfortunately, Jennings doesn't provide any more photos of the interiors, but you can see photo galleries and virtual tours for Ivy and Windsor).
Links:
* The Ivy House - luxury dorm for UF students
* Windsor Hall - luxury co-ed dorm for University of Florida students
* Jennings Website
As part of an upcoming series, I'll be posting questions and answers from University of Florida students about which is the best UF dorm room for freshmen who want single or double suites.
It may suprise you. There is no "best" dorm or apartment for all UF students; it varies by student personality and priorities. For some students, the best housing choice is an on-campus dorm. For other UF students, an off-campus dorm (those located right next to campus and under the independent management) is a better choice. Off-campus dorms in many ways provide better services to residents, better guarantees on availability, assignments and preferences, and often: better amenities and bigger dorm rooms. Some answers include:
The Best Options:
* The Ivy House Dorm - (luxury dorm) the only option for students wanting to live in a female-only dorm. The Ivy House is located on UF's sorority row and offers Single, Double and XLG Triple dorm rooms. One of the most popular features at Ivy House are the bathrooms, because they contain private, Jetted Jacuzzi Bathtubs.
* Windsor Hall Dorm - (luxury dorm) the only dorm where you are guaranteed placement into a Single room with an attached bathroom. For those who want the social environment of living in a double room, Windsor is still a great option for three reasons:
1) Windsor's Double dorm rooms are much larger than the traditional UF dorms like Broward, Rawlings and about 2x the size of Beaty.
2) Each Double has an attached private bathroom.
3) Need even more space? Choose their Large or X-Large Doubles. They're huge.
* Traditional Dorms - (best dorm if you can't get one with air conditioning) As I explained, the best fit varies by personality and needs. For some (especially those who have severly limited budgets), Thomas (which has NO a/c) is fairly cheap and a great option. But a few more dollars per month can get you far better dorm room placement for Fall 2008. Though all are acceptable, the worst ones aren't nice at all (some don't even have air-conditioning). And remember: housing preferences on UF campus are NOT guaranteed for on-campus dorms. You could request a Broward and be placed in Thomas. In fact, there's no guarantee that you will be placed in any of the dorms you request. Be sure to read the on-campus housing faq here before signing up!
* Most commonly requested on-campus dorms: Beaty Towers, Hume, Broward, Jennings
* Biggest Double Suites - Windsor Hall X-Lg Double Suites with attached bathrooms
Several of the dorm options are not actually owned and managed by UF or the state of Florida-- which means that they cannot place you in temporary triples and must guarantee you placement when you fill out your housing agreement (or lease). The only two options which offer these features are Windsor Hall and Ivy House-- which make them two of the best choices for dorm rooms for UF students and especially for incoming freshmen.
For more information, visit:
* Luxury Dorms for UF Students
It may suprise you. There is no "best" dorm or apartment for all UF students; it varies by student personality and priorities. For some students, the best housing choice is an on-campus dorm. For other UF students, an off-campus dorm (those located right next to campus and under the independent management) is a better choice. Off-campus dorms in many ways provide better services to residents, better guarantees on availability, assignments and preferences, and often: better amenities and bigger dorm rooms. Some answers include:
The Best Options:
* The Ivy House Dorm - (luxury dorm) the only option for students wanting to live in a female-only dorm. The Ivy House is located on UF's sorority row and offers Single, Double and XLG Triple dorm rooms. One of the most popular features at Ivy House are the bathrooms, because they contain private, Jetted Jacuzzi Bathtubs.
* Windsor Hall Dorm - (luxury dorm) the only dorm where you are guaranteed placement into a Single room with an attached bathroom. For those who want the social environment of living in a double room, Windsor is still a great option for three reasons:
1) Windsor's Double dorm rooms are much larger than the traditional UF dorms like Broward, Rawlings and about 2x the size of Beaty.
2) Each Double has an attached private bathroom.
3) Need even more space? Choose their Large or X-Large Doubles. They're huge.
* Traditional Dorms - (best dorm if you can't get one with air conditioning) As I explained, the best fit varies by personality and needs. For some (especially those who have severly limited budgets), Thomas (which has NO a/c) is fairly cheap and a great option. But a few more dollars per month can get you far better dorm room placement for Fall 2008. Though all are acceptable, the worst ones aren't nice at all (some don't even have air-conditioning). And remember: housing preferences on UF campus are NOT guaranteed for on-campus dorms. You could request a Broward and be placed in Thomas. In fact, there's no guarantee that you will be placed in any of the dorms you request. Be sure to read the on-campus housing faq here before signing up!
* Most commonly requested on-campus dorms: Beaty Towers, Hume, Broward, Jennings
* Biggest Double Suites - Windsor Hall X-Lg Double Suites with attached bathrooms
Several of the dorm options are not actually owned and managed by UF or the state of Florida-- which means that they cannot place you in temporary triples and must guarantee you placement when you fill out your housing agreement (or lease). The only two options which offer these features are Windsor Hall and Ivy House-- which make them two of the best choices for dorm rooms for UF students and especially for incoming freshmen.
For more information, visit:
* Luxury Dorms for UF Students
