Dorms 101: A Crash Course in First-Year Housing

Roommates? Sharing bathrooms? RAs? What?!

Welcome to dorm life!

Since many of you are either newly admitted students (congrats!) or prospective students looking to gain some perspective on the UVa student experience, I thought I'd shed some light on the many housing options available here.

(This post will focus primarily on first year housing.)

McCormick Road Residence Area 

Affectionately known as "Old Dorms" to most UVa students, the McCormick Road Residence Area is made up of five dorm associations: Kent-Dabney, Metcalf-Lefevre, Bonnycastle-Hancock, Page-Emmet, and Echols-Humphrey. They're all traditional, hall-style dorms with communal bathrooms, and they're separated by floor in terms of gender. They're also only about a 5 minute walk from central grounds and most classes.

About the "old" part...

Yes. They are old. They may not have air-conditioning and the carpets may look like they're from the 1950's and I definitely wouldn't go in the bathroom without a solid pair of shower shoes...BUT. Old Dorms can also be an amazing place to live during your first year. They're known for their social atmosphere - so leave your door open and get to know your hallmates; they may become some of your best friends. You never know!

Important thing to note: During the 2017-2018 academic year, Bonnycastle, Kent, and Dabney will be closed for major renovation.

Alderman Road Residence Area















Elevators, TV lounges, and air-conditioning galore - welcome to "New Dorms" (yeah, you guessed it - they're new!). The Alderman Road Residence Area is made up of nine different dorm associations: Balz-Dobie, Cauthen, Gibbons, Kellogg, Lile-Maupin, Shannon, Tuttle-Dunnington, Watson-Webb, and Woody. They're all hall-style with communal bathrooms, and like old dorms, are also gendered by floor. They're about a 10 minute walk from central grounds, but located conveniently right next to Observatory Hill Dining Hall.

The "lowdown" on New Dorms:

Yes, they're new. They're shiny. They have ~fancy things~. But just like Old Dorms, they also have their downsides. New Dorms are located slightly farther away from central grounds, so if you're one to roll out of bed five minutes before class, living here might be somewhat of a struggle!

Malone: Due to the renovations going on at Old Dorms, some first-year students will be housed in Malone, which is structured similarly to New Dorms and is located just a few minutes away from them.

Gooch/Dillard Suite-Style
















The Gooch/Dillard Suite-Style residence area is UVa's only suite-style dorm available to first-year students. It's made up of nine buildings, all with two-story suites that house 6-10 students each and come with furnished living and bath areas. Suites are single-sex, and yes, there is air-conditioning (!!!). These dorms are approximately a 15 minute walk from central grounds, but are located right next to Runk Dining Hall (unofficially known as the best dining hall on grounds).

The 411:

Gooch/Dillard is great if you're looking for the close-knit environment provided by suite-style dorms. But like any dorm, there are some downsides. Gooch/Dillard is the farthest dorm from central grounds, so most students choose to take the bus instead of walking to class. But hey, consider it exercise!

Residential Colleges

None of those options sound right for you?

Consider applying to live in one of UVa's three residential colleges: Brown College, Hereford College, or the International Residential College. Each has their own unique "vibe": Brown focuses on creativity/art, Hereford on sustainability and environment, and the IRC is a combination of both international and domestic students.

It's important to note that all residential colleges house 1st-4th year students, so you'll be living with students of all ages, majors, and backgrounds. This is a GREAT opportunity to make new friends and get some ~sage advice~ from older students!

No matter where you end up, your first-year dorm experience will be unlike anything else. It's a chance to live on your own, make some great friends, and have a great time - so take advantage of it!

First-Year Housing Options:

http://housing.virginia.edu/incoming-undergraduates

First-Year Housing Application:
http://housing.virginia.edu/application

The Adventures of a First-Year...

 Many of you reading this blog may be seniors, or even juniors, in high school and yes, you’re finally the ones graduating and the ones who “rule the school” [or so many seniors appear to think]. I was in your shoes at this time last year and was anxiously waiting a few more college decision letters. As I stated in my first blog, after receiving my college decision letters I threatened to draw a college name out of a hat, and at one point I even labeled three different tea sweetener packets and closed my eyes and picked one [just so you know, I picked UVa…all THREE times]. My mother didn’t really think this seemed like the best way to choose a college, so I started making pro and con lists. Eventually I came to the conclusion that I would attend UVa, which you probably could’ve guessed since you’re reading a UVa Blog. Anyways now after jogging your memory about my background, I figured I’d let you in on some of the great experiences of being a first-year, [even though this means you will no longer be the oldest in the school]! 

I thought picking a college based on the Sweet'N Low packet seemed like a GOOD IDEA!

A day-in-the-life…I’ll start with dorm life. Well there are basically three sets of dorms from the way I see it: Old Dorms (McCormick Road), Alderman Road Dorms (from Balz-Dobie and Watson-Webb to Courtenay House), and Gooch-Dillard Residence Hall. I live in Gooch-Dillard, a co-ed residence area that is composed of suites that house between 5 and 6 people per suite and consists of individual bedrooms and one bathroom. Some of you may know where Gooch-Dillard is from visiting and the quote you will inevitably hear if you live in Gooch-Dillard is, “Oh, I’m so sorry! You are so far from everything…” Well I’m not going to deny this quote per se, but I will try to put a positive spin on it because Gooch-Dillard has a few perks such as your own bedroom, AIR CONDITIONING, a quick walk to Scott Stadium, and best of all, you’ll keep OFF the FRESHMAN FIFTEEN.  Gooch-Dillard is now my “home-away-from-home” which may sound cliché, but I have actually enjoyed dorm life. I have become good friends with my Resident Advisor, Sarah, and have met some of the most amazing people in Gooch-Dillard from our First-Year President, Andrew, to my friends who I typically give a “shout-out” to in these blogs! Many of the people you meet in your dorm are going to help you survive the first week here and encourage you and push you to thrive during your college career, these people become your support system. 

Welcome to Gooch-Dillard (my "home away from home") 

Balz-Dobie

Speaking of surviving the first week, the transition from college is a BIG one for many people because you are now on your own, have to think independently, and act like a “young adult.” Sometimes college classes are great because you won’t do work for a week or two at a time, but don’t let this fool you because typically it creeps up on you, so time management is definitely a great skill to acquire [I am still working on this one]. However, don’t fear the big transition because everyone handles it in their own way, but believe me when I say YOU WILL be able to handle the transition. Yes, classes are harder than high school classes and AP classes, and to my dismay many teachers don’t give you a study guide before every test, but most of the work is manageable and teachers hold office hours to help you out [take advantage of these because I didn’t very much first semester and I really regret not taking the opportunity to meet my professors one-on-one].

 My friends and I at the Virginia Gentlemen Concert

Now that I have given you a few helpful hints, let me warn you that ALMOST EVERY upperclassmen will rag on you for being a “First-Year,” but let me tell you a little secret, I was informed by a recent graduate that it is simply because all the upperclassmen wish they were us. Being a First-Year is one of the greatest years of your life and probably one of the greatest at college because all your classmates live on Grounds with you, almost no first-year has a car so you bond over riding the bus and or free-trolley, and you don’t have to pick a major or go into the real world anytime soon [this is probably why the upperclassmen envy us the most].

 And "Hoo" doesn't want to look at this for the next FOUR years?!