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

Saturday Q&A: Roommate Selection

Saturday Q&A

Frequently Asked Questions from Our Tours...

Every week we'll post answers to prospective students' questions. Some will be FAQs from tours, like this week, and others will be responses to comments and emails received via this blog. If you have a question about a post we've covered previously, comment to ask us for more information. Have we not covered it yet? Email us at UVaSummer14@virginia.edu and we'll reply with an answer!

Can you talk a little about the roommate selection process?

You are required to live on Grounds during your first year here at UVa, and although you can apply to live in a single room, a majority of students will indeed be living with a roommate. There are three ways you can go about choosing a roommate and as a first year student, getting the “perfect” roommate might be high on your list of priorities, but research actually shows that regardless of how you pick your roommate, the overall success rate is just about the same.

When choosing a roommate, you can pick someone that you already have a relationship with, someone that you meet and get to know on-line or you can simply choose to allow the University to randomly assign you a roommate. If you already have a relationship with a someone coming into the University, all you have to do is put their name down on the housing application and, granted he/she puts your name down as well, you two will be matched up to share a room. Nowadays, many students choose to meet and get to know other incoming students over social networks like Facebook and Twitter, maybe meet up once or twice, and ultimately choose to room with one another.  Lastly, students may also choose to allow the University to match them up with another first year student based on their living preference. If you decide you want to be randomly assigned a roommate, you will fill out a survey that will ask you about your study habits, living preferences, (are you a morning or night person?), etc., and based on your answers, you will be matched up with a student with similar living habits.

Regarless of whether you're living with your best friend of 6 years or a brand new person, living with a roomate is such a valuable experience to have, as you're bound to pick up a few life lessons about compromise and communication along the way, and its helpful to know that you're living with someone going through many of the same changes and experiences you are as a first year student.

--Belén Osman

Saturday Q&A: Part III

Saturday Q&A

Frequently Asked Questions from Our Tours...

Every week we'll post answers to prospective students' questions. Some will be FAQs from tours, like this week, and others will be responses to comments and emails received via this blog. If you have a question about a post we've covered previously, comment to ask us for more information. Have we not covered it yet? Email us at UVaSummer14@virginia.edu and we'll reply with an answer!

Do I choose a roommate or am I assigned one?

There are two options when it comes to deciding who you want to room with in your first year dorm.  Some students find someone with similar interests on the admitted students Facebook page or choose to room with a friend.  The other option that is available is to do a random assignment. A student wishing to be placed with a random roommate will fill out a questionnaire about his or her daily habits and routines, and UVa will match him or her with someone who submitted a questionnaire with similar answers.
--Andrew Barat

Do you feel safe on grounds?

Simply put, yes. The reason I feel so safe is because I'm aware of the numerous precautionary measures UVa has in place to ensure a safe and secure environment.  For example,  UVa has a university-wide emergency alert system that sends a text message and email to all students once it is activated. Plus, every emergency alert is displayed on LCD screens in buildings around Grounds and a siren goes off to alert anyone outside. Our residential halls require both a key and cardswipe for entrance and the doors lock automatically upon exit. Our SafeRide program, a sort of taxi service that begins once the University bus system stops running for the evening, provides students with a ride home from anywhere on Grounds free of charge. And lastly,  there are emergency lights all throughout grounds with a button that students can press if they ever feel unsafe that will connect them directly to the local police.

--Belén Osman

What does UVa do to help students get jobs or internships?

At UVa we have an awesome career services department. They'll meet with you to go over resumes, do mock interviews, and they even organize job fairs, internship fairs, and networking events with the organizations that come and recruit at UVa. They also run our online database for applying to jobs, CavLink. They're a fantastic resource, and I've spent many hours prepping for internship and job hunts in their offices. For more information and stats, visit University Career Services's website, Facebook page, and follow UCS on Instagram and Twitter at UVaUCS!

--Jared Morgan

Saturday Q&A: Part II

Saturday Q&A

Frequently Asked Questions from Our Tours...

Every week we'll post answers to prospective students' questions. Some will be FAQs from tours, like this week, and others will be responses to comments and emails received via this blog. If you have a question about a post we've covered previously, comment to ask us for more information. Have we not covered it yet? Email us at UVaSummer14@virginia.edu and we'll reply with an answer!

Are first years allowed to have cars? What is transportation like at UVa?

First year students are not allowed to have cars. UVA is a very walking-friendly campus, and the farthest walk I've ever made from one end of grounds to the other was about 20 minutes. Some students choose to bring bicycles to get to and from class and their dorms or apartments, but the majority of students simply walk from place to place. When there is inclement weather or a student wants to go somewhere far, such as downtown Charlottesville or Barracks Shopping Mall (where there is a grocery store), the bus and trolley system is extremely convenient. All the buses are free for students to use and run from 7:30AM to just past midnight.
--Veronica Mercado

Can people major/take classes in two different academic schools?

One of the questions I get most often on tours is whether or not students are able to double major across schools?

The answer is: Yes. Many of my older friends double major in Systems Engineering within the E-School, but also major in Economics within the college of Arts and Sciences. Also even if you do not want to double major, students from one school can still enroll and take classes from another. As a result, there is a lot of crossing between schools especially early on in a student’s academic career.
--Wyatt Moorer

How do I get involved in Greek Life?

As a new first-year student at UVa, you cannot rush a fraternity or sorority until the spring semester of your first-year. This policy is called deferred rush, and it's designed to allow first-year students to adjust to college life and get to know their dorm mates and hall mates before they begin the process of rush. After your spring semester in your first year, you can still rush Greek Life organizations at UVa during the spring and fall semesters of your second year.

--Will Bennett

Saturday Q&A: Part I

Saturday Q&A

Frequently Asked Questions from Our Tours...

Every week we'll post answers to prospective students' questions. Some will be FAQs from tours, like this week, and others will be responses to comments and emails received via this blog. If you have a question about a post we've covered previously, comment to ask us for more information. Have we not covered it yet? Email us at UVaSummer14@virginia.edu and we'll reply with an answer!

What is it like to come into UVa as an undeclared major?

Normal! As an undeclared major, you'll be in the College of Arts and Sciences--a program that houses over 40 different majors at UVa. You'll also have an assigned advisor within the College and certain area requirements (e.g. mathematics, humanities, non-western perspective) to explore. Working with your advisor and taking classes to fill these requirements will help you find your interests and find a major. You don't need to declare until the end of your second year, and you can even declare multiple majors, change your major, or maybe even switch schools (e.g. to the School of Engineering).

--Jared Morgan

What opportunities are there for students to work while at UVa?

There are many opportunities for jobs on grounds and off grounds! On grounds, students can work for the University in a variety of ways. For example, the University Bookstore hires student employees every semester! The libraries, some academic buildings, the dining services, and departments also hire students for various positions. Students can also search for jobs off grounds at numerous restaurants, shops, studios, companies, political campaigns, Charlottesville paid internships, babysitting, and much more!! You can also sign up for CavLink, which will email students about working opportunities in Charlottesville!

--Chelsea Marcelin

What is upperclassmen housing like at UVa?

All students are required to live on grounds for their first year, but have the option to either continue living in University housing or go off grounds for the rest of their time at the University.  Upperclass housing offered by the University can be apartment style, like the rooms at Lambeth Field, or in a residential hall layout, like the Hereford Residential College.  Students are guaranteed on Grounds housing when they live on grounds the previous year, so all first can stay on grounds if they want, and those second years that live on grounds are guaranteed housing for their third year.  It is about a 50/50 split for second years for living on or off grounds and keeps splitting in half every consecutive year.  Students can rent a house or an apartment if they choose to live off grounds, some of which may be closer to one’s classes or fit a budget better.

--Andrew Barat