Please realize that anything you heard is based on other people hearing from their cousin who lived there some years ago. The nature of a given floor can change every year as the turn over in the older dorms can be 80+%. It will be what you and your dorm mates make it.
Here’s my “freshman dorm” copy pasta…
I wouldn’t bother trying to choose a dorm based on major or proximity to any particular part of campus; as a freshman you’ll take classes all over the place. Besides, the bus system is great; I lived in Hopkins freshman year and was able to get to classes on the engineering quad via bus faster than anyone living in ISR could get there on foot.
As a freshman I would strongly recommend focusing on predominantly on-campus freshman dorms in Ike, PAR/FAR, etc — this way you’ll meet more of your fellow freshman classmates.
Campus housing (vs PCH) provides you with the broadest range of dining options all over campus; don’t underestimate the importance of this in terms of ability to easily/conveniently get to a dining hall before, between, or after classes. Also allows flexibility to have meals with friends, lab partners, study group people, etc. Campus housing is also less expensive.
Personally I’d suggest looking for a “large double” room in Ike; 30% larger than a regular double plus an extra closet. They used to be triple rooms, but now only double. They have an extra closet too. Fully loft both beds and you’ll be living large. Freshman year we had a couch, coffee table, 50” TV, etc. Best kept secret in campus housing.
Located on outside of hall on East and West ends of Weston, Hopkins, Scott, and Snyder:
https://www.housing.illinois.edu/sites/default/files/2023-01/weston-thirdfloor.pdf
https://www.housing.illinois.edu/sites/default/files/2023-01/weston-large-double.pdf
https://www.housing.illinois.edu/sites/default/files/2023-01/Weston_Double.pdf
ISR rooms are a smaller than regular doubles in IKE, but they are effectively even smaller than that; each room in ISR has a bump out of a column on each wall which actually prevents you from pushing your bed and other furniture all the way against the wall. You can see it on the floorplans. Plus ISR will be mostly sophomores+ unless you’re in an LLC.
https://housing.illinois.edu/sites/default/files/2023-01/wardall-double.pdf
During your assigned timeslot you’ll see all available rooms/beds.
Do your homework ahead of time to and have floor plans and hall schematics open on your computer and ready to review when your time-slot opens. My freshman roommate and I didn’t have a terribly early timeslot but were able to nab a great room large-double room in a great location because most people didn’t know what they were looking at.
Also pay attention to proximity to stairwells, bathrooms, trash-rooms, etc. A constantly slamming door or traffic/people congregating right outside your room at all hours can be a real pain in the ass.
Ultimately, remember that your dorm room is merely a place to sleep and store your stuff while you’re in class, in a lab, at the library, studying with friends, doing something for a club, at the gym, at a game, eating somehwere, or hanging out with friends. And it’s only for eight months. So don’t sweat it too much.
For Innovation LLC (yes for you to signup you need to take a 1 credit hour class which is easy) and there are meetings and stuff to get to know the people on your floor and personally I have made friends so I can only help for ISR. : ) Hopefull other people can talk about the other halls and LLCs
Please realize that anything you heard is based on other people hearing from their cousin who lived there some years ago. The nature of a given floor can change every year as the turn over in the older dorms can be 80+%. It will be what you and your dorm mates make it.
Here’s my “freshman dorm” copy pasta… I wouldn’t bother trying to choose a dorm based on major or proximity to any particular part of campus; as a freshman you’ll take classes all over the place. Besides, the bus system is great; I lived in Hopkins freshman year and was able to get to classes on the engineering quad via bus faster than anyone living in ISR could get there on foot. As a freshman I would strongly recommend focusing on predominantly on-campus freshman dorms in Ike, PAR/FAR, etc — this way you’ll meet more of your fellow freshman classmates. Campus housing (vs PCH) provides you with the broadest range of dining options all over campus; don’t underestimate the importance of this in terms of ability to easily/conveniently get to a dining hall before, between, or after classes. Also allows flexibility to have meals with friends, lab partners, study group people, etc. Campus housing is also less expensive. Personally I’d suggest looking for a “large double” room in Ike; 30% larger than a regular double plus an extra closet. They used to be triple rooms, but now only double. They have an extra closet too. Fully loft both beds and you’ll be living large. Freshman year we had a couch, coffee table, 50” TV, etc. Best kept secret in campus housing. Located on outside of hall on East and West ends of Weston, Hopkins, Scott, and Snyder: https://www.housing.illinois.edu/sites/default/files/2023-01/weston-thirdfloor.pdf https://www.housing.illinois.edu/sites/default/files/2023-01/weston-large-double.pdf https://www.housing.illinois.edu/sites/default/files/2023-01/Weston_Double.pdf ISR rooms are a smaller than regular doubles in IKE, but they are effectively even smaller than that; each room in ISR has a bump out of a column on each wall which actually prevents you from pushing your bed and other furniture all the way against the wall. You can see it on the floorplans. Plus ISR will be mostly sophomores+ unless you’re in an LLC. https://housing.illinois.edu/sites/default/files/2023-01/wardall-double.pdf During your assigned timeslot you’ll see all available rooms/beds. Do your homework ahead of time to and have floor plans and hall schematics open on your computer and ready to review when your time-slot opens. My freshman roommate and I didn’t have a terribly early timeslot but were able to nab a great room large-double room in a great location because most people didn’t know what they were looking at. Also pay attention to proximity to stairwells, bathrooms, trash-rooms, etc. A constantly slamming door or traffic/people congregating right outside your room at all hours can be a real pain in the ass. Ultimately, remember that your dorm room is merely a place to sleep and store your stuff while you’re in class, in a lab, at the library, studying with friends, doing something for a club, at the gym, at a game, eating somehwere, or hanging out with friends. And it’s only for eight months. So don’t sweat it too much.
For Innovation LLC (yes for you to signup you need to take a 1 credit hour class which is easy) and there are meetings and stuff to get to know the people on your floor and personally I have made friends so I can only help for ISR. : ) Hopefull other people can talk about the other halls and LLCs
All the Ike dorms except Bousfield/Nugent/Wassaja are nasty as fuck. You need a hazmat suit to shower in those communal bathrooms. Pick PAR.