University of Virginia-Main Campus Top Questions

First year housing options include Old/McCormick Dorms, Alderman, and Gooch/Dillard. Placement in these are completely random. One may also apply to live in the 3 residential colleges: Brown, International (IRC), or Hereford. Scattered around Alderman are New Dorms which are like hotels with their fancy common rooms and electronic cards. However, I love living in Old Dorms with my traditional key and lack of AC. It's really not a big deal except for the first 2 weeks of school. I think the proximity to everything and homey feeling trump that minor amenity. Rooms may either be singles, doubles, triples (rarely), or suite-style. I live in a double, hall-style with almost 50 girls and one bathroom with 4 showers. Strangely, I've never had to wait for a shower. Everyone takes them at different times so it's never been a problem. Also, if you have classes in the chemistry, biology, physics, or engineering buildings, classes are just a "roll-out-of-bed" away. It's lovely.

The dorms all have something unique and great to offer. Old Dorms are for first years only and obviously have their name because of their age. While they might be old they are at a very good location. The new dorms being built are top of the line and are really like new hotels. The University really knows how to invest in good housing for the students.

Dorms are separated into "old" and "new" dorms. Old dorms are closer to central Grounds and most classes, and new dorms are across from the football stadium and Aquatic and Fitness Center (gym and pool). Old dorms are hall style, most students have 1 roommate and each floor shares a bathroom. Buildings are co-ed, but floors are gender segregated. The buildings are, obviously, older and they are not airconditioned. New dorms are generally suite-style. They often have air conditioning, but not always. The facilities are newer and cleaner, but it is a longer walk to classes and social events.

The dorm that I live in is a hall style with a community bathroom. The rooms are small, but not too small, and there is plenty of room for everything that a college student will need. The bathrooms are big and, thankfully, remain clean, and there is always plenty of room for everyone. The beds are comfortable and the desk, chair, and closet that come in the room are spacious and sturdy. Some of the other dorms, like one that a friend of mine lives in, is in a suite style and they have two rooms with two beds in each room, two bathrooms, a living room, and a kitchen.

First year dorms vary from old dorms (McCormick) to new dorms (Alderman) or other areas such as Gooch/Dillard and residential colleges such as Hereford, the IRC or Brown College. I live in Gooch which includes a suite with a common area with single rooms. My room has one standard desk and chair and one closet. The dorm is carpeted. There is one communal bathroom with two sinks. I personally like the suite style dorms with AC. Other dorms may not be carpeted and may or may not have AC. The new dorms include elevators and laundry rooms within the building. There is a also a common living room where there is a TV. All dorm rooms need some sort of key or ID sliding system to get in.