With the Feb. 3 housing application deadline quickly approaching, incoming freshmen are tasked with one of the most stressful parts of becoming college students: selecting their dorm. Whether one is concerned about the dorm’s location, style or atmosphere, a contentious debate arises about which dorm is the best at the University.
There are six different dorms that offer suit-style dorm rooms, including Presidential Village, Lakeside and Riverside.
Three separate buildings comprise the Riverside dorms: Riverside North, Riverside East and Riverside West. These dorms appeal to many because of their selection of four-bedroom, two-bedroom and one-bedroom suite styles.
“I feel like there is a lot of space to go around, between the four of us, and I think it’s just nice to have my own space, especially at night,” said Courtney Arnold, a freshman majoring in news media.
The four-bedroom suite includes a living area, a kitchenette and two bathrooms. Additionally, in each building there are two laundry rooms, a communal living area on every floor, and a kitchen on the first and third floors.
However, the luxury of a more spacious dorm like Riverside comes at a cost. These dorms are more expensive than traditional dorms such as Paty and Parham — depending on the suite style, the Riverside dorms range from $4,850-$5,250 per student each semester.
Another benefit to the Riverside dorms is its location to a variety of places freshman can expect to visit often throughout their time living on campus. These dorms are located on North campus, extremely close to Lakeside Dining Hall, the Witt Student Activity Center and Dunkin’ Donuts.
“I think my Riverside dorm is in a good spot if you want to go to the dining hall. It’s a nice walk to sorority row, and my classes aren’t really that far,” Arnold said.
The dorms are routinely maintained by the UA cleaning staff each weekday morning.
“Sometimes, when I go into the laundry room, there will be clothes and lint everywhere, but other than that, it’s pretty clean. And the people who clean are always really nice,” said Theo Villanueva, a freshman majoring in marketing.
Boasting a medium-sized student population with not too many but not too few, Riverside dorms are a mix of secluded, quiet environments and social, bubbly atmospheres.
“They have more of a chill vibe. Like nothing too crazy, but nothing too boring, and there are still good people that live around you, so I would recommend it,” Arnold said.
Whether you prefer a tranquil atmosphere, a loud atmosphere or a mix of the two, the spacious layout of each dorm room gives you the privilege of creating your own environment despite your roommates’ or neighbors’ preferences. Having your own room isn’t a typical opportunity for a freshman college student, but it is one many enjoy.
Marcus Ball, a freshman majoring in nursing, presents a unique perspective, having lived in Burke — a traditional-style dorm room with communal bathrooms — but now residing in a Riverside dorm. The move from Burke to Riverside gave Ball something many freshmen living in traditional-style dorms struggle with: privacy.
“In Burke, you didn’t really have much privacy because you had a roommate that was in the same room as you. You never really had time for yourself,” Ball said.
An article by College Cliffs titled “College Freshman Struggles: How to Avoid or Fix Freshman Mistakes” highlights roommate issues as one of the most common issues freshmen struggle with. The story discusses, “irresponsible, messy roommates” who make it harder to get through college, saying, “Having a roommate can have a significant effect on your studies.”
Ball said the orientation of the suite helps with privacy.
“The dorm’s layout is very spacious and very private, which I like. I can be in my room if I want privacy, and then if I want to come out to talk with my roommates, I can,” Ball said.
Overall, Riverside dorms are admired by their residents due to their location, privacy and layout, and they are considered respectable candidates when it comes to dorm selections.
“I’m really happy I picked Riverside. I’ve gotten to meet a lot of other people, and I would choose to live in this dorm again,” Villanueva said.
