UT Austin students...questions about HOUSING! (Dobie vs. Towers vs. Texana)

[beer]

I'm looking into housing. I have a UT contract but I really don't want to end up in Jester...so I am evaluating my private dorm possibilities.

There is, of course, Towers. And Dobie. Both seem really expensive and tend to nickel-and-dime you for everything they can. One thing I've just come across tonight is a dorm called Texana. It is a bit farther away - 4 blocks - but the rooms seem so much bigger, nicer, and more reasonably priced than either Towers or Dobie.

So, I am going to ask those with experience - how is Texana? I am considering rooming with a buddy and going potluck with the other two roomates. It ends up being $6300 a year, including everything (14 meals/week) which is a couple thousand less than Towers and Dobie and on-par with basic school-provided housing, without having the dining area and living room.

Website Link

I guess I am just wondering is, what is the catch? It can't be that good, can it? BTW I am going into engineering but am unfamiliar with the campus; how long would it take me to get to classes each day? Plus, by the way, I understand that the fact I have a bit of a commute makes up for the long elevator waits in both those other dorms.

 

[beer]

With a campus size of 52K, I'm sure there is SOMEONE from UT on these forums.

 

[beer]

^

 

[N8Magic]

From an outside perspective, I'd say they look pretty good. MUCH better than most of the dorms up here.

Why not go down there and ask for a tour?

 

[DevilsAdvocate]

UT joke!

What is the easiest way to castrate a Texas Longhorn?





































Kick his boyfriend in the jaw.



Gig 'Em Ags!

 

[Antz]

Dobie is nice...I lived there last yr.

Pros: Close to campus, decent food, own bathroom

Cons: Internet sux (i'm talking dual 56K can beat it sometimes), they charge $58 bucks for standard telephone (I dunno how they pull this outta their azz), only 3 elevators with cronicc problems.

 

[beer]

Antz -

Being that you lived in Dobie, did you know anyone that lived in Texana? What is your take on that dorm? The only downside I see to it is that it is a few blocks from the campus...but that's workable.

 

[arod]

<< UT joke!

What is the easiest way to castrate a Texas Longhorn?





































Kick his boyfriend in the jaw.



Gig 'Em Ags! >>



SWEEEET!!!

 

[DevilsAdvocate]

What does a t-sip get on once a week that makes them feel better for the rest of the week?




























Their roommate.

 

[ElFenix]

<< Kick his boyfriend in the jaw. >>

oh yeah and the corp isn't full of a bunch of guys polishing each others sabers, which then requires a big coverup

dobie blows. don't live there. the cafeteria won't let you bring your friends in on your card.


towers is nice. its expensive as you can get though.


haven't heard of texana... is that near madison house or something?


take the campus loop bus around over to engineering if its faster. if you want the bus to drop you off right there you need to live up speedway on the intramural fields bus route. no dorms there though.


<----- lives in hyde park (north campus)

 

[xyion]

My friend lived in Dobie during his freshman year. He didn?t seem to like it very much. He said that the people on the floor weren't too outgoing (like, they didn?t try to make actively make friends with people on the floor). This year he lives in Roberts. I don't know if you can get into that one, but he seems to like that one lots.

 

[ElFenix]

roberts is one of the best dorms on campus. i'm partial to brackenridge myself. prather was rated as one of the best dorms in the US by playboy a few years back.

 

[DevilsAdvocate]

Which dorm has the most gloryholes?

I think that was what he was really asking.

 

[ElFenix]

sheesh... you'd think that at least someone over there in bryan/college station wasn't suffering from an inferiority complex...

 

[Spoooon]

<< sheesh... you'd think that at least someone over there in bryan/college station wasn't suffering from an inferiority complex... >>


Not everybody suffers from that. I wish A&M was a little more liberal. And while not everyone in the Corps is a closeminded idiot, there seems to be more there than anywhere else. Of course, UT has its fair share of idiots too.

 

[calvinbiss]

why haven't you considered the Castillian? I lived there a few years back and had an absolute blast! I have a sister living in towers now, and its nice, bigger, good internet, more apartment like. I would say thumbs down to dobie, i think its ugly on the inside, and waiting for the elevators is a total pain in the @ss - seriously, ten minute waits during passing periods if you live high. What about san jacinto dorm? i don;t know how UT housing works now, but if your chances are good, i would go with that. San Jacinto looks like a freaking hyatt on the inside, and its right by the stadium. A pro for provate dorm is better food, and at least you get away from campus, plus they are lighter on partying than on campus. But, i think they are more expensive. sorry, i have never heard of texana, and i'ved lived in west campus for 4 years now.

hook 'em

 

[DevilsAdvocate]

What inferiority complex? I have not lived in College Station for years.

I just want Elemental to have the opportunity to make new friends.

You guys in Austin take yourselves way too seriously.

 

[Antz]

They're all right....Dobie blows...If i had a choice I MIGHT live there again only because I NEED TO LIVE NEAR CAMPUS (Currently riverside) but then again I'd go elsewhere.

I haven't heard of texana sorry. My friend lived in Castillian, personally it looked grungy to me...but whatever works. Supposedly their food is better too...

And whoever mentioned the meal plan for dobie is right...you can't scan friends in which is gay...unless you get cool with the person scanning your card...and even then you can only do it seldomly...on top of all that...Your meal plan is weekly...so if you dont use up all your meals...they go byebye at the end of the week. Unlike on campus where its a set amount for the entire semester.

 

[beer]

The problem with UT public housing is that I don't have any clue of where I'm going to live until Mid-July. Of course, I want to live in Brackenridge, Roberts, San Jaciento, and the other dorms; but the fact is that 2,900 people live in Jester which is more than all the other dorms combined. So with that in mind, I'm leaning to rather not chancing living in an 11x13 room for $5500 a year when I can get so much more in a private dorm at a reasonable price increase.

Of course living in San Jaciento, Roberts, and Brackenridge is preferable; but SJ has 800 people and Roberts, Brackenridge each house less than 200, so that's minute compared to Jester @ 2900.

If I sign with a private dorm, I have to do it before I get a reply back from UT on exactly where I'm going to live. I hate how they do that....so, as much as I want to live on campus in a nice dorm (Everything but Jester is nice), the sheer numbers of students housed in Jester makes it impossible for me to say with any certainty where I'll end up. And if I want til I hear back from UT I will have lost the window of opportunity to sign with a private dorm.

I hope this clarified some things.

 

[fastz28]

Never heard of the other ones, but I lived in Dobie, a while back. Let's just say that the exterior of Dobie wasn't that pretty blue/green glass when I lived there. :Q

Needless to say, I don't have much information for you. So this is a nef.

 

[Snuffaluffaguss]

Good thing I droped in tonight.

I lived at Towers last year, and I live a block away from Texana now, and a friend of mine lived there last year.

Now for the advice - Jester would suck, but there alot of people who like it. Towers was to expensive and the security guards were dicks. Texana not a bad idea but its right behind Ken's donouts and when you stuble into your place at 5 am drunk, a 24 hour donout store may not be your best friend. If I had to to do all over again, where would I want to live? Probably on campus. San Jacinto -(spelling) is a very nice place, nicer than towers and dobie. I have friends there now and they really like it. The other dorms aren't bad, they are just a bit older, my dad stayed at Roberts and Breckenridge. Another reason to stay on campus, its close to class. Believe me, after a few weeks of school, the fact you have to walk to class can become a self endorsed reason to skip class. If you do get stuck in Jester, think of the bright sides. There are pot plants growing in the courtyard, see yesterday or mondays Daily Texan, The football team stays there it can't be that bad. If you are on campus you will meet alot more people than if you live in a off campus dorm. If you hate on campus, There are always spots open in August for places to move in. But, stay on campus your first year.

Now more UT advice, Get in a FIG, Freshman Interest Group, They will talk to you more about it at Orientation but its a great program. Meet some really cool people through it. If you have anymore questions you can pm me or I can email you.

Stay on campus, its the one thing I wish I did my freshman year. Dobie and Towers both blow. I can ask my friend about Texana, I think she liked it, but even she was on campus your freshman year. Try to get in San Jacinto. Ill stop rambling now.

edited cause I am about to pass out and can't type...

 

[heat23]

i live in dobie..and next year will be my 4th year here..HAHAH...im serious though...
yea this place is a ripoff...yea the food sux....yea the elevators suck if u live above the 15th floor, yea the walls are paper thin pieces of cardboard.....NEVERTHELESS....it is convenient........i would NEVER goto class and fail all of them if i lived off campus anywhere...im doing EE and i have classes at really random times...and i have to goto the lab alot...if i lived off campus i would never get anything done...
i never seen or heard of texana...but by looking at the website it looks nice..
If i had a choice i would pick SAN JAC...thats the most cost effective place to live

 

[kamiXnamja]

i lived at dobie my freshman year and it was lots of fun cuz i was in suite with 3 other friends.. plus i was 3rd floor so i didnt have to wait for elevators.. but not every1 gets that lucky.. food really blows so if u end up stayin at dobie, screw the meal plan and get dining dollars (bevo bucks) so u can eat at the union (fast food places) or at any of the campus cafeterias.. altho i would not suggest campus food cuz they use O'Lean instead of the real stuff.. and that gives u crazy stomach problems.. food tastes ok, but 15 min after u eat it, u have to go to the restroom..

stayin in a pub dorm is good freshmen yr cuz u meet lots of ppl... and its close to campus.. but the actual living quarters cant compare to an apt..

my suggestion.. live in a pub dorm freshmen yr.. meet lots of ppl.. have fun.. and put up with the cramped living quarters..
texana or wutever is far.. ur definitely not going to want to walk that much.. i promise walking sux hard..
after freshmen year, move to a west campus apt.. find one close to the WC (west campus) bus route so u dont have to walk to class.. my bus stop's right outside my apt so i can get to class in less than 5 min..

oh yeah, one good thing about dobie.. they have a basketball court that u can play on 24/7.. its outdoor but pretty good with bright lighting.. we used to go play at 3AM in the morning.. pretty fun.. hehe

newayz.. UT r0x.. hook 'em horns baby