Right about now you probably could care less about making your four-year plan or which clubs to join. I know this time last year the only thing I cared about was housing and getting a good roommate. My bet is that most of you readers are probably the same.
First I’ll tell you what I’m sure you’ve probably already read. Look at potential FIGs and Learning Communities you’re interested in, and then base your housing around that. Now that I’ve made that disclaimer, let’s face it, you’ll pick whichever Residence Hall you think will be the best located, have the nicest rooms, and be close to food. Can’t say I blame you.
Mizzou is currently undergoing a huge renovation project of all the residence halls and is even building some new ones. I’ll give you my take on all the various areas you can live on campus and then a few extra things to keep in mind!
Schurz, Hatch, and College Ave. (all part of Bingham Commons) are all very nice. They’re so new and clean you can literally smell it (it’s like new car scent)! College Ave. offers suite style living, so if you prefer that it’s an option. These res halls, while pricey, have trendy interior design and nice flooring. These things may seem frivolous, but they actually are important!
• Pro’s: Baja Mexican Grill is in the lower level of Bingham, which is a great way to use points; they have GREAT study rooms that are a blessing whenever you have an exam; flat screen TVs in the lounges.
• Con’s: You have to cross College Ave to get to campus, the doors don’t stay open on their own making it harder to meet people, you lose that “collegiate” gross residence hall room factor
Gillett, Johnston, and Wolpers are all distinctly different. I am currently living in Gillett and wouldn’t give it up for the world. Inside Rollins (the Gillett/Hudson complex (Hudson is undergoing renovations)) is the Rollins Dining Hall. Johnston Hall also features Eva J’s Dining Hall. Having an in-hall dining facility is probably what I’ve been most grateful for. You can just roll out of bed and wear flip-flops to breakfast.
Personally, and I’m biased, these have a great location: in walking distance of three dining halls, close to classes, a block from the Rec. center. Plus, these halls offer that traditional “charm” that comes with the older residence halls. I always get defensive when people rag on how “old” they are, when really you’re just getting an awesome college experience. I seriously think that kids are closer in the older residence halls because you can commiserate together. I can’t stress it enough that you shouldn’t be scared off by the non-renovated residence halls because they’re so much fun! Plus you get the option paint your rooms.
It’s noteworthy to point out that Johnston’s is an all female residence hall, and Wolpers is all male. Don’t worry though, you just make closer friendships!
• Pro’s: Close food, doors that stay open, awesome location, nice and relatively big rooms, Wolpers/Johnston are both single-sex, balconies in Gileltt
• Con’s: Wolpers/Johnston are both single-sex, Gillett will be closing at the semester break
The “Value” halls as I commonly refer to them, Discovery, Excellence, Respect, and Responsibility, are located to the South of Plaza 900 (the dining facility). These are all suites, which means no communal bathrooms! There are different types of suites, which may include a living area.
If you’re worried about getting a suite because you feel you won’t make as many friends there are two big solutions to that. Join a FIG, this way you’re taking classes and living with the same kids so you’ll definitely get to know them. And second, college life is what you make it; be outgoing and head to your floor lounge and you’ll meet new people. It’s true of suite life or if you’re living in a double that you’re not going to make friends if you don’t make an effort to.
• Pro’s: No communal bathrooms, the residents halls are all new, more “apartmenty” feel, next door to Plaza, elevated hallways which connect the residence halls, next to the Student Health Center, across the street from the Virginia Ave. Parking Garage
• Con’s: Starting to get farther away from campus, all suite style, not as many kids per floor as in other residence halls
The Pershing Area will have undergone a HUGE expansion when you arrive. Right now all that is open is Stafford and Cramer. Next year Graham, Defoe, and all of Mid-Campus (Galena, Dogwood, and Hawthorne) will have opened. Graham and Defoe are renovated and Mid-Campus is currently being built.
What I LOVE about Cramer and Stafford is that they’re old, they give you that college feel, and yet they’re so clean and have enormous rooms. I haven’t been in Cramer, but it’s built just like Stafford and their rooms are gigantic. Tall ceilings, walk in closets, spacious living arrangements – you can’t get better than that! Plus, I feel they just have a lot of storage in Stafford. Under the bed drawers and a hatch to their desk! One other secret about Cramer is that the 4th floor only consists of four double rooms. This is nice because it’s almost like a suite, but not as secluded.
I can’t tell you too much about the rest of the Pershing Area because I haven’t seen it, but based on online reading Graham and Defoe will consist of your traditional doubles and suites. Additionally Mid-Campus will feature an assortment of living arrangements.
Next door to all of these is Pershing Commons. This offers a 24/7 Subway and an all night convenience store called Mizzou Market– all of which you can EZ Charge! I wouldn’t suggest going there too much though, as my Stafford friends said they went through quite a bit of their EZ Charge due to the close proximity of the Subway!
Cramer and Stafford:
• Pro’s: Right next to Pershing and the Student health center, great rooms, clean bathrooms, a central “quad” area between the two
• Con’s: You have to do your laundry is Pershing – so don’t pick a rainy day because you have to go outside, they’re built in one long line so there isn’t a central area to congregate with friends (there is a lounge, but you don’t have to walk past it)
Renovated/New Residence Halls: (Keep in mind I’ve never been!)
• Pro’s: New, great location, close to everything – it’s called Mid-Campus housing for a reason
• Con’s: Will be more expensive because they’re new and there will be a high demand
Now for the housing by the Football Stadium: Laws, Lathrop, Jones, Center, South, and North.
Lathrop and Jones are both all female. These typically have a higher percentage of Greek Life girls in them because of the close proximity to Greek Town. I like the way Jones is set up because they have double balcony sets (something the new residence halls don’t have).
Laws has R.O.T.C. housing and is right across from the R.O.T.C. building.
Center, South, and North are typically where athletes stay because it is close to their training facilities. When I’ve been over to those residence halls I haven’t actually seen any that I recognize, but I’ve heard from friends!
This area has two dining perks: Dobbs and Mizzou Market. Both are nice and I hear, although cannot guarantee this as fact, that Jones and Lathrop are connected to Dobbs via underground tunnels. Don’t pick your housing based on that though, because it could just be urban myth.
One other great thing is being close to the stadium. You get to see the tailgaters, which is fun, and you don’t have to walk forever to get to Farot Field.
• Pro’s: Close to Stankowski Field (the outside multi-purpose fields typically used for soccer, ultimate Frisbee, and football), near Greek Town, near by parking
• Con’s: Far/Uphill walk to campus!
Finally, the Mark Twain and McDavid residence halls. McDavid is typically the fine arts building, and Mark Twain houses both the honors communities and the Walter Williams scholars.
While there is a dining hall in Mark Twain, it’s pretty far from any other dining establishment. They do have three elevators there though, which is a big perk.
• Pro’s: Mark Twain Market means you don’t have to leave the residence hall, close by parking, the few residence halls where Geological Sciences doesn’t entail a 10 minute walk, and Mark Twain also has bathrooms within the rooms
• Con’s: FAR from seemingly everything (OK, it’s not that bad, but people in the Rollins area definitely don’t trek over there very often)
So that is a housing guide in a nutshell from someone who isn’t currently being paid by Residential Life to hype it up. Make sure you do your ROAR (housing selection) as soon as you possibly can. They fill up fast and you don’t want to limit yourself because you slept through the opening. Don’t be discouraged if you don’t get the room you want at first, you can keep looking and switching for quite some time.
Pick housing from a holistic perspective. Don’t choose a room just because it’s new, because that might not be the right fit for you. Another important factor is to choose a learning community or FIG tailored to your interests not your housing preference!
Remember: it's what you make of it!
