So I just committed to UChicago and am now trying to decide where I want to stay. I know a want a double, and am currently between BJ and South. I am not a huge party person, but I want a somewhat traditional experience. However, I think I also would enjoy the tight-knit community of BJ. My only worry is that it would get very introverted/overly-quirky which I would not fit in with. Do you have any suggestions on where I would fit best? How has your experience with BJ been? Thanks!
I was pretty much in the same boat as you. BJ doesn’t have that many doubles (maybe 1 to every 8 singles?), whereas South has almost entirely doubles. That being said, you also want to think about personal space and the layout of each dorm.
South: One room with two beds, where privacy is nil, but you get the true roommate experience.
BJ: Doubles are actually two rooms connected by an inner door, with external access through only room. Some people put one bed in each room, and some turn the front room into like a study lounge and then put both beds in the back room.
However, because most everyone has singles, you’re “forced” to reach out to the people around you and house life therefore becomes very tight-knit, even without roommates. My experience in BJ was absolutely amazing because of this.
BJ was my top choice (and I actually ended up liking having a single), mostly because of the personality descriptions that upperclassmen had provided for me. I ended up in Linn-Mathews House, which is given the nickname”the South house of BJ”- we throw a lot of parties, but we retain the community feel.
I didn’t ask for South at all because I didn’t like it aesthetically (I love me so neo-gothic), but I know now that it would’ve/should’ve been my next choice. The friends I have who aren’t in BJ mostly come from South, and the personalities tend to sync pretty well!
South Houses are much bigger and newer than BJ’s, which means there isn’t a certain personality to each one just yet, so it’s easier to find people to connect to. On the flip side, it also means that that community feeling you’re looking for may take longer to foster.
South is party central, whereas in BJ, one or two houses hold all the big parties. BJ is starting to shed that quirkiness, but it is still there.
My personal suggestion for you would be South, but the experience you have in housing is what you make of it! And you can alway switch houses and dorms if you ever feel like yours isn’t the right one. Good luck!
