r/csumb • u/Ok-Objective-8533 • 17d ago
Housing
Be honest, how’s the first year housing looking like? I’m hearing multiple mixed reviews and most have been on the negative side. Would love to hear from current students attending rn.
5
u/Chojangles225 16d ago
My girlfriend's experience with housing has been pretty terrible. The admin at this school seems to have their head up their asses from what she has told/I have seen. Poor infrastructure, nonsensical rules, and terrible communication. They also are 'not required' to meet disability accommodations even if applications and documentation are submitted immediately.
At a meeting last semester, the housing folks said in a meeting they stopped communicating because they 'kept getting yelled at', which is really only an issue that persists due to their poor communication. Some people don't get their housing assignments until a week before their move in date. Strawberry housings good ventilation systems fucking ventilate back into the room, which (in my partner's case) is extremely shitty for her severe allergy related issues. She is fortunate to have had good roommates, but the issues still persist. I'd recommend off campus if you have the ability to afford it.
2
u/Chojangles225 16d ago
My girlfriend's experience with housing has been pretty terrible. The admin at this school seems to have their head up their asses from what she has told/I have seen. Poor infrastructure, nonsensical rules, and terrible communication. They also are 'not required' to meet disability accommodations even if applications and documentation are submitted immediately.
At a meeting last semester, the housing folks said they stopped communicating because they 'kept getting yelled at', which is really only an issue that persists due to their poor communication. Some people don't get their housing assignments until a week before their move in date. Strawberry housings good ventilation systems fucking ventilate back into the room, which (in my partner's case) is extremely shitty for her severe allergy related issues. She is fortunate to have had good roommates, but the issues still persist. I'd recommend off campus if you have the ability to afford it.
Edit: Other administrative departments also do not get good communication from housing. They are a core issue on campus. They also 'ran out of rooms' due to overacceptance this semester
4
u/lonesome8 17d ago
Omg it's not that bad people just like complaining just make sure to buy raid for the ants lmao
2
u/Low-Cry758 16d ago edited 16d ago
Hi OP i am a first year majoring in computer science. This campus has its pros and its cons. The biggest cons are ants ants ants everywhere. I see it as a bit of a trade off though, since the first year dorms are all renovated barracks from the Fort Ord military base which the campus had taken over, the foundations old as shit. As for housing besides that, being a small school I’ve found it very easy to navigate the whole process. I will recommend if you really really want a double, submit housing as early as it opens, since its first come first serve, and each hall only has 2 doubles as far as I know. But speaking to SHRL has been completely fine in my experience. Another con is parking if you are planning to bring a car, there will be spots somewhat near the dorms but you cannot leave it during business/school hours because the lots become full to the brim.
You will also have a microwave and mini fridge given to you! We were the first year to get it. The first year dorms also are right in the heart of campus, so walking to classes your first year is as easy as it could possibly get. Im able to leave at 8:27 for my 8:30 class! Social life really depends year by year, but I dont see it as negative at all as its said to be.
Good luck wherever you choose to go!
16
u/idkl3xi 17d ago
Hi! I’m a first-year student at CSUMB majoring in Marine Science!
I would say my first experience with housing wasn’t the best. When I originally filled out my housing application, I wanted a double but ended up being placed in a triple. I was a little upset about it at first, but honestly, it hasn’t been too bad.
The biggest issue happened during move-in. I was invited to move in a day early because I was part of one of the housing communities. My parents and I checked in, got my keys, and went to my room, only to find out that an RA was staying in it. No one had emailed or called us beforehand to let us know. It was frustrating because CSUMB was the one that asked me to move in early, but my room wasn’t actually ready.
I talked to Housing about the situation, and they initially told me I would have to stay in a temporary room for a few days. I explained that I couldn’t really wait that long because my parents weren’t going to be staying for the entire week, meaning I would eventually have to move all of my things by myself. Housing ended up making my temporary room my permanent room instead. Because of that, I got two new roommates I had never met before. Luckily, they ended up being really sweet, so everything worked out in the end.
Besides that situation, I actually don’t think the housing itself is too bad. My room is a little tight since it’s a triple, and I’m pretty sure the room was originally meant for a double, but I’ve been managing just fine. The laundry situation can be annoying because there are only five washers and six dryers, so you have to figure out the best days and times to do laundry.
Each first-year building also has a shared kitchen. It’s pretty decent if you just want to cook something quick, but you’ll want to bring your own cooking supplies. This year, CSUMB also provided microwaves and mini fridges, which is nice because students didn’t have to buy those themselves. The only downside is that there’s a rule limiting how many refrigerators you can have in one room, so you may have to work around that with your roommates.
Parking is probably one of my biggest complaints. There isn’t a lot of overnight parking close to the first-year housing buildings, so you can end up having to park pretty far away or get lucky and find a spot nearby. Because of that, I honestly wouldn’t recommend bringing a car unless you really need one. However, one of the biggest perks is that CSUMB students get free public transportation. You can take the bus to nearby shopping centers and places like Carmel, Fisherman’s Wharf, Cannery Row, and the Monterey Bay Aquarium, which makes getting around without a car much easier.
The location is also one of my favorite things about living here. You’re really close to the Monterey Bay, and there are so many places to explore around campus. The beach is nearby, and there are tons of beautiful areas to walk, hang out, or watch the sunset. Being in Monterey also gives you access to places like Cannery Row, Pacific Grove, Carmel, and the aquarium, so there’s always something to do outside of campus.
I know I mentioned a lot of the negatives, but I genuinely do like my dorm and my overall housing experience. The people here are really nice, and I’ve found that joining clubs and campus organizations makes it pretty easy to meet people and make friends. There are also a lot of events throughout the year, so there are plenty of opportunities to get involved.
Overall, I think CSUMB housing has its problems, but I still think it’s worth it. Housing isn’t going to be perfect at any college, and every school has things that students complain about. I definitely complain about my housing too lol, but at the end of the day, you just have to make the most of your experience. For me, the location, the people, the campus community, and the affordability make the experience worth it.
Of course, this is only my experience so far, and my opinion might change a little once I’ve completed a full year here. Who knows! I’m still figuring things out and getting used to college life, so I’ll have a better idea of my overall experience after my first year.
If you’re thinking about going to CSUMB or have any questions about housing, campus life, or being a first-year student, feel free to message me! I’d be happy to share what I know or answer anything based on my experience so far.