Many students say that Frontier is the best freshman dorm, because it is a great place to meet new people and is close to all the Minneapolis school buildings. All rooms in Frontier are double occupancy, and the building can house up to 735 students. It is one of four residence halls built on adjacent blocks that are known together as the "Superblock" (located on the East Bank, and also home to programs such as Mathematics, Engineering, Science, Women's Studies, Psychology, Architecture and Language Studies). These buildings are easily accessible by foot, bike and the free campus-shuttle system.Frontier Hall is also close to Stadium Village, a popular commercial and eating area; the Williams Arena (home to basketball games), Mariucci Arena (hockey) and the new Sports Pavilion, University Recreational Center and Natatorium (swimming).
Territorial Hall, in the same location as Frontier, is also on the list of favorites of incoming freshmen. It is a four-story building with 14 residential community units known as "houses." All 695 students who live in Territorial are first-year students. The dining room for Territorial is located in Centennial Hall, and is connected to the dorm by a tunnel.
If you are into theater and the other arts, Middlebrook Hall is highly recommended. Located on the West Bank, it is somewhat quieter than the other dorms. Near downtown Minneapolis and the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome (home to Gopher football), the area offers various theaters, music clubs, coffeeshops, co-ops, historic buildings and ethnic and vegetarian restaurants. It is also the site of the School of Music, Theatre Arts Department, Studio Arts Department, Carlson School of Management, Law School, Social Science departments and the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute.
Bailey Hall in St. Paul is suggested for agriculture students. Named after Clyde Harold Bailey, former dean of the College of Agriculture, the dorm has 503 beds. Students stay in double rooms, limited singles or four-person suites that have a shared living area. The east wing of Bailey Hall is reserved for incoming freshmen.
A number of students eagerly recommend becoming part of the Living Learning Community (LLC), an amalgamation of about a dozen educational, social and developmental programs and services that help new students make the transition to college. LLC also gives students the opportunity to live in a "house" with residents who share similar academic interests. For example, the Design House is open to incoming first-year freshmen who are admitted to one of the design programs in the Department of Design, Housing, and Apparel. The goal of this LLC is to provide a way for design students to become better acquainted and learn from one another.
You must apply for admission to the university before you can request housing. You may apply for housing before you are admitted, and you are strongly encouraged to do so. The earlier you apply, the better. A $25 non-refundable application fee is due upfront. When you apply to the school, you will be given an ID number. You will need it to download a housing application from the University of Minnesota website, under "Housing and Residential Life." Those who apply early (before October 1) have a better chance of being assigned to their first housing choice. If you know you want to attend this university, it is best to apply early to secure the best dorm for your needs and interests.