Dorm Areas Ikenberry Commons

Dorm Areas Ikenberry Commons Hi folks! Today Ill be continuing my dorm series with Ikenberry Commons! With 9 separate halls to cover, lets get started! Overview:  Ikenberry Commons, aka the Ike or Six Pack, is known as the most social of the areas for several reasons: Its the dorm area with the most buildings, meaning it has the most people in one area compared to areas like ISR or FAR. Its located right by a lot of activity areas, including the Activities and Recreation Center (ARC), tennis courts, and soccer fields. Its just south of the main hub of a lot of Greek fraternities and sororities. In fact, theres a house right across from the Ike bus stop that sometimes blasts music on a nice sunny day. Its closest to Memorial Stadium, so if youre a big sports fan, its a plus to be right by the roaring crowds of football games. The Ike is generally a bustling area. Whether people are going to a nearby get-together,  going to 57 North (the in-dorm convenience store  you can spend credits at) for late-night munchies, or just coming back from the ARC after a good workout, youll see people at all times of day. Cautions: A couple halls still dont have air-conditioning or wireless internet. Make sure to check the Special Features section of any hall you might be interested in to see whats included, like the page for Nugent here. Speaking of Nugent, you shouldnt try applying for any newly constructed residence halls like Nugent or Bousfield. Why? Theyre the nicest halls, so upperclassmen will probably have grabbed all the open rooms. The second reason is that, even if by some miraculous luck you get a room in the new hall (were talking lottery luck hereâ€"virtually no chances), youll be surrounded by upperclassmen who already have established friend circles. Its much easier to make friends with fellow freshmen who are looking for friends like yourself, rather than upperclassmen who already have an established social routine. Not to say there wont be friendly peopleâ€"you just have to know yourself as a person and what kind of environment will make you feel comfortable. If youre someone who needs peace and quiet, the Ike  definitely isnt for you. Its hard to find small, personal areas where people arent present, and the Ike attracts all sorts of social butterflies. Its also the most crowded, which means long lines during peak hours at the dining hall. Perks:  The Ikes  dining hall serves some of the best food, despite how crowded it gets. For instance, there are avocados at the salad bar and multiple options for entrees like fried chicken or steak, and you can even order a customized milkshake. The gym (ARC) is right across the street, and if thats still far enough for you to make an excuse, theres another  small gym right inside the Ike next to the dining hall. The Ike also comes equipped with  music practice rooms which have upright pianos,  57 North is the most diversely stocked convenience store out of any of the other dorm a  la carte locations, and there are limitless lounges and tables to study at. Although you might sometimes find yourself shaking your head at a group of screaming people coming back from a night out, if youre a social person, you wont find another place more suited for making friends, finding a study buddy, or finding a group you can call your own to start living college with. Although Ive never lived at the Ike, I can say that like every other dorm, people have loved it or hated it, and I can see reasons for both sides. Hope this helps! ?? P.S. Heres a video tour of Taft Van Doren. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eP4KEdHQ0VI For more video tours, go to this page and click on the dorm youre interested in! A good resource to find out more is also to Google responses from real students, like on talk.collegeconfidential.com or the UIUC reddit. I dont link these pages directly, because its usually easier to find a specific response by Googling your question and the website, e.g. college confidential should I live at six pack uiuc? Or, you can also come and take a tour! James Class of 2016 I’m an Advertising major also pursuing a minor in Anthropology. I’m heavily involved with the American Advertising Federation on campus. I'm from Naperville, Illinois.