FIND ANOTHER PLACE TO LIVE. The University Center markets itself as a student friendly building that offers top of the line amenities for students...
FIND ANOTHER PLACE TO LIVE.
The University Center markets itself as a student friendly building that offers top of the line amenities for students who attend school in Downtown Chicago... this is a perfect example of FALSE ADVERTISING.
Prior to moving In this year, none, and I repeat NONE, of the students were informed of renovations that would be happening. We received notices from the University Center about a week or two before they began. RENOVATIONS happened TO FALL ON FINALS WEEK. This made it extremely difficult to find a place to work without being bothered. Not only was my ability to study taken away from me, but so were things in my room. I took before and after pictures of all my belongings before construction, and upon my arrival OVER $100 OF MY STUFF WAS GONE. (2 HDMI Chords, A Customized metal desk statue that was gifted to me, and my Chicago flag.) During the renovation process I requested a temp-room. When I arrived, the room was FILLED with trash, dirty wet towels, and smelled awful. It also took 4 hours before they even came in to clean it.
Heres my breakdown of my three (3) years Ive living here.
Food:
The food here is TERRIBLE. Not only is it super dry and inedible, but the presentation makes it feel like youre literally being served something straight out of a horror film. The chicken is piled up and you basically choke on the bones. The vegetables are either over cooked to the point where they taste like char, or undercooked and are cold. Everything is either soaked in butter or covered in grease. If you think the food is bad, check out the silverware. The cups are stained and all the drinks have a dish soap after taste due to lack of washing. You cant even have a refreshing beverage to help the terrible food go down. The silver wear is also stained, if youre lucky to find any. They never seem to have any forks when you need them.
WiFi:
Ugh. There is nothing more frustrating then trying to do your homework and not being able to access anything.... am I right? Well, the UC clearly doesnt understand that. Even with the upgraded high-speed WiFi that they are currently installing, the internet is so slow that you cant even load a YouTube video. Its actually so bad that Ive had to miss assignments because of how slow it is. Technology should be their main focus, yet they continue to put it on the bottom of their list.
The Rooms:
After renovations they arent so bad, but they used the cheapest and most easy to damage material possible. That being said, expect them to charge you for damages that you didnt make after youve lived here. (Trust me, they will find a way to make money off you). The bed need improving, the springs in the mattresses poke directly into your back and you pretty much wake up aching every day.
Rules & Policies:
DONT. EVEN. GET. ME. STARTED.
Like I mentioned before, the UC loves to milk you for all that you have. If you lock yourself out of your room 3 times, expect to be charged $50 to have someone walk you up and open your door. Yep. Just the act of getting someone to open your door costs you $50. Obviously underaged drinking and smoking is a big deal, but when it comes to even the slightest bit of noise during their ridiculously early quiet hours, they will come into your room and give you a notice. Not only do they give you a notice, you literally have to meet with someone in management and discuss what you did wrong. Its honestly humiliating as a young adult to be lectured about making noise, even if someone didnt complain.
My advice to any parents or students reading this review, take what I say seriously. None of this is an exaggeration. Save yourself the ridiculous amount of money it takes to live here and find your own place/another student dorm. This building only cares about profits and not the students. They market their amenities as things that benefit you as a student, but actually end up holding you back.