I was on the Board of Directors at BSC. This student doesn't address the economic benefits of living in the co-ops which is the BSC's mission which is "to provide a quality, low-cost, cooperative housing community to university students, thereby providing an educational opportunity for students who might not otherwise be able to afford a university education." his person complains about three hours work and doesn't like to walk uphill. Sounds like she comes from privilege. The BSC's mission is not to provide housing to people who are able to afford to rent an apartment in Berkeley although many higher income students get approved.
@Alicia Jackson I would recommend reaching out to the BSC; they are quick to reply. Just google for "Berkeley Student Cooperative". There are also BSC apartments which sounds like it would be a good option for you.
Have any tips about finding a coop housing arrangement? It's three years later and homes cost a life savings now. I mean, where do people go to communicate and organize these situations? How do they pool their resources?
I think you made it sound like you were forced to do "chores" at a certain time that was inconvenient to you, which isn't necessarily true. The most helpful skills the co-ops taught me was how to advocate for myself and navigate systems/bureaucracies. Workshift managers are pretty flexible as long as you get it done. And you don't immediately get charged for missing workshift, there are make-up opportunities.
I wanted to put this video to show my side and my experience, everyone has different experiences and thoughts to this type of living. I tend to be more dramatic by nature as well lol. Glad you had a great experience!
Damaris Solis sure! I hope my comment is read by people watching your videos for information. A lot of co-opers have had good experiences, but someone new really needs a buddy to help them figure things out.
I've lived in the co-ops for 2 semesters now and will live at Euclid next semester! I love co-op living, the abundance of food is so amazing; as a foodie, I always feel like I'm in heaven! Hmu if you have questions about co-ops. I have lived in Sherman and Hoyt.
I am sorry your experience at the coops was not the best. I think big houses are always a bit too wild and small houses can be a little strange, I always lived in mid-sized houses. I do think the summer is always a bit strange too, during the semester there is usually a lot more camaraderie and community-building activities. I do think the workshift issues are manageable though, it is a relatively small amount of work which you agree to before signing up, then if you can't do your shift, if you cancel with more than 24 hours notice, you do not get penalized. If you are blowing your shift or canceling with less than 24 hours notice, that is just not what it's about. Also Uphill is not for everyone, but not all coops are uphill (though most of them kind of are). I wish you the best in your schooling and housing going forward, but I think with the right house and the right semester, maybe it could have been a much better experience.
I lived at the Co-ops all four years at Cal, back in the late 70s. I could not have afforded to live anywhere else, except maybe the parents' home + BART option, which was not going to happen. This was a long time ago, back when Lothlorien was still "New Unit #1" and "New Unit #2"! I did not mind the work shifts, and in fact they were easier than the house-cleaning jobs I worked to put myself through school. I used to sign up for the "grunge shifts," because we got time-and-a-half for scrubbing nasty pots with lye bar soap at Central Kitchen. I also worked on the Maintenance crew at Sherman and Lothlorien, and the skills I learned working maintenance at the co-ops have come in handy more times than 99% of the stuff I learned in class at Cal. I did not mind the hills. They're good exercise. Besides, there were a lot of bad people hanging around Berkeley in those days, and the stairways up the hills were my get-away route more than once.
Hi Guys! this is me 6 years later looking back at this video and cringing lol. Reflecting back I definitely think being introverted was what made this kind of living situation more difficult for me personally. At that time it was the "i need to ask someone to sign my chore" that was most difficult not the chore itself. Anyway seems like most people enjoy their time there and this was just a me problem at that time :)
Hey my counselor recommended living here for my first semester at Berkeley. From what you experienced did you think it was alot less expensive than living at a residence hall or about the same? I would appreciate your response greatly!
Probably answering this too late but maybe it'll serve a future transfer student. You should apply as soon as possible and get on the waitlist, especially if you're an Educational Opportunity Program student. I was a transfer student back in 2016 and I applied and got waitlisted. A week before arriving to Berkeley, they offered me a spot at CZ and I cancelled my previous living arrangements. They gave me preference over many other students on the waitlist because I was a low income student and verified EOP. So if there's a waitlist but most of the people on the waitlist aren't EOP and you are an EOP student, you'll be bumped up ahead of them, (as it should be).
omg! I'm so glad I found your video! I'm an incoming transfer student and I'll be staying at Euclid this school year. is it okay if I can email you directly because I have some specific questions if you don't mind.
is there check in front desk? if you get a single what are the options you turn your single as a double? my brother is a college student at a cc and Im recently looking to move out of unit 3. I just applied for a studio at a coap and I would like to help him save money by let him stay with me. can you let people stay overnight at your room?
Hi Jose, yes there is a front desk for this particular apartment. All of the rooms in this apartment are singles and it is not allowed to make them into doubles, plus they're already pretty small. I have actually tried to help out a friend of mine who did not have housing and my housemate snitched on me so yeah it isn't allowed lol. but staying for like a weekend or wtvr should be fine.
Damaris, lol, lowkey pretending about trying to sound nice. After class each time I went to your crib it was a full on hike! On top of that it was stairway flight to you room! Over the hill for next semester? HILL NO! 😂 Best thing was when we watched kdramas and kpop! See ya soon homie! ✌️
I was on the Board of Directors at BSC. This student doesn't address the economic benefits of living in the co-ops which is the BSC's mission which is "to provide a quality, low-cost, cooperative housing community to university students, thereby providing an educational opportunity for students who might not otherwise be able to afford a university education." his person complains about three hours work and doesn't like to walk uphill. Sounds like she comes from privilege. The BSC's mission is not to provide housing to people who are able to afford to rent an apartment in Berkeley although many higher income students get approved.
@Alicia Jackson I would recommend reaching out to the BSC; they are quick to reply. Just google for "Berkeley Student Cooperative". There are also BSC apartments which sounds like it would be a good option for you.
preach
I'm a little sad because I LOVED living in the co-ops. The social side is amazing. Highly recommend Stebbins
I used to live in Stebbins!
Have any tips about finding a coop housing arrangement? It's three years later and homes cost a life savings now. I mean, where do people go to communicate and organize these situations? How do they pool their resources?
Loved stebbins!!!
I think you made it sound like you were forced to do "chores" at a certain time that was inconvenient to you, which isn't necessarily true. The most helpful skills the co-ops taught me was how to advocate for myself and navigate systems/bureaucracies. Workshift managers are pretty flexible as long as you get it done. And you don't immediately get charged for missing workshift, there are make-up opportunities.
I wanted to put this video to show my side and my experience, everyone has different experiences and thoughts to this type of living. I tend to be more dramatic by nature as well lol. Glad you had a great experience!
Damaris Solis sure! I hope my comment is read by people watching your videos for information. A lot of co-opers have had good experiences, but someone new really needs a buddy to help them figure things out.
I used to live in Euclid hall. It was awesome wish I could go back to those days.
I've lived in the co-ops for 2 semesters now and will live at Euclid next semester! I love co-op living, the abundance of food is so amazing; as a foodie, I always feel like I'm in heaven! Hmu if you have questions about co-ops. I have lived in Sherman and Hoyt.
hi! im intrested in hoyt and sherman,which co-op would be better for somebody looking to make a lot of friends?
I am sorry your experience at the coops was not the best. I think big houses are always a bit too wild and small houses can be a little strange, I always lived in mid-sized houses. I do think the summer is always a bit strange too, during the semester there is usually a lot more camaraderie and community-building activities. I do think the workshift issues are manageable though, it is a relatively small amount of work which you agree to before signing up, then if you can't do your shift, if you cancel with more than 24 hours notice, you do not get penalized. If you are blowing your shift or canceling with less than 24 hours notice, that is just not what it's about. Also Uphill is not for everyone, but not all coops are uphill (though most of them kind of are).
I wish you the best in your schooling and housing going forward, but I think with the right house and the right semester, maybe it could have been a much better experience.
I lived at the Co-ops all four years at Cal, back in the late 70s. I could not have afforded to live anywhere else, except maybe the parents' home + BART option, which was not going to happen.
This was a long time ago, back when Lothlorien was still "New Unit #1" and "New Unit #2"! I did not mind the work shifts, and in fact they were easier than the house-cleaning jobs I worked to put myself through school. I used to sign up for the "grunge shifts," because we got time-and-a-half for scrubbing nasty pots with lye bar soap at Central Kitchen.
I also worked on the Maintenance crew at Sherman and Lothlorien, and the skills I learned working maintenance at the co-ops have come in handy more times than 99% of the stuff I learned in class at Cal.
I did not mind the hills. They're good exercise. Besides, there were a lot of bad people hanging around Berkeley in those days, and the stairways up the hills were my get-away route more than once.
Cathy Douglas I love Sherman hall more than anything
Hi Guys! this is me 6 years later looking back at this video and cringing lol. Reflecting back I definitely think being introverted was what made this kind of living situation more difficult for me personally. At that time it was the "i need to ask someone to sign my chore" that was most difficult not the chore itself. Anyway seems like most people enjoy their time there and this was just a me problem at that time :)
It basically looks like a college dorm where RA responsibilities are distributed out to the tenants?
Hey my counselor recommended living here for my first semester at Berkeley. From what you experienced did you think it was alot less expensive than living at a residence hall or about the same? I would appreciate your response greatly!
a lot less expensive definitely. Keep in mind that you will have to do chores daily.
Can you talk about the CZ coop? My son was just accepted into that coop
as a transfer, when should I apply and get on the waitlist?
@darmaris solis, yes please answer this question! I’m wondering the same
Probably answering this too late but maybe it'll serve a future transfer student. You should apply as soon as possible and get on the waitlist, especially if you're an Educational Opportunity Program student. I was a transfer student back in 2016 and I applied and got waitlisted. A week before arriving to Berkeley, they offered me a spot at CZ and I cancelled my previous living arrangements. They gave me preference over many other students on the waitlist because I was a low income student and verified EOP. So if there's a waitlist but most of the people on the waitlist aren't EOP and you are an EOP student, you'll be bumped up ahead of them, (as it should be).
I'm transferring to Berkeley this Fall and want to try a co-op in the spring. Can you say which co-op exactly was "unsafe"?
rocker4579 hi, he's the coop was Sherman hall. I personally had a very bad experience but it may be different for others. But anyways welcome !!
omg! I'm so glad I found your video! I'm an incoming transfer student and I'll be staying at Euclid this school year. is it okay if I can email you directly because I have some specific questions if you don't mind.
la geena hi there! Sure I'd be happy to answer any questions ! My email is Damaris.solis@berkeley.edu contact me anytime:)
How is life now do u still do co op housing ?
Tbh you seem really cool :) and Im also looking to getting into berkeley
I hope I meet you! loll
Shiv Kumar thanks! You can find me at Petes drinking coffee lol
Damaris Solis lolll yw and okay!!😂
is there check in front desk? if you get a single what are the options you turn your single as a double? my brother is a college student at a cc and Im recently looking to move out of unit 3. I just applied for a studio at a coap and I would like to help him save money by let him stay with me. can you let people stay overnight at your room?
Hi Jose, yes there is a front desk for this particular apartment. All of the rooms in this apartment are singles and it is not allowed to make them into doubles, plus they're already pretty small. I have actually tried to help out a friend of mine who did not have housing and my housemate snitched on me so yeah it isn't allowed lol. but staying for like a weekend or wtvr should be fine.
Damaris Solis thank you so much for the info!! I just got back to my single dorm at unit 3 and I can’t wait to move out this place. Lol.
what is the monthly rent like ?
Hello!
I am transferring to UC Berkeley.
I want to live on campus.
Do you have any suggestions for me ?
I would recommend garden village, since I lived there for two years :)
Did you help the girl?!? Wtf
Cause no ones helping each other smh
Coops wouldn't be my top choice either. I wouldn't mind the chores but it's not my style of living so I understand where you're coming from :)
phrozenth yes I don't mind chores it's just the set hours and what not :s
phrozenth o
I feel like I met you threw mutual friends and we went to a party together in ff.
John Angel hmm must’ve been my twin lol, I don’t do parties 🤷🏻♀️
Damaris Solis It was super random lol like this comment but i swear it was you. I think your friends name was Adriana or Audrey.
John Angel what’s ff ? Lol
Damaris Solis Fairfield lol
hm I really do not recall lol
00:20 I KNOW THAT BIRD!!!
🤩😍
Damaris, lol, lowkey pretending about trying to sound nice. After class each time I went to your crib it was a full on hike! On top of that it was stairway flight to you room! Over the hill for next semester? HILL NO! 😂 Best thing was when we watched kdramas and kpop! See ya soon homie! ✌️
Jennifer Romero hahah yes girl that hike to my place was NO FUN 😂😭
After that hike my brain went into interstellar mode, everything was oblivion! 😂💫
Jennifer Romero yeah I didn't go to the gym the entire time I was there. My walk there was my workout !
Sounds like hell on earth. You were very nice in the video!