The Pros & Cons of Living in Arroyo Vista Housing

Unlike the other two on-campus housing options (Mesa Court and Middle Earth) that are available for students at UCI, Arroyo Vista is not located directly on campus grounds. It is located between Plaza Verde, which is off-campus student housing, and the Anteater Recreation Center. While incoming college students are expected to live in Mesa Court and Middle Earth, Arroyo Vista is an amazing option for transfer students and continuing Anteaters. While I’ve never personally lived in either of the residence for first-years, I can say a few great things about living in Arroyo Vista.

Greek Life & Themed Houses

If you are hoping to share a space with students with similar interests, or with members from your fraternity or sorority, consider checking out the list of  Greek or themed houses that are available for you to sign up and live in. This is a great way to connect with students and spend some quality time together. Some of the few themed houses include Sustainability, Humanities, Culinary, Biology, and so much more!

If you are an undocumented student (including first-years) who wish to be in a supportive and safe living space with other undocumented students, please reach out to Dr. Laura Enriquez, faculty-in-residence and Assistant Professor of Chicano/Latino Studies (lenriqu1@uci.edu), to learn more about some options you can consider.

Anteater Recreation Center

One of the best qualities of AV is that it is within walking distance (about five minutes) to the gym. If you don’t want to wait until 7AM for the Anteater Shuttle to start its operation for the day, living near the gym would be a great way to get in a workout before your classes. While access to specific facilities might be limited due to COVID-19 regulations, students can still use a lot of workout equipment. You’re already paying for your membership through tuition fees so make sure to check it out!

Campus Plaza 

Another great quality about the location of AV is that by taking a five minute walk, you can get your grocery shopping done at Albertsons, spend late nights studying at Starbucks, or grab some delicious tacos or wings with your roommates. Even though University Town Center can be a long walk from the housing area, Campus Plaza makes up for it. My go-to place for dessert on the plaza is Saffron & Rose, a locally-owned business that serves creamy and refreshing Persian ice cream for an affordable price. They have a variety of flavors and vegan options as well. Another recent favorite of mine is the new Korean restaurant, Yup Dduk Irvine, which serves delicacies such as tteok-bokki, noodles, rice balls, bulgogi, and so much more.

AV Community Center 

I like to spend a lot of my nights at the AV Community Center to either work on assignments or watch a movie with my friends. As a resident, you will have access to a big study area with a lot of space, as well as a large television and couches. Throughout the year, the center decorates the interior for different holidays, and occasionally offers free, themed food or drinks. I can’t wait for the upcoming holiday season when the center is decorated with a big Christmas tree with ornaments, Hanukkah menorahs, and other pretty decorations that make the place more cozy and festive.

Ants In Your Plants Garden

This student-run garden is a great project if you want to be part of a supportive community that aims to combat food insecurity, and to teach the UCI community about gardening and agriculture. It is an empowering initiative where students can volunteer their time to work and to learn from other students on how to tend to the garden. The garden is also used to grow fresh, local, and organic produce to be donated to the FRESH Basic Needs Hub on campus. In addition, the garden has a Seed Library, where you can collect (and donate) all kinds of seeds for your personal garden. Find out more about other student-led gardens around campus here.

—

While I want to mainly focus on the amazing resources that are accessible for residents who live in Arroyo Vista, I do want to mention one factor of living in the AV houses that can be a difficult transition for students. Because the house is a communal-style arrangement, you will have to share one large kitchen with about 15 other students in your building. Some houses will have two sinks and two sets of four electric cooking stoves, while others might only have one of each. This living arrangement is similar with residents in Mesa Court and Middle Earth, so it’s a collective experience of all on-campus residents. It can be stressful and annoying at times to see dirty dishes in the sink, or having to deal with people who do not clean after themselves. However, you’ll eventually get used to it, and residents will have to pay a small fee for cleaning services as a part of your monthly rent, so the janitorial staff visits the houses twice a week to deep clean the kitchen and bathrooms. 

I have such fond memories of having potlucks and small birthday parties with my housemates throughout my time at Arroyo Vista, so I highly recommend it to all students. You might have to get out of your comfort zone, but isn’t that what college is all about?

Start your search for on-campus student housing by checking out the UCI Housing website here!