WOOHOO! I'm going to the university for the first time this fall as a transfer student, except I'm living in an apartment. I can not handle dorms, they're like prisons IMO (at least the few I saw at my university). And the whole living with complete strangers and having no choice in the matter does NOT compliment my personality. Not to mention, the price per month of sharing a tiny dorm room with a stranger and having community showers.. was at least equal if not more than renting a 2bed/1bath roomy apartment, with a washer/dryer, dishwasher, regular sized fridge, sliding glass door on the shower, etc. It just makes more sense to me.

Good luck!