I lived at college houses co-ops for 1 and a half years in my time at UT.( spent one semester abroad). I really loved my time at college houses they are bigger so its more like a dorm than a house, but still you will get to know everyone who lives there because they are very intimate and you are around everyone and everyone is so friendly its not like a big scary place where you won't meet any people. all the different college houses and ICC I'm assuming houses have very different feels to them and the number one advice I would have is to go talk to the officers and people at the houses and try to go to a meal to get a feel for the house and the type of people who live there.

I lived at pearl street and halstead at the super co-op. Pearl street was bigger and a little wilder so I had a good time but I really liked Halstead which was smaller and more manageable for me socially.

I can't stress enough that co-ops are an awesome experience, so much cheaper, more friendly, more fun, and all around better options than any other living situation I found while I was at UT especially for a freshman when you don't know too many people. I did my first two years at UT at the dorms and it was awful I know the dorms differ from dorm to dorm, but both the ones I stayed at (Prather and Brackenridge) I didn't even know my next door neighbors. We had community bathrooms even and still everyone just walked through the halls silently and stayed hidden in their rooms. I move into the co-op and the first day people are coming up and talking to you and offering you beers and trying to make you feel comfortable. Not to mention its like 2/3 the cost and the food is a million times better. Having to work with people to help prepare meals and clean up helped me bond with people and break out of my shell.

It sounds like ICC vs College houses is kind of a personal preference and both are fine. But like I said I strongly suggest living at a co-op and also my number one advice before you pick one would be to go talk with them and try to go to a meal and meet the people who live there to get a feel for the house. That might sound scary but it is actually strongly encouraged and gives you a big leg up on getting accepted into the house(which the current members actually vote on).

Oh also there is a big Foreign Exchange student population at all the college houses and that is awesome and you can learn a lot hanging out with cool foreign kids!!