Dorms

<p>I've already done the housing application and enrolled, however maybe some of you who attend/attended MSU could tell me your own experience. Apparently West Circle is wonderful. Are there any dorms completely undesirable or gross? Or maybe, what are some complaints about certain dorms. I'll be a freshman at MSU Fall of 2007.</p>

<p>Personally, I do not live in West Circle, but I have friends who do. They absolutely love it! That area of campus is beautiful and very close to Grand River. I live in Mason/Abbot and I really like it. It's a great location (North Campus) and is also very close to Grand River.</p>

<p>I've heard bad things about Hubbard (it is 12 stories). I don't know much about the Brody dorms, but a lot of people seem to complain about the awful location.</p>

<p>Depends on what you are looking for. In general, Brody Complex does not get good review. But it got the biggest room, the freshmen dorm, and the worst food. Shaw is good, but hard to get in as a freshman... em... when I left, they are taking Mason-Abbott, Snyder-Phillips down... well... whatever you get is good! OH! I love west circle too! You will meet a lot of Music/Band ppl there! :D</p>

<p>Actually, n_ie, the University had closed Snyder-Phillips for renovation and expansion into the new Residential College for Arts & Humanities (RCAH) which is scheduled to open this fall new freshmen... I'm not sure what you mean about Mason-Abbot. It was fully renovated 5 years ago and, as far as I know, plans to be open as usual next fall... </p>

<p>Here's my vote for Case Hall-- true, it is modern compared to the ivy-covered beauties on West Circle (where I stayed a year) and, yes, it's in South Complex, which is somewhat removed from the center of action, ... and the rooms are small... but the building has a great layout and, surprisingly, has a warm, homey feel to it. Plus, as the home for the very competitive James Madison College, there are lots of intellectuals there (along with football players, whose practice facility is across the street)... South Complex (the admin calls it South "Campus") is, many ways, like a small LAC in itself -- with classrooms, auditoriums, prof offices and several cafeterias (in each of the 4 dorm buildings) ... there's even a quad-like courtyard in the center meaning lots of Frisbee...</p>

<p>Does anyone know anything about Bryan Hall? Thats were I'm going to be situated.</p>

<p>Bryan Hall:</p>

<p>plusses:</p>

<ul>
<li>lots of fellow freshmen</li>
<li>large rooms</li>
<li>smaller dorm; more personal than the huge dorms in the South and East complexes</li>
<li>comfy, neat TV lounges</li>
<li>eat at Brody commons (AKA "Ma Brody"): largest non-military cafe in the world; wacky, crazy and fun (and is the only dorm cafe where you can out on an upstairs balcony during warm weather (which is somewhat scarce in Michigan, of course)</li>
<li>at CATA western bus-hub terminal (next to the Kellogg Center Hotel)</li>
<li>close to restaurants, grocery stores and other retail along Harrison Rd and Michigan Ave -- Frandor shopping center is a few blocks walk west up Michigan.</li>
</ul>

<p>Minuses</p>

<ul>
<li>lots of freshman (noisy)</li>
<li>community bathrooms (some people like them, actually-- I'm not one of them)</li>
<li>at the edge of campus, distant from the bulk of classrooms (except the few at Kellogg and in Brody commons)</li>
</ul>

<p>What didn't you like about the community bathrooms.</p>

<p>"What didn't you like about the community bathrooms."</p>

<p>Lack of privacy. Having the schlep down the hall to shower or go to the bathroom (me and my roomie were as far from the community b'rooms as possible on our floor).</p>

<p>... on the PLUS side, these bathrooms could be fun. They were pseudo community centers where you got to meet/see everybody on the floor. Also, don't let a guy (and maybe woman) slip up and reveal their birthdays cause THEY WILL BE TUBBED... at least when I was a frosh in the late 80s (and I never slipped up and let my b'day out; swore my roommate to secrecy and vice versa)...</p>

<p>... as much as I gripe about them, I wouldn't have it any other way; wouldn't trade my freshman year for anything. Community bathrooms are a part of what college is all about; they were fun... but at some point, we did grow out of them.</p>

<p>Any specifics on Yakeley/Gilchrist? I know that West Circle in general is a pretty area that's different in aesthetics and "feel" compared to the rest of campus...but are those alright dorms in the West Circle?</p>

<p>And I think I remember hearing that they are "kind of" the same building...but why when they send your hall assignment don't they specify which you're in? I don't know if you guys know why not, but it's worth asking, I suppose.</p>

<p>Thanks :) I'm getting excited.</p>

<p>I don't know your sex, so I will explain Yakeley-Gilchrist. Yes they are attached by a door. I found it to be pretty funny that all I had to do was walk through a door and I'd be in Gilchrist. And no, I don't know why it isn't specified, since I requested to be in Yakeley. </p>

<p>I don't know if you're male or female, but obviously if you're male you will be in Gilchrist, since Yakeley is an all female dorm. If you're female, I believe you will be in Yakeley, but when you get your room assignment, you will know for sure. </p>

<p>Yakeley is 4 floors including the ground floor, all female, no elevators, and the cafeteria is okay, community bathrooms and showers. I don't know how specific you want me to get, but if you have any other questions, just post them on here.</p>

<p>Yes, Yakeley-Gilchrist is a good dorm, (maybe I'm biased because I have lived in Yakeley) and the majority of girls in Yakeley are freshman. </p>

<p>I know some things about Gilchrist, but I'll save it for another post lol.</p>