<p>I saw online that only 30% of juniors and a quarter of seniors live on campus. Do all of the students live in nearby apartments then? How does this affect campus culture, does life become more spread out and less campus centered as a result, or is all of the "off-campus housing" basically right near campus? It would be great if any current students could comment on the feel of campus, as I was looking for a primarily residential college and am worried about the low percentage of upperclassmen living on campus. What is it like to live at/near Mac and be a student there? Thanks!</p>
<p>EW13, not sure why the Macalester regulars haven’t chimed, but as someone with a D visiting in the next few days (for the first time) I don’t want to see you take a lack of response as any affirmation that there isn’t a strong campus scene. From what I’ve read a lot of juniors and senior do stay on campus and that most living off-campus are very much in the neighborhood and involved on campus. My impression is that it is very much a residential school, especially since it draws from all over the country and internationally.</p>
<p>My daughter is a sophomore at Mac. She lived in a dorm her freshman year and is living in the Spanish Immersion house this year. There are multiple immersion houses on campus that are run by Mac. These houses are next to campus, but have a neighborhood feel as well. Students in the houses share a large kitchen and make meals. They have the option to buy a complete campus meal plan, but most do not. Many juniors study abroad. Interestingly, admitted international students agree not to study abroad. As my daughter will be studying abroad half junior year, she is sharing an apartment with another student for one half and two other Mac students will have the apartment the other half. The new apartment is one block away from campus. There are other Mac students in the same apartment building, so it retains a feel of connection to campus. The students at Mac have many different living opportunities. Many live in the dorm and the specialized houses. Any given year, many Mac students are experiencing a semester abroad. Of those who choose independent apartment living, most are close enough to campus to walk. Very few students at Mac have cars. I think the type of student Mac attracts is happy to have some diversity of housing choices.</p>
<p>Hi-</p>
<p>I went to Mac in the 80’s but the housing is pretty much the same setup as back then, with the exception of languange immersion (how funs is that?!).</p>
<p>Regardless of how many jrs. go abraod (and a good 30% do), Mac is set in a lovely residential neighborhood. 1600 Grand Ave. is right smack in the middle of a leafy tere-lined street, with lots of student housing in duplexs within a 6-block to 1 mile radius. It doesn’t feel at all spread out. The school has such a strong presence in the neighborhood that even if you live off-campus, you still retain that “Mac” feel. Hamline U. is down the street, but no one lives off campus there, so it really all does belong to Mac.</p>
<p>Very fun place–you won’t regret it!</p>