<p>can anyone comment on this dorm?
it looks beautiful, but is it too uptight or stuffy?
are the girls really isolated (ie. guys are scarce due to 'visiting rules')?
how's the food?
how are the rooms?
how's the location?
i'm someone who likes the ocassional party (well, like on the weekends, but i rarely get wasted), but is more interested in studying, hanging out with friends, and just chilling. is this a good dorm?</p>
<p>basically, am i going to feel like i'm at an all-women's college around the 1900s?!? (yikes, not my thing!)</p>
<p>Never been in there or known anyone that lived there, but it does have a great location (especially for a frosh) and it looks very nice from the outside.</p>
<p>I requested it it and they descriminated against me on the grounds that I am too a man! LOL </p>
<p>Oh well, it is a lovely dorm in terms of location and in terms of beauty. The Law Quad, which is gorgeous, is right next to it, as are the schools of Social Work, Education, Economics, Education and Business. The Libraries and the Union are within a 3 minutes walk. Most LSA classes are within a 10 minute walk. Plus, it is on South University, one of the more popular and busy undergraduate streets! Lots of restaurants, bars and quaint little stores. Oh...and there is a Taco Bell right around the corner...I am sure that will brighten up your day! hehe</p>
<p>The food at all-girl dorms is supposed to be better than average...relatively speaking of course. That's not saying much mind you.</p>
<p>One negative though...I hear that the women can be a little uptight about men...so yes, menfolk are scrace. And men aren't allowed at night. So if you have a boyfriend...well, you can figure it out.</p>
<p>On East University...right accross from the school of Education...before you get to South University. There was a Taco Bell there when I was a student. You should have seen it dude...its right next to East Quad!</p>
<p>Martha Cook is the most beautiful dorm on campus - it's on the National Historic Register - and its location could not be more convenient. It's right across from the libraries and the main academic quad. The rooms in Martha Cook are a notch better than the average dorm room. Martha Cook is not quite a sorority, but it is a much different living experience than what you will find in Markley (the all-freshman party dorm). At one time, Cookies (as MC women are known) were coonsidered to be a little uptight and snobby. This really isn't the case anymore. It does have an old fashioned feel to it - because of the restrictions on male guests, and because they have teas, and sit-down dinners with table service. I don't believe participation in the teas is mandatory - but many women go because there are usually interesting guests (I went to one that was a reception for members of the Royal Shakespeare Company.) The rules really aren't all that restrictive - I think men can be in the building until 2AM - and there's nothing to prevent women from staying out all night. There is more of a mix of classes than you'll find in regular dorms at U-M. Most U-M dorms are either mostly freshmen or 60-70-% freshman. At MC, there are more upper-level students, and more international students. The girls seem fairly serious about their studies - it's an option for Honors Program. It's much homier than the average dorm. One disadvantage is that you have to take all your meals at Martha Cook - so if you're up on North Campus for a class (which can happen if you're in Engineering or Art/Architecture) and can't get back to Central Campus for lunch, you will either have to pay for lunch out of your own pocket - or get yourself back to Martha Cook. Altho - I think they will do a sack lunch for you. I happen to be a huge fan of Martha Cook - if you think you'd be happy in a sorority and you like traditions, it could be right for you. If you really want to live with men, and want lots of parties right in your living space, then live in Markley.</p>
<p>As I recall Martha Cook has its own tennis court and a full-size Venus de Milo copy in its Commons Area. Speaking from experience going back almost 30 years, it is quite heavy and almost impossible to move.</p>
<p>More importantly, the only Taco Bell in AA is about 10 blocks on the other side of main street. For the most part, its not walkable. I suffered taco bell withdrawl my first year at Mich.</p>
<p>Hmmmm-that's interesting. Both Michigan and Wisconsin saved their best dorms just for women. Both have better food and the best location on campus. UW's has a great lake view.</p>
<p>Nathalie - it's like a sorority in that it's a community of women, but Martha Cook is definitely not a party house. In general, sororities aren't. It's almost universally true that when there is a major Greek alcohol incident on campus, it's at a fraternity. The University has very few problems with sororities.<br>
The women I've met recently who live at Martha Cook were an Engineering student, a Dental School student (graduate student), and a student in the Honors program. I saw results of a student satisfaction survey not too long ago - and Martha Cook, Barbour, and Newberry (all women) and Fletcher (co-ed) dorms were rated highest - what they have in common is that they are all small. Martha Cook has about 140 students. The others are all around 100-125 students or so. Compared with Markley and Bursley which have over 1000 and are more institutional.
I actually think Martha Cook is like a sorority without some of the trappings that I don't like about Greek organizations in general - it's not exclusive (you don't have to go thru rush), there are no obligations to participate in anything - and you get to live in this amazingly beautiful place, right in the heart of campus. But you have to be open to the idea of an all-female environment that is quiet and includes students from all classes, not just 1st-years. Also, as is the case in a lot of the all-female dorms, there tend to be more international students, because their families are a little more protective.
As for the food, I don't think it's any better or worse than any other dorm at Michigan. Good food isn't a Michigan strong point. They're about to build a new dining hall, which will help.</p>
<p>Back to Taco Bell... The big thing for students is Big 10 Burrito. Super cheap! And there's a place called Tios that's not too far either. So never fear, you will still be able to get inexpensive tacos and burritos.</p>