<p>I'm accepted as a junior transfer to LSA. Most likely a Math/Russian Major. I'm deciding between doubles in either Martha Cook or Betsy Barbour. How do they compare to each other?</p>
<p>Things that are important to me are
1) difficulty making friends.(again, junior transfer. I think it would be quite hard to make close friends so late into everything)
2) Location
3) Toilets and Rooms
4) Food</p>
<p>are there other things I should think about? I've never lived in a dorm before and I'm rather shy/awkward. i'm also an international student (chinese) and slightly older. (22 this year)</p>
<p>I can’t solve ur problem. But I’m a sophomore transfer to LSA and confused about the transfer housing. And I may choose math as my major. You transfer from Chinese University or within United States?</p>
<p>There are a few mandatory rules in Martha Cook, such as no boys allowed in the building during certain times. And then you have mandatory tea time with your hall and stuff. I guess that’s something to keep in mind.</p>
<p>Martha Cook is a nicer facility than the university dorms such as Betsy Barbour but Martha Cook is not for everyone. I would consider doing a search for “Martha Cook” and you will find this topic discussed in other threads on the Michigan board.</p>
<p>I did try and read up on martha cook but there isn’t any comparison done on them. From what I read, the only difference between cook and barbour is the bigger rooms, stricter no boys policy, meal plan that can’t be shared and that there are some grad students living in cook. But how different are the girls who live in cook and the girls who live in barbour?</p>
<p>I didn’t live in Martha Cook, but they seem mainly similar-- I considered both and did my research but it was a couple years ago. Residents of all of the all girls houses are subject to a stereotype that they are more conservative, but this isn’t necessarily true-- though in my experience, the girls at Martha Cook are SLIGHTLy moreso, but my experience can’t be relied upon as representative of the entire martha cook residency. My experience in with Barbour was that those girls were no different, at all, from girls around campus. Something to consider is that many girls are ASSIGNED to Barbour as freshman, these are girls that might choose to live in any of the co-ed dorms but Barbour was chosen for them. The women at Martha Cook all CHOOSE to live there and all CHOOSE that environment, so it makes sense that there would be subtle differences. </p>
<p>Martha Cook does have much stricter rules. Boys aren’t allowed on the sleeping floors at night, whereas there are NO boy rules at Barbour-- they can come and go as you please. They also have a specific meal plan which only applies to Martha Cook’s dining hall, and you can’t use it elsewhere-- if memory serves the hours of that dining hall also differ from the other dining halls, so that’s something that’s worth looking into if you’re not prepared to arrange your schedule around those meal times. At Martha cook, you also won’t be coming to meals in pajama pants and slippers like you might at Barbour if you so chose… it’s just a slightly more formal environment. When my friend gave me the tour she told me there were rules like not cutting through a certain room because they don’t want you walking on the carpets more than necessary, and things like that, but I can’t confirm whether or not that’s true as I ultimately decided not to live there! </p>
<p>I think the bottom line is… if you want the traditional UofM dorm experience in a single-sex enviroment, pick Barbour. If you are looking for a more structured environment than is typical of the umich dorms, Martha Cook could be for you. I think they’re both really great options and unless you want boys in your room at night, you couldn’t go wrong with either choice.</p>
<p>In terms of location, Martha Cook and Barbour are fairly close to each other and both are very well located, perhaps Barbour slightly moreso as it’s closer to the union and angell hall. But they’re both very close to the diag and the libraries.</p>
<p>Martha Cook might also be a slighter safer location as it sits right on the heavily traversed South University Ave. Betsy Barbour is on Maynard which at night is a less traversed street. Ann Arbor is comparatively a safe town but there are degrees to everything.</p>
<p>Martha Cook also is a prettier location as it is adjacent to the incredible law quad. and faces the President’s House and Clement’s Library. I would choose MC because to me there is no place on earth I’d rather study than the gorgeous Clement’s Library. </p>
<p>However, BB is closer to stores and restaurants and to the Michigan Daily building and to the Institute for Social Research. So if you want to write for the Daily or get a job at the Institute then you might prefer BB.</p>
<p>As others have written here, both are great places to live in college.</p>
<p>I’m not sure about Barbour, but Newberry has an entrance on State Street which is a very busy street, Barbour might, too… and Maynard is ONE street over, the block is only as wide as the building, and it’s like two doors down from the Union. I think in terms of foot traffic the two areas are highly comparable, I don’t think safety is a legitimate issue at either location. Just my opinion-- I lived next door to Barbour and am one of the most sheltered people I’ve ever seen, and I was very comfortable. The location of Martha cook probably is prettier, I love the presidents house and the library, too. Though, barbour and newberry are very beautiful houses, imo. In all actuality, the two buildings are only like a five minute walk from each other, there’s hardly any difference in location.</p>
<p>I graduated long ago so I’m speaking as a middle aged person, but at this point of my life (I realize that makes no sense with regards to this person’s decision) I find the more old fashioned ways of Martha Cook appealing. Sounds dignified. I no longer like the idea of coed dorms and bathrooms or lovers sleeping over. (I might have liked it back then - can’t remember). It disrupts studying and general state of mind. I’m glad that UM still has a residence like that. If we could get back to students wearing something more formal than t-shirts and sweat pants, that would be nice too.</p>