I want to live in a single. What on or off-campus buildings would you recommend for an upperclassman? I’m majoring in EECS so most of my classes will be up north.
I might also consider the cost of each dorm as I don’t want to pay over $12k/year for housing. Unless of course they cover 100% of housing with grants, but I doubt they will be that generous.
What you want does not exist at Michigan. Singles at Baits (w unlimited meal plan) are about $13K/yr. Standard FA will only cover a double room w meal plan, appx $10,800. What might work best for you is a 2 bedroom apt at Northwood, about $8K with your own bedroom, but meal plan not included. You can purchase a meal plan separately if you desire but you would have to walk to a dorm to eat. A shared apartment off campus would be even less.
Courtyards are probably the closest, but Willowtree is the cheapest. Highlands is the medium between the two. Huron Towers might be a bit closer than Highlands
@TooOld4School I like the idea of the Northwood apartments. $8k for a 2 bedroom and $2.4k for an unlimited meal plan for a total of $10.4k. And only a 10 minute walk from the Pierpont Commons and Duderstadt Center.
Why are they cheaper than most dorms? Do they sell out very quickly?
My daughter has lived three years in the Northwood apartments. Two years in doubles with her own room…one year in a single. She never paid more than $8000. (she does come home for the summer). She prefers to cook for herself, and loves having a kitchen. There’s an excellent grocery store a few blocks away. Some fast food take out places that deliver, and she hits the farmers market in town. The apartments DO sell out very quickly. You need to act fast and be on top of housing as soon as housing registration opens. Thing to remember about Northwood, is that it’s quiet, and tends to attract very serious students. Some people call North “social death”…lol. Not a huge social/party vibe there…but some students really prefer this and have a nerdier tamer way to socialize…my kid has movie night parties with friends, they have game nights, etc…she’s not much of a drinker and likes more study time and privacy. The apartments will feel claustrophobic if you like to party…they’ll feel wonderful if you like peace and quiet and trees and deer on your lawn. There are dozens of apartments in Ann Arbor you can get for less than $1000/month. If you get a roommate…you can get something really nice if that’s your budget. Other than the social aspect, Northwood also requires a little extra travel time in the morning, but the buses are pretty good, and the bus stops are close. Also, Northwood has a lot of parking, convenient laundry facilities and a community center.
You’re still getting ripped off even with the cheapest and cramped Northwood apartments are very bare bones. No carpet and the winter heating blows. Their biggest advantage is that for undergrads is that they are 8 month leases. Most off campus properties require a full year lease, sometimes they allow 8 months, but it comes with a higher monthly rate. Off campus apartments are however still a better overall.
Can someone clarify how a junior would get an apartment in Northwood? I was under the impression that it’s very, very hard for a junior to get campus housing. If they have a bad lottery number, are they just out of luck?
I don’t see why it would be a problem? You just have to request for it when selecting it. Not too many students live there anymore ever since they’re done renovating all the quads
brantly: My kiddo was told the same thing…a junior can’t get an apartment at Northwood. First day of sign-up came and she and her friend (another junior) were able to get a double together. I think the key is acting fast. Or maybe it was pure luck? Don’t know, but it certainly can happen.
@MaryGJ When you said she was able to get a “double,” do you mean just a two-person dorm room? Or do you mean a double room in a Northwood apartment?
Also, how does it work? Does everyone who wants to live in campus housing just log on when it opens up and select housing? Or do students get a lottery number?
She and her friend have a two person Northwood apartment. They each have their own bedroom, a little living room, a tiny kitchen and a bathroom with a tub. As far as I know, they went in as soon as possible when housing opened to them, and just signed up. Dumb luck, maybe? I admit, I don’t know the process, myself…but if you talk to people at housing about your best strategy, they might have good advice.