First Year Housing Question for OOS student

MaryGJ
Mon, 08 Apr 2019 21:02:01 +0000

Keep in mind that Ann Arbor has a ton of housing options. Many within walking/bus distance of campus. My kiddo was matched with horribly incompatible roommates her freshman year in Mary Markley Hall dorm. They were nice enough girls, but they were into status, Greek life and partying… and my kiddo is more of a gamer science nerd. She survived them until Christmas break, when she found a girl at UMich’s North campus apartments whose roommate was graduating. It wasn’t too much hassle to change out her housing contract, and she was a lot happier. A lot of kids don’t like living on North, because there’s less of a party vibe there…but for kids like my daughter, it was perfect. Being an only child, I think she really liked having a bedroom door she could close for a little down time and privacy…and she likes cooking, so apartment life was a much better fit for her and cost exactly the same as the dorm. (less, actually, no expensive meal plan that she barely used). She liked having space to have friends sleep over, space to host gaming and the ability to cook for friends and pack her lunch. She stayed at the UMich apartments on North her sophomore and Junior year, too. Senior year, she got a private apartment that was closer to Central than Markley…for about $200/month LESS than she was paying for the dorm. Huge apartment, too, with parking. If you decide to live in private housing, and rent an apartment from one of the MANY private parties that have them for rent within walking/bus distance of Central…this doesn’t change your student aid at all. My kid relied heavily on scholarships and university aid and had no problem using aid money for her private apartment. Lots of choices! If one doesn’t work…pick something better:) Your son will find “his people” at UMich…everyone finds a great fit:)