Hi!
So, I’m an international PhD student, and I will start my course this year. And it comes with a question: rent in or off-campus. If on campus, which one is the best: Munger or Northwood? They only gives us (single grad) these two options.
Munger is brand new and situated in a fantastic location. For a single person, the decision is very easy assuming overal costs are similar.
Is Munger that thing where Blimpy was? They built it already?
How do they work out the kitchen for 7 bedroom apartments?
It is the one where Blimpy was. Went up quick.
Northwood is more suitable for family (AKA Family Housing). I believe Munger is the one still under construction but should be ready this Fall. Northwood is in the outbound of North Campus. Munger is just South side of downtown and main campus. If you are studying engineering or music, Northwood would be more convenient.
I lived in an apartment with 4 other girls and one single bathroom, one fridge and one stove. I think I can manage that! 
Thank you all! 
“If you are studying engineering or music, Northwood would be more convenient.”
The commute is pretty easy no matter where you live.
To your question, yes it went up very quickly. As of May it was just a hole in the ground. This webcam shows the current status: http://www.umaec.umich.edu/projects/major-projects/munger-graduate-residencies/web-camera/
Munger, you’ll want to be there. Trust me. You’ll want the community there.
And how is life moving with bike? The city is plain? And in the winter?
Biking is difficult in the snow. The city gets snow in the winter. If you live in Munger, you are in the middle of the city that has very good and free bus transportation for all students. Ann Arbor is a wonderful and safe community that has more than enough things to do to keep you busy, assuming you’ll have much free time…
Commute from South end of main campus to North campus is not bad. However, if you do need to work in engineering lab or practice in the music school in the evening, Northwood is definitely more convenient.
This Munger residence looks great. You’d get to know people throughout the campus in different programs because you would have a common area that 3 - 7 peopled shared.
I was an Engineering PhD who stayed in Northwood. I would choose Munger over Northwood any day. Northwood is really a dump, and you don’t really get to know any of your neighbors. There is nothing to do near north campus. Living in Northwood and being an engineering student felt claustrophobic. You just couldn’t get away and clear your head…This is important when doing a PhD…trust me.
I moved to central early in my PhD program, and never regretted it. Sadly, Munger was not built. Unless you don’t have a car, you’ll want to be in Munger…
Is parking available at Munger? I would just think the opposite as there is parking in NW. When I lived in NW, parking was included.
“Is parking available at Munger?”
“The Munger Graduate Residences are within convenient walking and biking distance to many campus destinations, including most graduate and professional schools, as well as to shopping, entertainment and cultural attractions. Complimentary, secure inside bike parking is available. U-M and AATA bus stops are convenient to the Residences for transportation to the Medical and North Campuses, and elsewhere within the city. Vehicle parking passes are available at certain U-M facilities and nearby municipal lots.”
It sounds like if you have a bike, you can get free indoor parking! A car? Perhaps nearby, but certainly not free.
So if you have a car, NW may be a better choice.