With 24 halls housing more than 15,000 students, the MSU residence hall system is the largest in the country. This gives students that choose to stay on campus the chance to be picky and find the “perfect place.”
Do you want to live in a big dorm, or in a smaller setting? How many flights of stairs are you willing to climb? Is a cafeteria or convenience store in your dorm necessary? And perhaps, most importantly, how far do you really want to walk to class?
“Location, location, location” philosophy freshman and Akers resident Adam Rett said is the deciding factor. Rett said he dislikes how far away Akers is from “everything.”
Although located on the far southeast side of campus, Akers dorms are designed similar to apartments where two dorm rooms are adjoined by a small living area and a suite bathroom - a living arrangement preferable to many students.
However, other students, such as advertising freshman Micky Treutlein, rather enjoy sharing a community bathroom with other residents on their floor.
“It’s very likely I’ll stay another year because I don’t like cleaning the bathroom,” the Mason resident said.
Bathroom styles are not the only difference among dorms.
The newly-renovated Shaw Hall is unique in having bubble jet tubs, motion sensor lights, heated changing stalls and lockers in the community shower room. Also, Shaw and Holmes rooms are equipped with modular furniture, which is furniture specifically designed so it can be set up in different ways. This includes stackable storage cubicles and beds that can easily be made into lofts.
Butterfield Hall in the Brody Complex stands as the only hall to have air-conditioned rooms.
Most of the residence halls are co-ed. Van Hoosen and Yakeley are women-only, even though Yakeley is connected to the co-ed Gilchrist Hall.
Students like Treutlein enjoy living in a co-ed dorm.
“I would never live in an all-girl dorm,” she said. “It would drive me crazy.”
Also some dorms offer specialty stores and cafes, which are convenient alternatives to shopping off campus. Sparty’s Convenience Stores are offered in Brody, Case, Holden, Holmes, Hubbard, McDonel, Wilson and Wonders halls.
Case Hall residents can also grab a latte and chat over gourmet pastries at the Barista Cafe, located in the south lobby. Akers is the only other hall with this feature.
Unlike the looks of modern, 12-story dorms such as Hubbard, West Circle dorms are small, ivy-covered brick buildings that look more like the traditional college dormitories.
Students who live in West Circle’s Williams Hall don’t have to purchase meal plans because each floor has community kitchens.
Some dorms offer more technology choices than others.
Students interested in photography can venture into the Abbot basement to use the darkroom.
Others, like Holmes, are equipped with computer labs.
“I still go back to my dorm because they have a 24-hour computer lab and a Sparty’s,” said merchandising management senior Tiffany Ferguson, who lived in Holmes her freshman year.
Despite some differences, dorm rooms across the campus do have some standard features.
All dorms have laundry facilities, study areas and a 24-hour reception desk service. Each room offers cable and Ethernet connection, voicemail and a standard furniture package: two beds, desks, chairs, bookshelves and dressers.
The cost for living in a dorm per semester - $2,346 for double- is the same no matter what hall you choose, and includes a basic 10-meal-per-week meal plan. Students also have the option of living alone - at an extra cost.
Students also have the option of living in an apartment in the halls. This would include a bathroom, living area and bedroom. Some apartments also have kitchens, like Van Hoosen. The semester rate depends on whether the apartment is a single or double, and its location. Some of the halls that offer apartment-style living include Akers, West Circle, Holden and Mason-Abbot.
Graduate students and undergraduate students who are 21 or older have the Owen Graduate Center available to them. These are mainly single rooms connected by bathrooms. The cost for living in a single is $2,274 and a double is $1,944. These rates do not include a meal plan, but $280 credit toward food purchases.
But costs aside, living in residence halls is the stepping stone between living at home and “on your own.” And while there are benefits to both, many students agree dorm life is one of the best parts of being a college student.
“I miss my bed at home and not having to climb a ladder every night,” top-bunkee Treutlein said. “But otherwise, I like it. Living here is cool.”
