U Michigan and housing

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid chose not to ED to Michigan bc didn’t want to live in a north campus. Make sure your kid is okay with that option of having to take a bus to central campus every day.

Do most freshmen get assigned to North Campus?

OOS DC was assigned to one of the dorms on the hill (not on North campus) last year.

Within the extended family, we’ve had 7 family members go to Michigan and not one was assigned a dorm on north campus. Did have at least 2 family members get assigned to Markley. And three of the family members were Engineering students.

Is Markley considered bad now?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The word is there should be a lot more dorm availability for sophomores who actually want to live on campus next year.

Any word on exactly how many spots make up a lot? (This year there were roughly 1100 spots on campus for "returning students," who are mostly sophomores.)

Freshman enrollment was up by a few hundred students this year. Is this a trend -- will they be increasing the class size, which would take up some of the availability? Do they plan to have more spaces in the dorms for incoming transfer students? (I think they've done a poor job offering on-campus housing to transfers in the past.)

In other words, 2300 new spots in fall 2026 does not necessarily mean 2300 more spots for returning students. I think it will be quite interesting to see how many spots are offered to returning students and how all of this plays out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:“Neither of my kids wanted to live in dorms after freshmen year. They hated the food, they prefer having their own rooms vs sharing. They didn’t love communal bathrooms either.”

This attitude is very common. It’s mostly overprotective parents who want their kids to be in dorms all four years.

Huh? My kid is at UMich but didn't want to fuss with rent and cleaning a house. He still had to move off campus when he couldn’t get a sophomore dorm room. He’s just not into home upkeep. He’s having a good time there and seems to be learning a lot.

I was referring to those parents who want their children to live all four years in a dorm. Certainly wanting to be in a dorm for freshman and sophomore years would be desirable for many students. The university is addressing that now with the addition of many new dorm rooms.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid chose not to ED to Michigan bc didn’t want to live in a north campus. Make sure your kid is okay with that option of having to take a bus to central campus every day.

Do most freshmen get assigned to North Campus?

OOS DC was assigned to one of the dorms on the hill (not on North campus) last year.

Within the extended family, we’ve had 7 family members go to Michigan and not one was assigned a dorm on north campus. Did have at least 2 family members get assigned to Markley. And three of the family members were Engineering students.

Is Markley considered bad now?

DP. People always like to rag on Markley because it has been around forever. My kid found that they actually loved being in an old freshman dorm. Well some of the “quad “norms have bigger rooms, they are way less social. There is a trade-off, for sure, but I think it can really be a plus to be in a building where everyone is new and going through the same things at the same time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The word is there should be a lot more dorm availability for sophomores who actually want to live on campus next year.

Any word on exactly how many spots make up a lot? (This year there were roughly 1100 spots on campus for "returning students," who are mostly sophomores.)

Freshman enrollment was up by a few hundred students this year. Is this a trend -- will they be increasing the class size, which would take up some of the availability? Do they plan to have more spaces in the dorms for incoming transfer students? (I think they've done a poor job offering on-campus housing to transfers in the past.)

In other words, 2300 new spots in fall 2026 does not necessarily mean 2300 more spots for returning students. I think it will be quite interesting to see how many spots are offered to returning students and how all of this plays out.

The friendly people at housing would be more than willing to answer these questions for you. You are not going to find them online.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid chose not to ED to Michigan bc didn’t want to live in a north campus. Make sure your kid is okay with that option of having to take a bus to central campus every day.

Do most freshmen get assigned to North Campus?

OOS DC was assigned to one of the dorms on the hill (not on North campus) last year.

Within the extended family, we’ve had 7 family members go to Michigan and not one was assigned a dorm on north campus. Did have at least 2 family members get assigned to Markley. And three of the family members were Engineering students.

Is Markley considered bad now?

Markley's been considered bad for some time. There's been some mold issues, I think, and some flooding a few years back. For the past 10 years or so there have been rumors that it's on the chopping block. I'm sure the hospital system wants that space.

If you look at Umich's Campus Plan 2050, the site is marked for redevelopment. https://campusplan2050.umich.edu/

(Phase 1 of new dorms (fall 2026) adds 2300 beds. While details about phase 2 are slim, you'll find mention of 2200 beds. (And there's a rumored phase 3 too, with even less detail.) Tearing down Markley would mean a loss of 1100ish beds. While I'm thrilled about any and all new dorms, I think some of it will be tempered by the possible loss of Markley.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid chose not to ED to Michigan bc didn’t want to live in a north campus. Make sure your kid is okay with that option of having to take a bus to central campus every day.

Do most freshmen get assigned to North Campus?

OOS DC was assigned to one of the dorms on the hill (not on North campus) last year.

Within the extended family, we’ve had 7 family members go to Michigan and not one was assigned a dorm on north campus. Did have at least 2 family members get assigned to Markley. And three of the family members were Engineering students.

Is Markley considered bad now?

Markley's been considered bad for some time. There's been some mold issues, I think, and some flooding a few years back. For the past 10 years or so there have been rumors that it's on the chopping block. I'm sure the hospital system wants that space.

If you look at Umich's Campus Plan 2050, the site is marked for redevelopment. https://campusplan2050.umich.edu/

(Phase 1 of new dorms (fall 2026) adds 2300 beds. While details about phase 2 are slim, you'll find mention of 2200 beds. (And there's a rumored phase 3 too, with even less detail.) Tearing down Markley would mean a loss of 1100ish beds. While I'm thrilled about any and all new dorms, I think some of it will be tempered by the possible loss of Markley.)

Markley will be torn down eventually but not until after they build the phase #2 dorms. There was also a plan to build new dorms on north campus, but that went on hold after the new dorm construction near central was approved.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid chose not to ED to Michigan bc didn’t want to live in a north campus. Make sure your kid is okay with that option of having to take a bus to central campus every day.

Do most freshmen get assigned to North Campus?

OOS DC was assigned to one of the dorms on the hill (not on North campus) last year.

Within the extended family, we’ve had 7 family members go to Michigan and not one was assigned a dorm on north campus. Did have at least 2 family members get assigned to Markley. And three of the family members were Engineering students.

Is Markley considered bad now?

Markley's been considered bad for some time. There's been some mold issues, I think, and some flooding a few years back. For the past 10 years or so there have been rumors that it's on the chopping block. I'm sure the hospital system wants that space.

If you look at Umich's Campus Plan 2050, the site is marked for redevelopment. https://campusplan2050.umich.edu/

(Phase 1 of new dorms (fall 2026) adds 2300 beds. While details about phase 2 are slim, you'll find mention of 2200 beds. (And there's a rumored phase 3 too, with even less detail.) Tearing down Markley would mean a loss of 1100ish beds. While I'm thrilled about any and all new dorms, I think some of it will be tempered by the possible loss of Markley.)

Interesting, thanks. (And thanks to PP whose kid lived in Markley, too. Glad it was a good experience for them.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid chose not to ED to Michigan bc didn’t want to live in a north campus. Make sure your kid is okay with that option of having to take a bus to central campus every day.

Do most freshmen get assigned to North Campus?

OOS DC was assigned to one of the dorms on the hill (not on North campus) last year.

Within the extended family, we’ve had 7 family members go to Michigan and not one was assigned a dorm on north campus. Did have at least 2 family members get assigned to Markley. And three of the family members were Engineering students.

Is Markley considered bad now?

Markley's been considered bad for some time. There's been some mold issues, I think, and some flooding a few years back. For the past 10 years or so there have been rumors that it's on the chopping block. I'm sure the hospital system wants that space.

If you look at Umich's Campus Plan 2050, the site is marked for redevelopment. https://campusplan2050.umich.edu/

(Phase 1 of new dorms (fall 2026) adds 2300 beds. While details about phase 2 are slim, you'll find mention of 2200 beds. (And there's a rumored phase 3 too, with even less detail.) Tearing down Markley would mean a loss of 1100ish beds. While I'm thrilled about any and all new dorms, I think some of it will be tempered by the possible loss of Markley.)

Interesting, thanks. (And thanks to PP whose kid lived in Markley, too. Glad it was a good experience for them.)

Of course! Most fearmongering about Markley turned out to be bogus (thankfully ).

[Anonymous]

This will be of interest to only a few, but Michigan has an interesting co-op housing program. It is run entirely by students. They buy and manage the houses. Some have themes, food plans and their own house agreements. It’s not fancy. It’s not for those seeking luxury housing, but participants learn a lot about organizational management, home ownership and life skills. Great community for those who choose them.

Side note: Talked to a 1940s grad and learned they were a haven for all the students unwelcome in the dorms due to religion, race and ethnicity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The word is there should be a lot more dorm availability for sophomores who actually want to live on campus next year.

Any word on exactly how many spots make up a lot? (This year there were roughly 1100 spots on campus for "returning students," who are mostly sophomores.)

Freshman enrollment was up by a few hundred students this year. Is this a trend -- will they be increasing the class size, which would take up some of the availability? Do they plan to have more spaces in the dorms for incoming transfer students? (I think they've done a poor job offering on-campus housing to transfers in the past.)

In other words, 2300 new spots in fall 2026 does not necessarily mean 2300 more spots for returning students. I think it will be quite interesting to see how many spots are offered to returning students and how all of this plays out.

The friendly people at housing would be more than willing to answer these questions for you. You are not going to find them online.

Indeed.

Umich Housing Chatbot:

Me> In the new dorms opening fall 2026, how many spots will be reserved for returning students?
They> Sorry I couldn't answer your question. Please email [e-mail] for additional support.

Yay, AI?

One wonders though. Staff at housing must know that when they answer such questions individually, their responses are likely to be posted online somewhere. Why not cut out the middlepeople and just put everything out there publicly on the website for all to enjoy.