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Macalester College
- Campus Housing

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Macalester College - Campus Housing - College ProwlerCollege Prowler3.08

Campus Housing

B-
Where does this grade come from?View all Campus Housing rankingsReview this school to add your opinion

Comparable Schools' Campus Housing Grades:

Quick Stats

On-Campus Housing Available? Yes
Campus Housing Capacity 1,295
Average Housing Costs $4,854
Freshmen Required to Live on Campus? Yes
Undergrads Living On Campus 66%
Freshmen Living On Campus 100%
Number of Dormitories 8
Number of Campus-Owned Apartments 2
Best Freshman Dorms Turck Hall
Best Upperclassman Dorms
  • George Draper Dayton (GDD) Hall
  • Wallace Hall
Best Dorms
  • Any of the houses or cottages
  • George Draper Dayton Hall
  • Kirk Hall
Worst Dorms
  • Doty Hall
  • Dupre Hall
  • Turck Hall
Worst Freshman Dorms
  • Doty Hall
  • Dupre Hall
Worst Upperclassman Dorms Kirk Hall

Student Author OverviewWhat's This?

Macalester students are bound to dorm life for their first two years at the College. Students often talk about ways of getting out of this stipulation, and rumor has it that the best way to leave the dorms behind as a freshman or sophomore is to get married. Most people find this measure a little too drastic for obvious reasons, because—rest assure—dorm life isn’t that bad. Students get entered into a drawing before their freshman year, and they are placed in dorms based on roommate-placement questionnaires they fill out before getting to campus. It’s a game of luck regarding which freshman dorm students will end up in, but each one has its certain charms. All of the dorms are in the same proximity to the rest of campus, so there’s no real fight for who has the best real estate. What really matters is who’s sharing that stereotypical cinder-block room with you.

For freshmen, there are two options: students either get placed with others in their "First-Year Course," or they live with a random assortment of other like-minded students. Both ways often lead to friendships that span throughout students’ college careers and onward. Though these friendships seem cemented in place at first, students find that it’s easy to navigate the halls of each dorm and scope out rooms and parties that are more than willing to invite a fresh face to chill. For everyone else, the quality of dorm life depends on two things: age and luck. Older students get priority in the room-draw lottery, but it is what it is—a lottery. Though students might not always get their first choice, what really makes a dorm room "home, sweet home" is the TLC put into it.

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Macalester Student ReviewsWhat's This?

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Campus Housing at Macalester College

shoppingbee

'15

International Studies and Government

3.8
B+

Living on Campus Is Great

Living on campus is nice because the walk to class is a lot shorter than living off campus. During the snowy months in MN walking to class can be a hassle. All the dorms are nice and clean for the most part. Like most campuses there is the "loud freshman party dorm" but living in this dorm has its ups and downs. There is a daily cleaning service for the bathrooms and common spaces.

Jan 17, 2012

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Campus Housing at Macalester College

ekschulz24

'14

Education

5.0
A+

Campus Rocks!

We're rated among the 10 Nerdiest Colleges in the United States, but we always have fun. Every weekend there are campus-organized dances and other activities, student initiated hang-outs, and off-campus options. Dupre is the dorm to avoid, especially the singles, but Sophomores have a chance to live in Wallace, which is beautiful!

Jun 18, 2011

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Campus Housing at Macalester College

mdickey1089

'11

Economics

4.2
A-

Upper Classman Dorms Are the Best

These dorms are right at the center of Macalester which is really nice. Also, all the dorms are suites which is perfect for on campus privacy.

Apr 07, 2011

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Page 1 of 8

Student Survey Poll ResultsWhat's This?

Rate campus housing on the following subjects

Facts

Types of Housing Offered
  • Apartments for single students
  • Coed dorms
  • Theme housing
Room Types
  • Doubles
  • Singles
  • Suites
  • Triples
Bed Types
  • Bunkable beds
  • Lofts
  • Standard twin
  • Twin extra-long
What You Get
  • Bed
  • Bookshelf
  • Closet or wardrobe
  • Connection to campus voicemail system
  • Desk and chair
  • Dresser
  • Ethernet connection
  • Free campus and local phone calls
  • Window coverings
Also Available Other options include the All Gender House, the Cultural House, the Eco House, the Healthy Living Community, Interfaith House, the Language Houses, and the Veggie Co-op.

Available for Rent

MicroFridges

Cleaning Service

Staff cleans dorm halls and bathrooms every weekday.

DormitoriesWhat's This?

30 Macalester (30 Mac)
Floors: 1
Number of Occupants: 20–49
Bathrooms: Communal
Coed: Yes
Residents: Sophomores
Room Types: Singles, doubles
Special Features: Community kitchen, extended quiet hours, in-room sinks, TV lounge; drug- and alcohol-free

Bigelow Hall
Floors: 4
Number of Occupants: 100–249
Bathrooms: Communal
Coed: Yes
Residents: Sophomores
Room Types: Singles, doubles
Special Features: Community kitchen, in-room sinks, laundry facilities, TV lounge

Doty Hall
Floors: 5
Number of Occupants: 100–249
Bathrooms: Communal
Coed: Yes
Residents: Freshmen
Room Types: Singles, doubles, triples
Special Features: Community kitchens, formal lounge with fireplace, game room, laundry facilities, study lounges

Dupre Hall
Floors: 5
Number of Occupants: 250–499
Bathrooms: Communal
Coed: Yes
Residents: Freshmen and sophomores
Room Types: Singles, doubles, triples
Special Features: 24-hour computer labs, community kitchen, dance and party space, exercise room, laundry facilities

George Draper Dayton (GDD) Hall
Floors: 3
Number of Occupants: 100–249
Bathrooms: Suite
Coed: Yes
Residents: Upperclassmen
Room Types: Suites (singles, doubles)
Special Features: Air conditioning, community kitchen, laundry facilities, meditation room, seminar rooms; Wellness Center on the first floor

Kirk Hall
Floors: 8
Number of Occupants: 100–249
Bathrooms: Communal
Coed: Yes
Residents: Juniors and seniors
Room Types: Singles, suites (singles)
Special Features: 24-hour computer lab, community kitchen, formal lounge, study lounge; home to Gender Free Living Community, Interfaith House, and quiet living areas

Turck Hall
Floors: 4
Number of Occupants: 100–249
Bathrooms: Communal
Coed: Yes
Residents: Freshmen
Room Types: Doubles
Special Features: Community kitchen, in-room sinks, laundry facilities, TV lounges

Wallace Hall
Floors: 4
Number of Occupants: 100–249
Bathrooms: Communal
Coed: Yes
Residents: Sophomores
Room Types: Singles, doubles, triples
Special Features: Community kitchen, formal lounge, hardwood floors, in-room sinks, marble stairs, study lounge; quiet and chemical-free living areas available

Campus-Owned ApartmentsWhat's This?

The Cottages
Floors: 2–3
Number of Units: <10
Bathrooms: Private
Coed: No, single sex in each cottage
Residents: Juniors and seniors
Room Types: Two- and three-bedroom cottages (singles, doubles)
Special Features: Full kitchen, furnished lounge and dining areas, laundry facilities, lofts with desks underneath

Grand Cambridge Apartments
Floors: 2
Number of Units: <10
Bathrooms: Private
Coed: Yes
Residents: Juniors and seniors
Room Types: Apartments (singles, doubles)
Special Features: Units include full kitchen, furnished living areas, laundry facilities on each floor

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Most Recent Student Author

College Prowler guides are in the hands of students throughout the entire process. Because you can't make student-written guides without the students, we have students at each campus who write, edit, and survey their peers for every guide that we publish. Thanks to our most recent student author at Macalester

Name: Tatiana Craine

Hometown: Eden Prairie, MN

Major: English with emphasis on Creative Writing

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