McGill University - Campus Housing

Quick Stats

College Prowler Take

No one lives on campus after first year. Many students at McGill are actually from the Montréal area, and they use McGill as a commuter school. For the seven percent of students who do live on campus, there are many, many housing options to choose from. Upper Rez is the most popular, and it consists of Molson, Gardner, and McConnell halls. These are your typical dorms, with small cinder-blocked rooms, although most of them are singles. It’s called Upper Rez because it’s on the top of a massive hill, a source of neverending complaint from those who live there. Slightly down the hill is Douglas Hall, a beautiful old building reminiscent of Harry Potter. Douglas has a rep for being the hippy dorm, and they have their own cafeteria. All the dorms on the hill are pretty big party dorms and probably the best bet for anyone looking for the “college experience.” Way down the hill past the campus is Royal Victoria College. This is the antithesis of the party dorm and is all girls. It has pretty tight security, but a very nice building with its own cafeteria and no hills to climb, so living there is a bit of a tradeoff.

New Residence, or New Rez, is a converted hotel, and it still looks, well, hotel-like. It has its own cafeteria, and most of the rooms are doubles. The rooms are huge with a private bathroom. New Rez has probably the biggest party rep on campus, and most people who live there absolutely love it. However, if you ask students who don’t live there their opinion, you get a different story. New Rez has a reputation for being snobby and filled with rich kids. It definitely seems to house the majority of the overworn and overpriced trends that are en vogue. New Rez is the Rez people either love or hate, so it would be wise to check it out before listing it as a first choice.  Dio and Prez Rez are newer additions to McGill’s residence network. They are comparable to Upper Rez, but located just across from the Milton Gates and are significantly smaller. Most recently, McGill took over 475 Sherbrooke, formerly the Four Points Hotel, and is converting it into another student residence.

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Students Speak Out

McGLS says: McGill University 2015 Engineering

The dorms are pretty nice at our... The dorms are pretty nice at our campus. The food is mediocre or good depending on which res, and the likewise for the bathrooms. Avoid Solin, since it's far from campus and you may not get to know as many people outside your res. Other than that, I've heard good reviews about most of them from people who lived there. Especially New Res, which is a hotel converted so that would be the life of luxury, and also Douglas, from my personal experience, it seemed that Douglas Hall largely turned into a huge family by year's end. 12345 Campus Housing: March 20, 2009 Report

McGAS says: McGill University 2016 Engineering

If you don't mind paying more for... If you don't mind paying more for rez, New Res is absolutely fantastic. It's a converted hotel that has a great caf and nice rooms. Molson, McConnell, and Gardner are the most standard residences, and they are reasonably well liked by their inhabitants. Solin is quite far away (requires transit to get to and fro) but has a great community feeling. 12345 Campus Housing: March 05, 2009 Report

greenmooks says:

There are really only freshman... There are really only freshman dorms at McGill. New Res is the nicest by far but also is very large and has a reputation for housing the rich and spoiled. Upper Rez (Gardner, Molson, and McConnell) is where students are the most "real"; there is diversity here, and while a lot of partying and drinking goes on, you do not always have to be involved in it. Douglas, which is also tecnically Upper Rez, is a gorgeous, old house and is generally filled with awesome people. RVC is the most convenient rez and is closest to campus, but it is an all girls dorm and definitely has a reputation for being boring and quiet; to be outgoing and live in RVC is an uphill battle. Finally, there are the MORE houses, which are scattered mostly throughout the ghetto and offer no meal plan. They are essentially apartment buildings endorsed by the University and filled only with students. There is also Solin, which has gorgeous, spacious apartments and a somewhat hipster vibe, but unfortunately is four metro stops away from campus. 12345 Campus Housing: March 04, 2009 Report

Anonymous says:

Depends on your character. If you... Depends on your character. If you want to live in a hotel with rich snobs, a big bed and a roommate, New Rez. If you prefer an alternative lifestyle and don’t mind living far away, Solin. Same but closer, and with fewer people, are MORE houses. RVC, all girls. The Upper Residences are hideous. I highly recommend Douglas, however. A big variety of people came here, all very chill. There is a common room every three rooms, as well as a courtyard, both of which are very conducive to jam sessions. The building actually has character—hardwood floors, mantelpieces, a beautiful caf (with nice breakfast staff), and piano room. If you’re in a single, you’ll probably get really close to the people who share your common room. I’ve made friends for life. 12345 Campus Housing Report

Anonymous says:

The Upper Rez’s require a hike up... The Upper Rez’s require a hike up and down the mountain. New Rez is a hotel, literally, but you pay more for your luxury. RVC has the best location, but it is an all-girls’ residence with fairly strict rules. 12345 Campus Housing Report

Facts

Did You Know?

Molson, McConnell, and Gardner halls are often referred to as the Upper Residences, or “Upper Rez,” because of their location on the northern end of campus.

Most people who attend McGill are residents of Montréal, making it more of a commuter school than a residential one. Also, only first-year students are guaranteed housing, making them the majority of residents living on campus.

McGill also has a First Peoples’ House, a residence and lounge provided specifically for aboriginal students.

MORE houses are converted brownstones that house about 20 students each. There are two on University and three on Pine. Because of their small size, each house takes on a different flavor and reputation each year. However, they generally are the houses that students looking for a more independent lifestyle seek. Your dorm fellow does not live with you, and you are basically on your own. This can be great for some people—their ideal living situation. The small size of the house usually brings everyone really close together, for better or for worse.

Also on University is the Greenbriar, which operates under the same principle, except that it is an apartment building that holds 96 students. Rooms are apartment-style with a kitchen for each unit. Three Métro stops away near the Atwater market is Solin Hall, a larger apartment-style residence far away from campus. Both apartment-style residences tend to attract the more independent students. Students are not on a meal plan and rely on a common kitchen to cook their meals. Living in one of these can be amazing for the type of student who can’t wait to move out of their parents’ house and live on their own, but it’s not for everyone.

Check everything out or call housing to get a better feel of which type of housing is right for you. Regardless of what you put as first choice, though, many students get their second, third, or even last, so where you live is really a matter of chance. If you really hate where you live, two weeks after moving in you can switch—plenty of students do, and it’s really not that hard if you make the effort to talk to the housing office.

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