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McDonel Hall

River Trail Neighborhood Michigan State University

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McDonel Hall MSU Reviews

3.3
13 reviews

We summarized all 13 reviews with AI for your convenience.

McDonel Hall has a reputation for a lively atmosphere due to its mixed population of freshmen, sophomores, and business majors. A key feature of McDonel Hall is its suite-style living arrangement, which means sharing bathroom facilities with three other students, a factor that requires maintaining good relations with your suitemates. The location is conveniently close to several dining options including a Sparty's Market inside the McDonel building and nearby dining halls Holmes, Owen's and across the street, Akers. While some reviews have highlighted issues with maintenance such as broken water fountains, cockroaches, and occasional leaks, it is noted the maintenance team usually conducts repairs timely. One of its appealing aspects is its proximity to the river trail for nature lovers and the business building for business students, which is a short bus ride away, thanks to a bus stop conveniently situated right outside the dormitory. Expect thin walls that may get loud, especially in East McDonel which is typically filled with freshmen. Regardless of room location, many opinions point to well-sized rooms with some even having tall ceilings and ample storage. Despite its distance from sporting arenas, the consensus among students reveals McDonel Hall as a decent place to live.

Suite-style Bathrooms

Frequent Bugs/roaches

Convenient Spartys Market

Freshman

10

Sophomore

3

Junior

1

Room

Building

Location

Bathroom

Read 13 Reviews

Reviews with a Verified Student badge were written with a school email

2 days ago

This dorm room had a stunning view, but unfortunately, that was the only highlight. The bathroom was messy, the room was cramped and poorly furnished, and noise levels were high. While the staff were friendly and responsive, the overall experience fell short. Consider other options if cleanliness an...

Lived in a single room
11 months ago

Lived here junior year in 2021/2022 and loved it. Wish it had a dining hall but the spartys is nice. The only downside is we found cockroaches in the hallway twice and there was a leak, but no other issues.

Lived in a double room
12 months ago
Verified Student

It’s not close to your classes but it’ll be close to many dining halls as compared to other neighborhoods so lots of options for picky eaters. The water fountain on the West side was broken for almost the whole year which sucked, but the spartys is really nice and there’s a bus stop right outside. I...

Lived in a double room
12 months ago
Verified Student

I lived here during my sophomore year, and I thought it was awesome to have suite-style bathrooms. I was living on the first floor, which was also pretty good as well. The water from the bathroom sometimes turns gray, so make sure to get drinking water from the hallway. The Spartys being in the buil...

Lived in a double room
12 months ago

I lived on the first floor of east. Never had a roach problem but ik people who had mice. Walls are really thin so don't be an asshole and be loud. Bathrooms are fine just make sure you have clean roommates/suitemates cuz that ruined it for me tbh. Depends on the room but you might get lucky with a...

1 year ago

I actually loved living in McDonel. I lived on the 5th floor in East and my room was pretty spacious. Tall ceilings and good closet size (I basically brought my whole wardrobe and still fit everything) The bathroom wasn’t bad, it was relatively clean but it also depends on making good relations with...

1 year ago

My bathroom came with black grout from old age and some oh so pretty yellow tile. Not insufferable but not a great bathroom experience. The brachiopod fossils in the shower limestone is nice I guess. The room itself was exactly what you’d expect. Location was “eh”. Close to IM east and Akers dining ...

1 year ago

I lived on the first floor of east mcdonel and thank god. The elevators randomly broke throughout the year. Spartys being in the residential hall make it easier so I didn’t have to always leave my hall to get food Also perfect for folks in the business college

Lived in a double room
1 year ago

Mcdonel hall is too east to be viable if you aren’t a stem major. You’re close to stores such as Conrad’s, big ten, and 711. Other than that you’re extremely fat from the football or basketball stadiums. You get your own bathrooms at the cost of a shorter sized room. The study lounges need updating ...

1 year ago

In my 2 semesters living in McDonel, I killed over 20 roaches. Bring raid, and if you don’t like em, stay away.

Lived in a double room