Best UW Dorms

"Great community, multiple kitchens on every floor, private bathrooms, elevators, Area 01. Very modern good looking design. The walls are very sound proof. Only downside is how incredibly expensive they are."

"Alder was the second dorm I stayed in, and was pretty nice. The District Market at the bottom is the most obvious perk, as it is open pretty late and sells basic needs and foods, accepting the dining plan money. Alder Commons, frequently used by student groups and students, is also in the building. There were 3-4 study rooms on every floor which was super nice. If you cook a lot though, there is only a double kitchen on the second floor for the whole building, so it might be a hassle to use if you want to use it frequently."

"Pretty good room overall. I had a triple with some friends and it felt a little cramped. Get a double if you value space. It's a little farther from campus compared to other west dorms but not too big of a deal. Just be prepared to walk up a lot of stairs everyday on the way to Red Square. My only complaint is that there is only a kitchen on the lobby floor and not every floor. As for the social aspect, not too crazy, everyone was pretty chill."

"The building itself is very comfortable and clean and the dining hall in the basement is super convenient. Since North campus is relatively secluded it takes longer to get to the Ave or any shopping area, but if you ask me it's worth it for the relative quiet and feeling of safety. Some of the other amenities available included music practice rooms, stoves in common areas, easy access to the mail desk and Center Table, and a makerspace in a neighboring building. Can't say that I'd recommend living on campus in a pandemic though. The room desks aren't all that comfortable, there's almost no places to study outside your room that are open, and meeting people is still relatively difficult. If things were normal, however, Willow definitely is a solid choice as a place to live. It's not all that different from the other newer buildings on north aside from having the dining hall."

"Madrona Hall had its debute in 2018, so it's a very new dorm! Because of the construction of Oak Hall that was going on during the year, getting to class took a little longer than if I had lived in McMahon or Haggett, but it wasn't a big deal at all. I lived on the communal bathroom side, which I think is the best way to go if you're trying to meet people and become acquainted with those you're living around. The bathrooms themselves were good, but just a lil gross cause with a lot of people using them, they are subjected to many different hygienic practices. Think U.S. public school bathrooms, but just slightly cleaner. The rooms are a good size, there's enough room to feel like you have your own space, the windows can be a little faulty sometimes but work out great no matter what. There are two lounges on each floor that have an oven, stove top, and sink. There are also two study lounges per floor."