Best UW-Madison Dorms for Freshmen

One of the first aspects incoming freshmen might consider is where they would be living as they enter a completely new, distinct environment. While UW-Madison does not require students to stay in the dorms in their first year, it is recommended as it makes the process of transitioning into college slightly easier, or challenging depending on where you are living.

UW-Madison dorms are geographically split into two groups; Southeast and Lakeshore. These groups are very distinct and almost opposites with the Southeast Residence Halls being more social and in the downtown part of Campus with more high-rise buildings and less green space. On the other hand, the Lakeshore dorms are near Lake Mendota and are known to be more quiet. This offers a variety of options for students, fitting their individual preferences when it comes to their living situation. This is a rundown of the best dorms at UW-Madison in both Southeast and Lakeshore.

Ogg Residence Hall, Southeast

Being across the street from the Gordon Avenue Market (one of six dining markets on campus), Ogg Residence Hall is at a very convenient location for freshmen. It has its own mailroom and is also adjacent to the Nicholas Recreation Center (Madison's 30,000 square feet gym). While it is a triple, the rooms are large enough for three students offering air conditioning and walk in closets. There are communal bathrooms for each quad and each floor has study lounges and a kitchen for students to use.

The environment is quite social but not to the extent that is disturbing with students being out on the weekends, with the weekdays being full of students settling in the study lounges to finish up assignments. While slightly distant from Bascom Hill, it has its own bus stop which frequents Ogg every 5 minutes, making commuting very efficient (extremely useful during the colder months where trudging in the snow to class is not an option). Personally, having been an Ogg resident, I would strongly recommend placing it as your first preference if Southeast dorms sound fitting to you!

Chadbourne Residence Hall, Southeast

Given all the dorms at UW-Madison, Chadbourne definitely comes up on top. Being centrally located and less than 10 minutes away from most academic buildings like the Business School, Helen C. White Hall (Madison's most popular library) as well as Memorial Union, this dorm is a very popular option for first year students. It mostly features doubles with relatively smaller rooms but also offers kitchens and study lounges on each floor.

It is connected to Rheta's Dining Market making it extremely convenient for students to grab a bite to eat in between classes. It is also very proximal to major bus lines making commuting easy.

Waters Residence Hall, Lakeshore

Another great location, Waters Residence Hall can be deemed one of the best Lakeshore dorms at Madison. It is centrally located in the heart of campus along the shore of Lake Mendota. It is situated on top of Bascom Hill making the commute to classes significantly less painful and quicker.

The rooms at Waters are quite spacious, doubles and have ample storage space. It also features an in house dining market, on-site tutoring, and study spaces. Waters is immensely peaceful with a very scenic outdoor seating area facing the lake. Waters is a great dorm for those who enjoy a quieter living space.

Dejope Residence Hall, Lakeshore

Dejope is the largest and newest residence hall in lakeshore! It also features Four Lakes Market (the largest dining market on campus) as well as classroom space, on-site academic advising, and a University Health Services (UHS) satellite office!

Dejope being one of the largest dorms in the lakeshore, it is also quite social for being in a quiet neighborhood with large rooms and walk-in closets! This is definitely one of the top choices for students living in Lakeshore. There are major bus lines around the dorm with commuting being easy and efficient.