Is Bursley Hall the best dorm at UMich?

Pros: OK Dining Hall, fantastic community, decent lounge spaces, clean bathrooms, quiet at night, you can say you survived Burs Cons: No AC (September and April suck), really ugly blue doors (giving prison), small rooms with questionable furniture, 30+ minutes of commute every single day unless all of your classes are on north, lack of external food or entertainment options unless you take a bus, literally 0 social scene Overall if you’re an introvert who likes North campus or has lots of classes there it’s a fine dorm, but if you want any kind of social life on campus Bursley will be the second biggest possible hinderance besides Baits, but at least Baits is a nicer dorm. IMO the worst dorm on campus, it’s like Markley but on North. And yes, it does flood/have fires/alarms at 2 am like all college dorms.

Bursley is a bit run down, and often has maintenance issues. However, since freshman are often placed here, it's a great place to meet your peers. While the bathrooms are often neglected by staff (missing paper towels, soap), you can generally get help and the staff are responsive when things are brought up. The dorm is somewhat isolated as it is on North, so you miss out on a lot of great things on Central Campus due to commute, but the calm environment makes it easier to transition to college for first year students. The rooms are manageable, and with the right roommate, it can be a good living experience. The bathrooms have showers that aren't too great. The convenience of the dining hall being attached to the dorm is great for harsh weather, but the food is usually pretty bad. Many options are shut down each lunch/dinner, especially if you have dietary restrictions.

Lived on the top floor so the ceilings were fairly high. Windows didn’t open more than 6 inches without special tools and the heat was on constantly. The community was actually pretty good and having a dining Hall was a big plus. The location is really the only downside for those who take classes on central.

Disclaimer: I was a sophomore in CS during my time in Bursley Pros: Dining hall is in the dorm, which was a big plus for me coming from Baits. It's also nice that everything is in the one building. It's pretty close to all the CoE buildings (e.g. "the grove", etc.) (5+ min walk cuz walking around buildings takes a bit) and it's a lot better than having to get on the bus to central all the time. There's a bus stop right near the dorm, and that bus route stops at the grove and the main central bus stop (cctc), which is really convenient. North campus is really quiet compared to central, which I like personally. Cons: for 1st year engineering majors + most LSA majors, most if not all classes are on central, so it gets annoying really fast getting on the bus to central for everything. The bathrooms aren't great, and neither are the laundry rooms. The dorms feel small, but that may be how most dorms at U of M work.

Bursley may have a notoriously negative perception relative to the other dorms, however, if you end up in Bursley don't be too bummed cuz there are actually many perks! Pros: -On North Campus which is ideal for students with a lot of classes in the SMTD, STAMPS, CS/Engineering buildings -Right next to the NCRB which is a newer recreational facility -It's quieter and typically has less construction going on relative to Central Campus -You'll get to catch wild animals like deer and raccoons in nature -Routes/trails for running -You'll likely get to bond with roommates and hallmates - take advantage of communal spaces to make friends (like basement area is a good place to watch movies), can also consider joining the living communities -There are frequent recitals and art events since SMTD students and events are concentrated on North Campus -Walkable distance to grocery stores (Kroger, Way 1 Supermarket, and other restaurants) Cons: -One of the older dorms - white lighting in halls (felt lowkey dungeon-like but you get used to it lol) -Will likely need to bus to Central - most freshmen classes and activities are concentrated on Central Campus (bus stops are right outside the dorm, run frequently, and you can track them with the Michigan website/app however...buses can get very packed and dirty) -Relative to Central Campus, you'll be further from downtown Ann Arbor -There might be no AC :/ Sorry I don't have any good pictures but the ones on Google Maps/Images are very representative!