McDonel Hall Reviews
Michigan State University River Trail Neighborhood
Reviews Summary
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
When students lived here
Freshman
Sophomore
Junior
Overall rating breakdown
Room
Building
Location
Bathroom
Browse 13 Student Reviews
Reviews with a Verified Student badge were written with a school email.
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 and comfort are important to you.
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.
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 on the gender inclusive floor and it was a really positive space and way quieter than where I lived freshman year (S case 6). The dorms look like every other suite style dorm at MSU not really special but there’s a large window compared to most.
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 building is very nice too, and how it is directly across IMEast. I would say that this dorm is more for freshman than sophomore students.
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 good shower or toilet. East Mcdonel is full of freshman and business majors so it gets really loud. West is usually sophomores and a lot quieter. Spartys lowkey sucks compared to the others but it's not bad since it's in the building. The community kitchen is nice and huge. There are many study spots in the building you can access anytime. I loved being near the rivertrail especially when it's fall! It also takes you straight to the business ...
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 your suitemates. My desk had actually pull out drawers in them which was super nice storage wise. There is 2 study rooms on each floor. And spaces the sit and study around the building too. There’s a decent Sparty’s in the building. It’s right across the street from Akers dinning hall, and in between Holmes grab and go food and Owen’s dinning hall. Location isn’t terrible, it’s a little far from some things but it’s easy to get around with the b...
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 is decent but not close to the better IM and the heart of campus and better dining options imo.
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
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 and there are no grand parts of the dorm. The Spartys is the best part. There’s a dinning hall…across the street.
In my 2 semesters living in McDonel, I killed over 20 roaches. Bring raid, and if you don’t like em, stay away.