The first time I came to Michigan was during Go Blue Rendezvous, GBR for short. I felt how different this place is, it was exciting but also a bit overwhelming. There were new places to learn, like Skeeps, the Bus (with a capital b), and the Big House. I would become familiar with all these things soon enough, but on day one at GBR, they were still a complete mystery. It took serious effort to remember the names of the dozens of new classmates, while learning about where I was and what to expect from business school. I did not have a clue where I would live, who I would live with, if anyone, or where to begun searching. It seemed like a distant problem but it really was not with school starting right around the corner. I needed help.
Ann Arbor is a great town. Choosing where to live is important, it will do much to shape the experience you have during your time here. There is something for everybody, everything from a luxury furnished apartment to living in a house with six other people to having a townhouse with a single roommate or partner. Some students coming in with families choose to live outside Ann Arbor and commute to school. The important thing to decide is what kind of experience you are looking for and make the housing decision that best supports it.
First take a look at this overview to help you get a sense of where some key landmarks are located. There are many more amazing things here than what is depicted below, but for an incoming business student, these should get you started. As an incoming veteran, I figured you would probably want to know the location of the bars and gyms.
If you have any feedback for our site, or if you have a question regarding housing (or anything else!) please do not hesitate to contact us.
You can see the distance between these landmarks and Ross is about one mile or less, as the crow flies. Therefore, most of your academic and networking related activities will take place inside a 1 mile radius of the Ross building. If you live inside this circle, this is where the majority of your time will likely be spent. That is good, because this place has much to offer.
Kerrytown is a district north-west of Ross and is where the famous Zingerman's Deli is located. Kerrytown is home to an amazing farmer's market, numerous specialty shops, and a litany of great restaurants. There are many historical buildings in Kerrytown, it was part of the original village of Ann Arbor and retains that old town feel. It is about a 20 minute walk from Kerrytown to the Ross Building.
Main Street is a district north-west of Ross, just south of Kerrytown. Main Street is the spot for food junkies and is home to many great bars and restaurants. There are coffee shops, bookstores, bike shops, concert venues, and about anything else you could want located here. It is about a 15 minute walk from Main Street to the Ross Building.
State / Liberty Street is an area is north-west of Ross, just south of Main Street. There is a lot of Ann Arbor culture on display in this area and many museums from the University of Michigan are located here, as well as the historical Michigan and State theaters. It is on the edge of campus and is about a 10 minute walk to the Ross Building.
South U is a district just to the north-east of Ross. It is the go-to place for lunch or happy hour meet ups, and is home to plenty of bars for after hours fun as well. It also has a karaoke place in case that is your thing. It is about a 5 minute walk to the Ross Building.
