The Housing Guide

What residents say

“Allison has been a wonderful home to me for the past 2 years. Some of my best friends at Northwestern are the people I met on move-in day here. The rooms are big enough that two people can each have their own space. Bathrooms are always clean and lounges on each floor provide a nice place to relax, do work, or watch TV with friends. Also, free laundry on every floor makes it easier to find a time that works in your schedule. Being close to Evanston is the best part! It's nice to be able to run to CVS or Whole Foods or grab dinner without going too far. The hardest part is having classes on North campus. As a science major, I spend a lot of time in Tech which can sometimes feel like a bit of a hike from the southernmost dorm on campus.”

Carly Fox, Weinberg sophomore

“I really like living in Allison as a sophomore; the facilities are really clean and nice. I've use the kitchen a few times and it was really clean. Residential Services has really provided us with a lot of things we've asked for also! There is a laundry room on every floor and they've provided us with laundry baskets so we don't have to worry about putting other people's clothes in the dryer, etc. It isn't that social; the only people I've met have been my neighbors or people that I met in classes. The room size is great, my roommate and I have created a ton of space by having our beds be perpendicular. Perfect for south campus classes (Medill/SESP) and super close to Evanston. It's nice having a dining hall, however I don't find Allison's food to be the best (I like Sargent).”

Jackie Montalvo, Medill sophomore

“Regarding the dorm location, it is great being near Evanston because I can take a break from campus very easily. Although it is south, I have classes in Tech and it has not been difficult making the walk north. The amenities are incredible. It is really nice having available laundry facilities on your own floor rather than needing to carry your dirty clothes up and down the stairs. I probably wouldn't do my laundry as often if I had to do that. I have met some awesome people and some of my closest friends in  Allison, even though it is not a very social building in comparison to other freshman living options.”

Claire Howard, McCormick freshman

“I really like the quality of Allison Hall. The bathrooms and rooms are really nice - they give off a comfortable "home" vibe. Also, the Allison socials are awesome. However, it is very antisocial for some reason. I feel like that mostly concerns freshmen, just because not many freshmen decided to live here. That kind of bummed me out. I think I regret not living in Elder.”

Lucas Pettinato, Weinberg freshman

“Allison is great because it's really close to downtown Evanston, which means a lot of food options and convenience stores like CVS. The room sizes are good; we have walk-in closets unlike other dorms. We probably have the best bathrooms on campus and they are cleaned very frequently. And the lounges are really nice for doing homework or for being social with other people in the dorm. In terms of social life, in Allison you have the opportunity to get to know upperclassmen and get to know the faculty resident that can give you really great advice.”

Hadley Pfalzgraf, Weinberg freshman

What non-residents say

“Allison is known to be one of the nicest dorms on campus, leading to the name Hotel Allison. The rooms are pretty big with a standard set-up, so you can decorate it and easily make it your own. I love going to Allison when I'm on south campus to see my friends, but I do not think it is one of the most social places.”

Andrea Shepard, McCormick freshman

“Allison is the best dorm to live in if you want to live south. It has great common rooms. I was shocked when comparing it to other dorms I've been in. It has a great reputation, especially for meeting people.”

Rebecca Adler, Weinberg freshman

“From what I've seen it’s super super nice although the dining hall is a bit overrated. I've heard it's a good community but it's quieter than up north.”

Amy Lieberman, SESP freshman

“Allison is a good dorm to live in on South Campus if you care a lot about how big your room is. There are a lot of people on each floor, and there is mixing between freshman and sophomores, but it's really anti-social compared to any of the major North campus dorms. Even compared to Willard, it's antisocial. Before you get to campus people emphasize how amazing Allison is because of how nice the facilities are, but that's really overrated. You're a freshman once, and Allison isn't really the dorm to live in if you want to make friends in your dorm.”

Sophie Spears, Weinberg freshman