Out of all the dorms, Mayflower and Burge might have the most well-known reputations. We’ve all heard how removed Mayflower is from central campus and how Burge is the party dorm. As someone who just moved from Mayflower to Burge, I am here to tell you the insider-knowledge on what living in each dorm is really like.

But before we jump in, I should point out that these are my experiences, based on what floor I’ve lived on. Experiences might differ on another floor, so I can only speak from what I’ve seen around my own room. For me, this means the sixth floor of Mayflower and the fifth floor of Burge.

Mayflower

I have a love-hate relationship with Mayflower, as I’m sure is the same for many of the residents who live there. The huge, eight-story building looks out at the Iowa River, distancing its residents from the rest of campus. Because of this, the Mayflower community stands on its own, brought closer by the distance experienced by everyone.

The environment at Mayflower definitely fits the Mayflower stereotype. Mayflower has more of an apartment feel than that of a dorm. Whether because of the location or some other reason, the energy is low and the halls are typically quiet with all doors closed. For any light sleepers, this means they will sleep unbothered by the shouting that often occurs in other dorms (i.e., Burge).

The rooms come with ample space for furniture, decorations, and even extra room beyond that. They’re relatively large compared to the other undergraduate dorms. In addition to the rooms, small kitchens divide every two bedrooms, fully equipped with a fridge, oven, and stove. How this hasn’t set off more fire alarms, I’m not sure. But if you are into cooking or baking, this is a great deal that Mayflower offers. Along with a shared kitchen, there is also one bathroom shared by two adjoining rooms. I found this to be very convenient compared to Burge’s public bathrooms, where privacy is much more modestly given.

Because of the way Mayflower is set up like an apartment, residents have the advantage of experiencing a more exclusive, independent lifestyle. Mayflower is a great choice for those who enjoy a quieter environment where they carry more “adult” responsibilities such as preparing meals and maintaining their own space.

As expected with a dorm located so far away from the central part of campus, Mayflower comes with its own set of problems. The largest one for me when I lived there was the bus system. Oftentimes, the bus will come later than the Transit app expects it to, and many students have run into problems with arriving to class on time. On some days, it took me half an hour to arrive at class. It can be hard to predict when to head down to the bus stop, where sometimes you will be waiting for over 15 minutes while other times it will arrive early. For this reason, I highly recommend that Mayflower students have some other mode of transportation. Once I had access to my bike, I never went back to using the bus system.

Burge

One thing I immediately noticed upon moving into Burge is how much more lively it is. When they say Burge is a party dorm, they’re not wrong. It’s not uncommon for there to be groups of people talking in the hallways at 2 a.m. on a Thursday night. If there’s an open door present, people will often pop in to say hello. Overall, Burge is a bit crazy, but the environment is friendly.

While I love the energy of Burge, one thing I do miss from Mayflower is the privacy it offers. In Burge, the rooms are a typical dorm size and often occupied by three people, so spacing can be quite tight. The public bathrooms make showering more difficult, but fortunately, the floors are divided by gender, which can make walking the hallway with only a towel less embarrassing (as many people do).

The location is arguably the best part about Burge. For most undergraduates who have classes on the East side, living in Burge makes the trip to class easy and time-efficient. While at Mayflower I had to leave 25 minutes in advance for class, it now only takes me 5 minutes to get to some classes. This has by far been the greatest selling point about Burge. Its location is in the heart of campus, situated between the other dorms, the chemistry building, and the Pomerantz Career Center. Along with that, it also has a dining hall, which makes it easier to get meals when on a time crunch.

Conclusion

Whether Mayflower or Burge is better is based on personal preference. For me, I have found Burge to fit more of my preferences. I love the welcoming energy that can be found here and the close proximity to every place I go. However, those who are looking for a dorm that gives them more independence may find that Mayflower suits them better. From the kitchen and bathroom to the floor layout, it feels much more like an apartment. All-in-all, there are definitely great aspects to be found about both dorms.