Anyone know anything about cooperative housing (intentional groups) in Madison?

[rekuci]

I visited a friend at the International House once. It was very interesting, but I have to say I would not recommend co-op housing if you appreciate quiet time to yourself and want to spend a lot of alone time in your room. People were pretty hyper-social in general, and it seemed like it wouldn't be a quiet place to live at all. In fact I was meeting someone to study for an exam, and we went to a nearby church with study rooms to do it. It was a pretty old, overused, deteriorating building that I wouldn't expect good sound-blocking walls from. However you would definitely meet a lot of people and make many friendships living in a place like that. Dinner time was quite a scene. Can't speak for other co-ops than International House though. You can probably find similar priced housing by sharing a house with other STEM majors. Food isn't THAT expensive but it's nice to have it prepared for you most of the time.

[jlygrnmigt]

I've lived in a number of MCC houses, and I think you would be fine. Go have a membership dinner at a few different ones. You'll have to attend 3, so your 1st dinner certainly wouldn't commit you to anything. They may be filling up for fall already, so jumpon that. Some Are more studious than others, but you definitely have to contribute your share (which will likely be something you're good at or enjoy doing anyway, so not a terrible burden)