Housing decisions come up fast after you commit to a school, and they affect your year more than most people expect. Every school runs this process a little differently, so use this as a guide to the questions to ask and the choices to make, then check your school's housing site for the specifics.
Know the Common Dorm Styles
- Traditional. Two or more students share a room, and a communal bathroom serves the floor. They're usually the least expensive and the most social, because you'll bump into neighbors constantly.
- Suite-style. Several rooms share a bathroom and sometimes a common area. A little more privacy, often a little more cost.
- Apartment-style. A kitchen and living space, often for upperclass students, with more independence and more responsibility.
- Learning communities and themed floors. Groups organized around a major, an interest, or a shared identity. They can make a big school feel smaller and make it easier to find study partners.
- Gender-inclusive, quiet, substance-free, and accessible options. Many schools offer these. Ask what's available.
Not sure what a hall looks like or where it is? Our university pages list residence halls for each school in the guide.
Ask These Questions Before You Pick
- Is first-year housing required or guaranteed? Policies differ and affect your plans.
- How is the room assigned? By lottery, by application date, by a matching survey, or by the order in which you commit?
- Does the building have air conditioning, laundry, a kitchen, or a dining hall nearby? Little things change how a year feels.
- How far is it from your classes? Walking time matters in January.
- What's the total cost, including the meal plan? Meal plans are often tied to housing.
Filling Out the Application
- Apply early. At many schools, the order you submit can decide your options. Watch for the deadline and put it in your calendar.
- Be honest on the roommate questionnaire. It's tempting to describe the person you want to be instead of who you are. If you stay up late and like noise, say so. Good matches come from honest answers.
- Think about sleep, cleanliness, and guests. These three cause most roommate friction. See what to do in a roommate conflict.
- Rank your preferences thoughtfully. If you list three halls, you might get any of them. Only list places you'd actually be okay living.
- Note any needs. Medical, accessibility, or other needs should go through the school's official process, and the paperwork takes time.
Should You Pick Your Own Roommate?
Some schools let you request a roommate, and some let you meet people through admitted-student groups first. Living with a close friend can work well but can also strain the friendship. Living with a stranger is how many people meet their closest friends. Whichever you choose, agree on ground rules early. Our post on vetting a roommate has the questions to ask.
After You're Assigned
- Read your building's rules about what you can bring - see what not to bring.
- Measure your space if the school provides dimensions, then plan your layout with our small-room ideas.
- Learn your move-in window and plan your arrival with our hour-by-hour guide.
If your assignment isn't what you hoped for, most schools have a room-change process after the first few weeks, once you've had time to see how things are going. Give it a fair chance first - lots of people end up loving a room they hadn't picked.