Why Does This Matter?

You need to have a plan for when you will submit housing applications for each of your schools.  This can even affect when you will want to submit your actual college application. In addition, some colleges require you to live on campus freshman year (or longer), some guarantee that you can live on campus if you choose to, and some do not guarantee on-campus housing and can fill up fast, leaving you with the task of trying to find an apartment for your first year. So it’s important that your family sit down together and do some research to understand the options and make sure that you are staying on top of these deadlines.

Do Your Housing Research Early!!!

Know which residence halls you’d like to live in.  Ideally, by the time each college’s housing application is available to you, you'll already know which dorm is your first choice so you can apply immediately (if you are choosing to do so!). If you haven't yet done that research, you may want to make it a priority. Some universities have a live-on-campus requirement for first-year students, so if you're a first-year student, start exploring which residence hall would be your preference right away. 

 
Possible Timeframes for Housing Applications

Each of your colleges may open their housing applications at a different time.

• As soon as you submit your application - some (not many) colleges (The University of Texas at Austin!!!) will let you sign up for housing AS SOON AS YOU APPLY to the college, and long before you find out whether you’ve been accepted. It is a $100 non-refundable fee, but it puts you high on the housing list, should you get admitted. That means you will have a better chance of getting the on-campus housing you would like.

• As soon as you are accepted - Many colleges allow you to submit a housing application as soon as you are accepted to “reserve your place in line.” If you decide not to go there, it will be non-refundable.  But if you think you really might go there, and getting your first or second choice housing is important, it might be worth considering.

• As soon as you enroll (or only after you enroll) - Some colleges only let you apply for housing once you have enrolled (said yes!) to them.  Or they have a specific date that you can apply, but they require that you must have enrolled with them before they will let you submit the application. 

• At a specified date after College Decision Day (May 1) - Some colleges set a date in May or even June in which the housing process opens.

* In your App Tracker, locate the Housing Deadlines column and look at how each of your colleges handles Housing Applications.

Remember: Not All Dorms Cost the Same!

It may be obvious that apartments will cost you different amounts than dorms, but some students don't realize that residence halls within the same university may vary significantly in price. In addition, prices can vary within the same residence hall based on how many people live in the room, the amenities (such as kitchens or extra bathrooms) or other factors. Take a close look at your budget, whether it's your personal allotment or one set by your financial aid package, before pursuing a particular dorm. Carefully scrutinize the room and board prices of each option the college of your choice offers and compare those to your budget so you can evaluate the most affordable living situation.