College Housing & Roommate Selection: Your Next Big Decision

So, you finally got it: the long-awaited notification that says, "yes!" to your college future. After narrowing down your admit options, you’ve made your final decision. Other than registering for classes (and picking out a cool sweatshirt, of course), what else is there to do?

Take it easy, champ. Before you submit all your enrollment paperwork and deck yourself out in your new school colors, you should probably figure out where you’re going to live for the next four years. Some colleges guarantee on-campus housing for all students, and some require it. Either way, you need to know what’s being promised. And when it comes to your quality of life, there’s no time to waste. To help you keep up, we’ve brought you this guide for students transitioning to university life, focusing specifically on the complexities of student housing.

Together, we'll understand what you need to do next to ensure your first big decisions after committing go smoothly. With these key pieces locked in place, you can enjoy your summer fully knowing you’re ready to hit the ground running when you arrive on campus in the fall.

First of all, let us say: congratulations. You’ve already done a lot of hard work to this point in the process, and you deserve a moment to bask in the glory. A college acceptance is nothing to sneeze at. You did that!  

And second, you don’t need to figure everything out all at once. In fact, you can really only figure out your one year of housing at a time anyway. So let’s focus on what you need to do next to secure your future right now.

1. Review your acceptance offer and enrollment paperwork. Really read the fine print and check your college portal for any other important documents, like your financial aid offer. The details (and deadlines) matter. You might have next steps to complete right away, or other documentation required. Follow directions carefully.
2. If you haven’t already seen the school firsthand, take a second to look at whether you can manage a visit. Review your calendar for the spring and summer again. Figure out if there’s any chance to see the campus in-person before you decide where to live (or at least, before you move in for good).
3. After gathering as much information as possible, decide on housing options (on-campus dormitories, on-campus house, or off-campus apartment, etc). To finalize your choice, you’ll probably need to submit a deposit for housing, if through the campus, and/or roommate application. (More on that later.)

This decision depends on your college (and whether on-campus housing is guaranteed or a lottery), your budget (and how much dormitories versus off-campus housing would cost), and plenty of other factors (like whether you’re a first-year student or transfer), but ultimately, it all comes down to individual preference. Off-campus housing isn’t always cheaper, when you factor in utilities, transportation, food, and furniture.

While we can’t make the decision for you, we can help you make a more informed choice. So, from people who have lived in both dorms and apartments, what are the pros and cons of these living options?

• Unmatched convenience. Living on campus makes getting to class incredibly fast. You also have campus security, which can help set the family’s mind at ease when a student is living alone for the first time. 
• No car needed. Because almost everything you will need is within walking or biking distance, on-campus living is an excellent option for students who do not bring a vehicle to school.
• Dining simplicity. Many on-campus housing options include a meal plan in the overall price, taking the stress out of figuring out what to eat.
• Easier to make friends. Because you’re all living in the same place, you naturally strike up conversations and bonds with people living with you. Not to mention, you’ll face similar challenges (like freshman classes) and bond over the student struggle.
• Personal growth. Living with someone you don't know can be a life-changing experience that introduces you to different backgrounds and prepares you to work with different types of people.

• Lack of privacy and personal space. In a traditional dorm room, your personal space can feel almost nonexistent. Even if you upgrade to a suite or apartment-style dorm where you have your own bedroom, you will still have roommates and potentially noisy neighbors to deal with while studying.
• High costs. Depending on the area, campus housing can be pricey. Traditional dorm rooms are usually the most affordable, but as a general rule, the more space and amenities you want (such as kitchens and private bathrooms), the more you will pay.
• Dealing with illness. Getting sick in a traditional dorm setting can be miserable. Not to mention, if any shared living space tends to be a hotbed for shared germs.
• Availability challenges. The type of room you want is not guaranteed. Suite and apartment-style dorms are much harder to get than traditional rooms, especially for underclassmen, making it highly competitive and requiring you to register as early as possible.
• Chores and maintenance. You will be expected to keep your room habitable, which means taking out the trash regularly, doing your own laundry, and keeping shared common areas clean. Even in suite-style dorms, you should not expect the college to hire someone to clean your bathroom for you.

While there is a learning curve to sharing a space, living on campus can be a highly convenient and fun experience as long as you know what to expect beforehand. Not to mention, college housing can be a great middle step between living at home with your family and cosigning a lease with a roommate in the future. For many young adults, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet new people in a completely different environment.

So why would you look elsewhere?

• Independence. Choosing your own housing arrangements in an urban area is a great skill. Accomplishing this task can give college students at the beginning of their career journey a greater sense of autonomy and self-reliance as a young adult.
• Privacy. Living in an apartment or house in a neighborhood (as opposed to on campus) likely gives you more freedom and enhanced personal space.
• Creative expression. Whether you rent a whole flat or a room in a shared apartment, you’ll likely have access to kitchen facilities or even a garden area where you can channel your creativity and customize your space.
• Peace and quiet. Often, living off-campus means you have a chance at a slightly more tranquil environment and/or the selection of fewer, highly-compatible roommate(s) you click with, which means relaxation and comfort.
• Potential for savings (or shared/reduced expenses). It’s not a guarantee, but you may be able to save money by seeking out your own arrangements as opposed to signing on to the standard student living package.

• Less social traffic. Away from the student-focused environment of your college campus, there will be less spontaneous social interaction facilitated for you. It’s on you to branch out and make new friends.
• Increased obligations and liabilities as a tenant. As a renter, you don’t get special leniency for being a student. You’ll be on the hook for any property damage and other potential terms in your lease contract.
• Higher degree of personal responsibility for daily needs (e.g. meal preparation). If you’re not ready to move away from the cafeteria and all-night vending machines, consider how living alone might impact you.
• A longer distance from campus necessitates a commute. Whether your college town has great public transportation or you’re able to walk or bike, consider how you’ll get from your housing to school and back. If you need a car, factor that into your budget as well.
• Potential for high costs associated with utilities or parking. Things like electricity, water, wifi, trash pickup, and even laundry can all cost you. Alone, each bill won’t break you, but when it all adds up, your “monthly rent” might be much higher than you originally expected. 

• If your priority is social life and convenience, live on campus.
• If your priority is privacy and independence, consider off-campus living.
• If your priority is saving money, then make sure you compare total costs (not just rent).

Most first-year students benefit from living on campus for at least one year. It simplifies your transition and reduces logistical stress when moving to a new city.

If you do sign up for collective student housing, there are a few primary ways that colleges match first-year roommates: through lifestyle questionnaires, student choice, or random assignment (or a mixture of these methods).

Most colleges rely on a student-submitted lifestyle questionnaire. This form helps student life staff pair you with a compatible roommate by asking about your personality (such as whether you are an introvert or an extrovert), your sleeping habits, cleanliness preferences, study habits, and things like that.

However, there are several exceptions and alternative methods that colleges use.

• Student choice: Many colleges give you the option to pick your own roommate. You can choose to live with someone you already know, or you can find a roommate through social media and dedicated websites. Just remember that choosing roommates based on social media alone is risky! Prioritize compatibility in habits over shared interests.
• Random assignment: Some institutions choose to assign freshmen to their roommates completely randomly.
• Living learning communities: Some schools offer specialized housing where you can choose to live with people who share your major or take the same classes as you.
• Mixed methods (a little bit of everything): A college may use a combination of these approaches, such as allowing students who select each other to pair up, while assigning the rest of the incoming class based on their housing questionnaire responses.

If you’ve never lived with a roommate (or only your family members), then this will be new territory for you. Let’s review shared living space 101.

Be upfront and honest. Often, it’s better to start out with a frank discussion about your lifestyles and expectations, as opposed to waiting for trouble to start. If your Resident Assistant (RA) doesn’t facilitate roommate agreements, consider grabbing a simple resource to copy and go over together in the first week.

Proactive is better than passive. Communication about your feelings and preferences is always better than expecting other people to read your mind (and vice versa). Head off confrontation — or handle it, like mature adults — by keeping the air clear.

Keep an open mind. Everyone makes mistakes sometimes. This isn’t about being perfect, it’s about being conscientious and considerate, and not dwelling too much on the bad. 

You don’t need to panic, but you do need to act. Housing is often first-come, first-served when it comes to assignment of rooms. Delaying your application can limit your options significantly. If you’re already hitting a wall this semester and looking for a spring rescue, consider working with a college counselor during your transition to college life. Our expert team has also been in your shoes, and navigated their own educational journey once, too. Empowerly is here to help your high school and college students land on their feet and build their best futures, in college and beyond.

For a firsthand account of what this looks like, hear from a happy Empowerly student who will be attending Duke in the fall:

To learn more about what your custom counseling services would entail, book a free consultation today. We’re ready to put your mind to rest!