(This is a draft that may change between now and June 1, 2013)

Room assignments for new students who are subject to the on-campus residency requirement [1] are made using a computer algorithm. This algorithm factors in the housing style and roommate preferences, as well as, the responses to the profile questions. The algorithm does not factor in high school attended, hometown, information from Facebook, or whether or not two students are related (siblings). The applications are processed according to the date the housing agreement terms and conditions were accepted, not the date the deposit was submitted. Additionally, “early action” admitted students are processed before “regular” admitted students.

New students who are subject to the on-campus residency requirement are guaranteed on-campus housing. However, there is no guarantee that specific preferences (building, housing style, roommates, etc.) will be met. Inevitably, the “demand” for some buildings and housing styles will exceed the “supply” of available rooms. The number of “available beds” in a building (supply) may be much less than the building’s total capacity since returning residents selected rooms in these buildings in March. Further, it is possible, that none of the three building preferences or the housing style preferences can be met. If this happens, don’t despair. Students are successful in all of the residential communities and there is no evidence to suggest that living in a particular building or housing style is “better” than another.

Once the “tentative” building assignment is made, it is unlikely that we’ll be able to move students between buildings or housing style. Since the occupancy level is very high, the opportunities for a change are very limited. The tentative building assignment email message will be sent to the applicant’s GU email address (not the parent’s). Access to ZagMail is required to view the message.

The rate assessed to the student’s account depends on the actual building and room type assigned, not the preference. For instance, if an applicant lists a preference for a Catherine/Monica double room, but is assigned to a Dillon double instead, then they  are assessed the higher Dillon Hall rate. The rate may also differ from the amount used to develop the payment plan.

Room assignments for new students not subject to the on-campus residency requirement are also processed according to the date the housing agreement terms and conditions were accepted. Since there are so few room available, assignment is made “by hand” with very limited consideration for housing style, building, or roommate preference.  Regrettably, due to the limited amount of housing for this category of student, on-campus living is not guaranteed.

[1] Students are required to reside on-campus and participate in a meal plan if they will be less than 21 years of age and have less than 4 semesters of on-campus living experience (at GU or other higher ed institution, excluding summer sessions) by the fall semester. If either of these conditions is met, then students are not required to reside on-campus, nor guaranteed on-campus living.