Continuing Student Housing Selection Process

Continuing Student Housing Selection Overview

Current Rutgers students re-apply for on-campus housing through an annual housing selection process that allows students to search and select a room or apartment online. During housing selection, students must first apply for a housing selection number. Completion of the initial housing selection application is required for participation in the process to select any housing space on-campus. Obtaining the housing selection number is not binding until you select your space.

Applications for housing are available January 27, 2025 through February 11, 2025. Selection numbers will be sent out on February 12, 2025.

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Housing Selection General Information and Policies

Who May Participate

• Full-time, matriculated students currently attending classes on the New Brunswick campus (living on or off campus)
• Students currently in a Rutgers sponsored study abroad program

How to Obtain a Housing Selection Number

1. All eligible students who wish to live on-campus are required to apply for a housing selection number between Monday, January 27, 2025 and Tuesday, February 11, 2025.
2. All applicants will receive notification of their housing selection number via email on Wednesday, February 12, 2025.
3. Once you receive a housing selection number, please be sure to review the housing selection options to know when to participate in each process:

Types of Housing

• Apartments: Groups of up to 4 interested in single or double bedroom apartments should apply within this process.  ALL campus apartments will be offered in this selection.     
• Suites: Groups of six students interested in a Crosby, Judson, Morrow, Thomas, or Winkler Suite on the Busch Campus should review the application procedures and apply by the deadline.
• Traditional Residence Halls: Individual students or a group of two interested in living in an upper-class residence hall.  Both single and double occupancy rooms will be offered in this process.  Groups of 2 may NOT select single-occupancy rooms.

Special Housing Timelines

You may be a part of a special housing program which is coordinated along with another academic department. Below are some of the other special housing timelines that students may be a part of.

Special Program Housing Timelines

Application	Sign Up Dates	Notification	Selection
Housing Selection	Jan 27 – Feb 11	Feb 12
Rutgers Honors	Jan 27 – Feb 11	Feb 17	Feb 18
DRC - Douglass Residential College	Jan 27 – Feb 11	Feb 19	Feb 20

Applications for housing are available January 27, 2025 through February 11, 2025. Selection numbers will be sent out on February 12, 2025.

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Seniority Explanation

A seniority/reverse seniority system is used within the housing selection process. Each student will receive points based on their class year. Class year will be determined by what is listed via your school affiliation by 11:59 on February 11, 2025. Changes to class year after this date will not be accepted.

1. Eligibility order will be determined first by the total number of points the group has, then the lowest housing selection number within the group.
2. The more total points a group has, the higher they will be on the eligibility list.
3. The point system is reversed for residence halls and suites, making that process “reverse seniority.”
4. Single rooms will use total earned credits to determine eligibility, rather than class year.

• Residence Life guarantees housing to all rising sophomores.
• While Sojourner Truth & Livingston Apartments will be available in the Apartments Selection Process, it is expected that only Juniors & Seniors will be eligible to select spaces there.
• Pharmacy students should subtract two years from the class year, since they are in a six-year program. This will ensure pharmacy students have the proper points. For example, 2028 pharmacy students will actually be counted as having a 2026 class year.

Sign Up for a Housing Option

1. Each housing option process has specific eligibility requirements and deadlines to apply.
2. Complete and submit the required application according to the instructions for the particular housing you prefer.
3. All students in a group will be required to complete an application for each housing option and indicate their requested roommates’ RUID numbers and full names.
4. Once you commit to a space through a housing selection process, you are bound to your housing agreement and cannot participate in any other selection process. Take this into serious consideration before committing as your housing agreement cannot be cancelled unless you are withdrawing from the university.

Notification of Eligibility

1. Once students sign up for a housing option, groups will be notified of their eligibility status on the day specified within the housing selection calendar.
2. If the group is eligible to choose a room during the process, the website will indicate the specific date and time they may log in and choose a room.

Select a Space Online

If deemed eligible to select a space online, one person in the group (or yourself, if in a single) will be required to log into the application website and select a space for the group.

Please note: Only one member of the group is required to log into the system and select a space. All roommates within the group will receive a confirmation email once a space has been selected.

Applications for housing are available January 27, 2025 through February 11, 2025 . Selection numbers will be sent out on February 12, 2025.

Apply

FAQs

What if I miss the housing selection process application deadline? 

Students who do not apply during that time will not be eligible to participate in the housing selection process and must sign up for the Late Housing Selection Process which begins after the final doubles selection, anticipated April 4, 2025.

Will I get a better housing selection number if I apply earlier?

No. The date and time you apply does not affect your housing selection number.

I know seniority points are based on class year; what if my class year changes during the selection process?

If a student’s class year changes, our office will continue to use the original class year as of February 11, 2025 for housing selection purposes.

Why do sophomores receive preference for housing?

Recent studies indicate that students who reside on campus for the first two years of their academic career maintain higher overall GPAs than students who live off campus, higher levels of social support among their student peers, as well as display increased persistence towards graduation. Recognizing these positive effects, Residence Life guarantees housing to all rising sophomores. 

I didn't get my first choice of housing. Now what?

If you are unsuccessful in obtaining your first choice of housing, please review the housing selection calendar to participate in future processes.

Once I choose a space, can I back out? 

No. Once you commit to a space through digital signature, you are bound to your housing agreement and cannot participate in any other selection process. Take this into serious consideration before committing as your housing agreement cannot be cancelled unless you are withdrawing from the university.

I like the space I'm in now; can I have the same space next year?

No. Students may not sign back to their current space.

I want to live in Sojourner Truth or Livingston Apartments; what are my chances of getting either?

While Sojourner Truth & Livingston Apartments will be available in the Apartments Selection Process, it is expected that only Juniors & Seniors will be eligible to select spaces there.

I want a single room; what are my chances of getting one?

Single rooms will use total earned credits to determine eligibility, rather than class year. This means a majority of singles are selected by seniors. This year, single room selection will take place as part of the Residence Hall Selection Process, but still use earned credits to determine eligibility.

What if I'm a part of a special program such as DRC, SAS Honors, Honors, or a Living-Learning Community?

Special programs will be assigned in separate processes which will be specifically outlined by the community coordinators.

I currently live off-campus but would like to live on-campus next year. Can I still apply?

Yes. Students currently living off campus can take part in the housing selection process. 

What if I need to request medical accommodations?

Students can review the information at https://ruoncampus.rutgers.edu/housing-info/special-accommodations