By Sophia Raspanti
As the 2024-2025 Carolina Housing Application cycle officially begins, you may find yourself looking for answers about the process. How does housing selection work? Why is the process beginning so early in the year? Where should I live? How do I find a roommate?
As a former student, I found myself asking these questions as I began to search for housing for the next academic year. After four years of living on-campus, I found the answers to my burning questions, so I’d love to help answer yours! This year, the team at Carolina Housing aims to answer common student questions to ensure your application journey is as smooth as possible. Through a series of short videos, Steven Wiley, the Director of Administrative Services, explains how the housing application works and answers your top questions.
Process Overview
Don’t know where to start? I recommend starting with our short video aimed at answering your questions about how the housing application works: start to finish. Learn about how the process works, and how to begin your application for on-campus housing.
Why So Early?
One of our top questions from students and parents is why the housing application cycle takes place so early in the academic year. In this short video, Steven Wiley explains why it’s actually beneficial that the process begins early, so that you can explore both on- and off-campus options at the same time.
What is a Roommate Group?
A roommate group consists of 2-8 students who wish to be assigned together. When you are a part of a roommate group, only one student is required to assign housing for the entire group. Therefore, whomever is assigned the earliest time slot can assign the entire group housing, which is typically a great benefit! Remember, even if you are only planning on living with 1 other person, make sure to create a roommate group for you and your potential roommate so that you have the best chances of being assigned together. You can create a roommate group within the priority housing application. Check out this explainer video to learn more!
Residential Learning Programs
Have you heard about Carolina Housing’s Residential Learning Programs? Called RLPs for short, these programs provide a unique opportunity for students of similar interests and backgrounds to form communities around shared passions and identities. For returning students, Pride Place and BLUE are popular RLPs. For incoming transfer students, we recommend considering Transfers United! To learn more about these programs, check out the video below!
What’s a Lottery Pick?
A lottery pick gives you the ability to assign housing for you (and your roommate group!) early in the room selection process, even before the seniors! Carolina housing hosts multiple tabling events throughout the priority housing application period. At these events, you will have the opportunity to submit your name in a drawing for a lottery pick! You can submit your name 1 time per tabling event. Remember, if you or anyone from your roommate group receives a lucky ticket, they can assign the entire group housing! To learn more about tabling dates, check out our socials as well as the Carolina Housing Blog. Check out the video below for more information!
Important Considerations
During the 2024-2025 Housing Application Period, there are some upcoming changes you should know. Avery residence hall will be taken offline next year due to large-scale maintenance projects, which leads to a decrease in about 230 beds for the upcoming year. Students should know that applying within the priority deadline gives you the best chance to receive on-campus housing. If you apply for housing after the priority housing deadline, you will automatically be placed on a housing waitlist, which may lead to a significant decrease in your chance of finding on-campus housing. To learn more about these upcoming changes and what you can do, check out the video below.
Final Thoughts
Carolina Housing hopes that these videos provide you with clarity and transparency on how the housing application cycle works and how you may find a place to live on campus! Remember, the priority housing deadline is November 26th, so get your applications in to live in the center of it all!