<p>Ds is in at his in-state public safety and is awaiting word from his no. 1 choice on Dec. 1. If that doesn't pan out, he'll be applying to several other schools.</p>
<p>My question is, does he need to do something at the safety school? Is it too early to put in a housing deposit to guarantee a space in the honors dorm in case that's where he ends up? Are there other things he should be working on? He's send in one other priority app and will send in two more next week, while awaiting the Dec. 1 decision. TIA.</p>
<p>Is the housing deposit refundable until X date? If it is, and it’s relatively modest (as they usually are), then why not send it in? If it isn’t, it’s hard to believe he will be shut out of the honors dorm before December 1. But you should ask current students there, or the housing office, to make sure. If he doesn’t have a clearly superior option by early December, it will probably make sense to put the housing deposit down then if he hasn’t done it previously.</p>
<p>If the school makes the date of deposit the priority date for residence halls, I’d deposit. (In my experience, they’re always refundable, minus a small fee, if you request it back before May 1st.) This way, if your child ends up going to that school, he/she will most likely live where he/she wants.</p>
<p>IF, the residence hall priority date is based on date of application (which is the case at some schools) then there’s no real need to deposit until your child makes a decision - unless something else important hinges on date of deposit.</p>
<p>Go to housing website (or call the housing office) and ask…</p>
<p>1) are housing deposits refundable?</p>
<p>2) Is there priority for housing choice based on date of housing deposit?</p>
<p>3) do you guarantee housing for freshmen.</p>
<p>Obviously if the first 2 answers are yes, do it. Especially, if there are some dorms that are more desirable than others. A school may “guarantee” housing, but in what (crappy) dorm? LOL</p>
<p>BTW…congrats on his acceptance. You know what!!! Your kid is going to college!!! (isn’t it great to have at least one acceptance in hand so early? I love rolling admissions).</p>
<p>My D is in this exact situation (safety in hand, now…the wait). But her school was very clear about what to due. Deadlines, what to send when. And they HIGHLY suggest that she applies for housing now. They even said “even if you’re not sure you’re attending School X”. Our school’s housing deposit is very small, and you don’t have to “accept” the admittance offer yet. Try posting this on the thread for the school in question. You’ll probably get more knowledgeable answers there.</p>