I just received my housing contract…The thing that is puzzling me is that some residential halls have ac while others dont. Do they charge the same for ac and non-ac residential halls…? And where do the students have their lunch and dinner…?? Is it somewhere inside the halls or does one hav to go outside in a restaurant…I hav applied to Houston House (with Engineering Learning Community), Taylor, Jones, and Lincoln. Does the fact that I was accepted into the Engineering Honors program increase my chances of getting one of these houses…??? Thanks for any advice…
A learning community you live with them, so you are guaranteed to live with them if you turn your contract in on time. When did you send in your acceptance fee/when did you get you housing contract?
not having AC isn’t as bad as you’d expect. Lunch and Dinner is just whenever you want in the dining halls, usually a short walk over to whatever place you want to go to… They’ll likely put you in Houston or Taylor.
@Futurebuckeye8 : I sent in my acceptance fee mid-March. I got the housing contract three days ago, which I completed yesterday and paid the space reservation fee too…
@kdiddy34 : really…?? having lived in Singapore for most of my life, I am too aware that a non-AC room can become a serious irritant, especially if you are sweating coming home after playing, or if it is seriously hot…
@Adwaya Yes but you are going to be residing in Columbus, Ohio, not Singapore. Temperatures almost never really become “seriously hot”. In general temperatures are much more milder here and you shouldn’t have too much of a problem. Shouldn’t be too bad
@kdiddy34 : So is there any way too cool off ,…like fans…???
My son is looking at dorms now, since he was just accepted into OSU as an engineering major. We are still waiting to hear about Honors and an any scholarships. He wants to live in the Houston House engineering dorm. Any advice on getting into this dorm and room and roommate selections? Does anyone currently live in the Houston House?
IF you are in a learning community or a Scholars program, you SHOULD live with the others in your community/program. It’s never a guarantee, and is based mostly on availability and when you turn your housing contract in. Your best bet is to return the housing contract with your deposit as soon as you get it and cross your fingers. Housing is a very difficult puzzle to put together, and there are no guarantees, especially for newer dorms. It has been the case that you’re guaranteed in an if/when scenario, but with 2017 being the first year of the 2 year on campus requirement, there are probably not many guarantees, only luck of the draw anymore. HTH
- My most important piece of advice to everyone is that you should turn in your housing contract and pay the fee IMMEDIATELY!!! The earlier you turn it in, the more likely you'll get into a dorm you want. You can change your preferences, add a roommate, etc. up until the deadline, don't let that slow up the process. Submit and pay NOW!
- If you're waiting to hear from a honors/scholars program, just put down that dorm as your #1 choice. If you get in, they'll automatically put you in that dorm.
- Regarding finding a roommate, wait for the scholars/honors selections. Once you get in, hopefully the honors/scholars program will start a Facebook page so you can post a bio about yourself to find a roommate.
- For those not applying to honors/scholars, there should be an Ohio State Class of 2021 Facebook page where students can post their bio to find a roommate. Also keep in mind that plenty of kids go "random" as well and have terrific experiences.
- Regarding air conditioning, it's 84 degrees average in August. I think a/c is highly desirable. The housing costs are here: https://housing.osu.edu/living-on-campus/fees-contracts-policies/standard-housing-rates/
- Regarding dining - just Google "College Confidential Ohio State" and "dining plan" or "meal plan". In the cheapest plan, you have to eat at Traditions locations only, there are only a few. With the other dining plans, you can eat at any of the campus eateries. The closest dining hall is a few blocks away from my D's dorm - almost none of the cafes/cafeterias are connected to a dorm - you'll have to go outside to get there.
@momfactfinder if I’m fine with south or west but don’t want north, do you think I will be okay if I wait to place my deposit?
@soyunchico - it’s not just about whether you’re in north, south or west campus. As long as you’re also okay with possibly ending up in a quad with 2 bunk beds in one room and no a/c, then sure, you can wait to submit your deposit. But as a general rule - for almost all universities - you want to get your housing contract and fee submitted ASAP. My D’s friend submitted her OSU contract close to the deadline, and she ended up on west campus in a 4-to-a-suite, 4 suite cluster.
@momfactfinder I’m don’t mean waiting till May 1, I mean waiting till maybe next week.
No one has gotten housing contract yet, have they? I didn’t think those came out until March. My son did accept the OSU admission and pay that fee. Is that all we can do right now to be at the front of the housing contract line?
@Mombean yeah they don’t come out for a while but you recieve it in the order you pay your acceptance fee.
@soyunchico Thanks, that’s what I thought but it’s nice to have it confirmed.
@mombean - I didn’t notice that you picked up an old thread with your housing question. Now that I think about it, my D’s housing contract did come out later much than December last year (late winter/spring).