How does the housing application work?

@osujoseph
I think I still have to wait awhile since I paid mine on Mar 8

We got the housing email, went in and completed each section and it is saying that it is “incomplete” and certain sections aren’t complete. When we go back to each section it is totally done so unsure if this is I haa glitch or not. We have to print the application and I have to sign it as a parent and mail it in because my son isn’t 18 yet. I’m going to call tomorrow to see what the deal is with the online issue.

If I recall correctly, I don’t think it registers complete until they receive your signed page and your $350 housing check- (it was 350 last year I think). Good idea to call to be sure though.

I paid my acceptance fee on 11/22. I emailed them a couple days ago asking 1) Why did I have to mail in my contract? 2) My brother is a current OSU sophomore and remembers the housing contract being a lot more in detail, as to give you a roommate that would be more like you/your needs. I asked why those questions were not on there and why it keeps saying I have some things not completed when I know I do?

They responded with this:
You are currently under the age of 18 and since you started the contract before you are 18 you will need to do the print and mail option and have a parent or guardian sign and date and return the signature page with proper payment. Once we receive them we will mark the contract complete and send a confirmation email. Going forward when you do future contract processes you would have the option to complete them online once you turn 18.

We no longer ask all of the lifestyle questions we have asked in the past so the ones that were part of the contract process are the ones we use to help match roommates. We have also removed the current interests and hobbies question from the housing contract. These may still appear on the review selections page as some edits to the display of that page are not able to be modified at this time.

I hope this helps some of you! It cleared things up with me, at least.

We just completed my DS’ contract and I have to say I found some of it to be confusing. The part about room type for example allowed for single room, 2 person room, 2 person super double, 3 person room, 4 person room and I think one more that I can’t remember. But it wasn’t very clear if 4 person room was 4 people in one room (meaning 2 sets of bunked beds in one room) vs. 4 people in a 2 room suite. I also didn’t expect to need to know all of his vaccination dates so we filled that out saying that he will get all of his vaccinations before he attends even though I do know he’s already had them just to be able to finish and submit the form.

I was also surprised that there were very few lifestyle type questions - basically do you smoke, might you drink, how frequently do you expect to have overnight guests, are you an early bird or a night owl and would you be excited to have a roommate from a different country. But from post #23 it sounds like that was changed recently.

If you fill out the housing contract and do not attend, are you still legally bound to pay the annual rent/housing costs? While my son has paid his acceptance fee and signed up for orientation, we are not visiting campus until the beginning of April. He hasn’t seen Ohio State yet and doesn’t feel he can fully commit until then.

Also–what if you don’t know you scholars assignment when you receive your housing contract?
He had to sign up for three to submit the scholars application, even though he was only interested in a couple of them.
Therefore, we don’t know if he will accept his scholars placement.

@kooth12 I am also confused about Scholars… my top three choices are all in Smith-Steeb, and I thought Scholars students really had no choice in what building they were in, it depends on our placement. Plus we don’t have our placement yet, so we can’t find roommates. Is anyone else confused about this, in Scholars?

Yeah im also confused about this because I want to room with a friend who is not in scholars.

@Icefire111 If I am reading the scholars section of the website correctly, I don’t think you can room with anyone outside of your scholars program.

Contacted Scholars and inquired about program placement. They said they would not notify until early April. Also contacted housing and they said that they prefer to have responses within three weeks. Think the two groups should work together better–especially snce we submitted by deadline in February–yet they kept extending offers well after that. Don’t understand why they don’t notify on a rolling basis. My son has no problem moving on if there is not a good match.

@kooth12 - I agree! Housing should also be coordinating better with the admissions office - we were told on 2 campus tours that housing asks a thorough set of questions in its application and does a terrific job matching roommates based on interests. D also received a recruitment call about a month ago from an OSU student who told her the same thing. But it looks like the housing application has dropped most of those questions. D submitted her housing application, will wait until she finds out about Scholars, and then probably use Facebook to find a roommate in the same Scholars program. It looks like roommate requests can be made until June 1.

I finished the housing application but it says that it is still not complete. Will it stay that way until they get the housing deposit?