How quickly to apply for housing at RIT?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Rochester Institute of Technology
1

My S just got an offer of admission for Comp Sci at RIT.

The school is suggesting we submit the $300 non refundable admission acceptance deposit quickly in order to secure our place in line for when it comes time to select housing/roommates.

The issue is we haven’t been notified of what our merit aid might be, and I’m reluctant to send in the $300 for a variety of reasons. However, I also don’t want my S to be stuck with a lousy dorm, room or roommate, so I don’t want to wait “too long”.

Who can share info. from experience on around what date I better have submitted my deposit in order to have an early enough place in the housing pecking order to get at least an “average” housing choice? On one hand, between ED and folks who know they only want RIT and/or cost isn’t as big an issue, perhaps they accept admission right away and quickly take all the prime dorms/rooms/room mates? In which case, I should hurry. Or, conversely, perhaps the majority of folks wait until near May 1, in which we case we have loads of time. All input welcome! Thanks.

2

I dislike this policy of pressuring students to make decisions before May 1 with the threat of losing out by being later.

3

My son is an RIT alum (BS in 2013, MS in 2015). He decided on the drive home and we sent in the deposit soon after the accepted student open house weekends, once he made his decision. He applied to the specialty housing. For him it was the House of General Science (HOGS). There is also the House of Computer Science as well as many others. My S was originally against the specialty housing, thinking it was frat-like, until the open house and he went to see it and talked to the people in HOGS. Then he was sold and immediately applied. He lived in HOGS his entire time as an undergrad. One does not need to be in the major to apply to the different specialty housing (for instance a CS major was in HOGS and non-CS people in HoCS). I suspect you’re fine if you submit soon after open house, which is a long time after you find out merit aid.