<p>How hard is it to get on-campus housing at Penn State Main Campus after your freshman year? I heard it's not easy. Is this true? Any ways to increase your chances of staying on campus?</p>
<p>You're only guaranteed housing your freshman year, so you're right, very difficult. The best way to get housing from then onwards is to submit your information as soon as it becomes available. The minute they put out dorm stuff, put your name in.</p>
<p>You can get housing on campus after your first year if you really want it. The best way I know of to do it is to request to live in Honors Housing (either Atherton or Simmons) which is always at least 30% non-honors students. If that doesn't happen, try and join another type of special interest housing -- either way, current residents in special interest housing are at an advantage when it's time to renew contracts.</p>
<p>If all else fails, you have to enter the housing lottery. It doesn't matter when you submit your application for housing in sophmore, junior, or senior year, so long as you submit it before the deadline. Even then, if you don't get a contract, there will be people who were awarded contracts who won't want them because they've decided to live off campus.</p>
<p>Ultimately, if for some reason nothing works out, there are a lot of living options available in State College that are superior to the dorms in some respects.</p>