<p>I've been admitted to about half of my schools so far (haven't heard back from the rest yet). </p>
<p>No matter which school I end up at, I want to get a good dorm. Is it okay to send in your housing preferences if you're not sure about attending yet? Or are you supposed to wait until you make your final decision? </p>
<p>I've gotten mixed answers on this.</p>
<p>im not sure, but i think read on another thread that as long as you dont COMMIT to the school, it's okay to reserve your housing.</p>
<p>Yes, it's usually fine to reserve housing. Generally, you'll have to put down a deposit. You risk losing the deposit if you decide not to attend, but that's what the deposit is for (to deter people from just reserving a room everywhere without thinking about it). As long as you can afford to lose the deposit, go ahead and reserve the dorm you want at the school you like best among those you've gotten into (and congratulations!).</p>
<p>i agree with everything posted thus far. last year i reserved housing at my top 2 schools and then waited until may to decide based on scholarships and stuff. in the end, i think i lost $75 for withdrawing my reservation, but having a great dorm at the school i chose was totally worth it.</p>
<p>you could also check on your schools' residential life websites, as your guidance counselor, or send an e-mail to reslife or an admissions rep. just be honest and say that you haven't fully made up your mind but would like to get a good dorm and ask whether or not you can send in a deposit to reserve your housing. i personally know my big state u's director of reslife and he gets questions like this all the time and is not put off by them at all. in fact, he likes students that ask questions and enjoys answering them! </p>
<p>again, congratulations.</p>
<p>Ironically, while my son lost out on a top dorm space because he decided to attend so late, he actually ended up in a great room. It's less desirable because it's further from campus, but it's huge and there are two large rooms and a full kitchen for just two kids. He's thinking he'll probably ask for something similar for next year. </p>
<p>Anyway, I'd go ahead and send in one or two deposits if there's clearly better housing.</p>
<p>And sometimes it doesn't matter. My son waited until the May 1 date to commit and send in housing deposit and he got the best freshman dorm. I think the housing crunch at each school makes a big difference on how important it is to put the deposit in early. </p>
<p>Read the information carefully to make sure the schools don't count the housing deposit as a committment to attend AND look for the date to get your deposit back without penalty. I remember most schools gave you most of it back if you told them you changed your mind before a certain date.</p>
<p>It depends entirely on the college. Two of the colleges to which my daughter has been admitted require you to accept and send in an admissions deposit (refundable until May 1) before they even will let you sign up for housing (and pay the housing deposit). Another one actually let her sign up for housing (and put down a non-refundable $50 housing deposit), a year before she even applied to the college. Her fifth college will let you sign up for housing after being admitted without you accepting first, but requires a very large housing deposit ($350) and only half of it is refundable.</p>
<p>Make sure to read the paperwork carefully. Some colleges fold the housing contract/deposit into the Intent to Enroll contract. Sending in an Intent to Enroll contract and deposit means you are agreeing to attend that college, and some colleges get upset if they find out you have agreed to attend to more than one college at the same time. So, it is wise, if you are talking about an Intent to Enroll form and deposit that also holds housing, to withdraw it before sending another elsewhere.</p>