So 2 colleges my daughter applied to are Univ of Texas-Austin and Univ of Florida. Both say you should begin get housing application process now, long before we will hear our admission decision. We got scared and paid the $25 for UF, but UT’s fee is actually $50. I don’t know what other schools have non-guaranteed housing for 1st years, b ut is this really something we should be shelling out money for now?
We did a housing deposit at one school like this to get our kid in the queue for a more preferred housing choice. She didn’t choose that college, and our deposit was refunded to us. So…check and see. But ours was after acceptance. They wouldn’t accept deposits before acceptance.
Otherwise, if the two schools are really places being considered, then it might be worth it to be safe rather than sorry.
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Sadly this seems to be a trend. I agree with thumper that if these schools are contenders, I would deposit. Especially at UT Austin where housing costs are high.
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so annoying and greedy.
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Not guaranteeing housing for first years does seem to be a (worrying) growing trend. That is certainly enough for some students to not apply at all.
UT Austin and UF housing deposits are non-refundable should a student not be accepted. It would be interesting to know exactly how many first years historically don’t get on-campus housing.
https://admissions.utexas.edu/apply/housing#fndtn-t50-fee-non-refundable-
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It is probably the norm among US colleges and universities, most of which serve mostly local commuters. Indeed, among some of these schools, there may be an opposite trend in guaranteeing (or even requiring) on-campus housing for non-local students.
But those schools are not the ones these forums focus on. Perhaps, among those these forums focus on, those which are rapidly expanding enrollment faster than housing can be built are most likely to have this issue.
Most people don’t have the expectation that their local community college provide on-campus housing.
And likewise, for 4-year schools with a high proportion of commuters, it tends not to be a high priority for many students that they are offered on-campus housing. On-campus housing is a relatively higher priority for students looking for a traditional on-campus 4-year experience.
Yes, some 4-year commuter schools are trying to get more students on campus…because that creates a better community, and schools and students recognize this. Unfortunately, the downsides are the money required to build dorms, the necessary community approvals to approve the new buildings, and the fact that living on-campus raises costs for many students. UIC is an example of a college that has the strategy of building dorms to get more students on-campus.
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@billythegoldfish if you think she has a shot at getting into UT, pay the deposit. A&M deposit is $75 non-refundable. Our friends all pay the UT deposit immediately, and those that want SRD (Scottish Rite dorm) put their name/paid deposit back when the girls were in junior high or high school. Not kidding.
For schools like U Texas and U Florida, which are popular for out of state students, it’s a little frightening to not have a guarantee of housing your 1st year. these are not commuter schools.
It seems we have no choice but to pay the housing application fees now so we don’t miss out. Both schools are important to my daughter’s list (if she doesn’t get into her ED school, which she expects to be the case). I just wonder if it’s a total scam.
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I don’t think it’s a scam, I think it’s a reality of some schools not having enough housing. (And not being able to build new dorms fast enough or being land locked). In our experiences, schools were upfront about that information so it wasn’t something they sprang on applicants after the fact.
If guaranteed housing is an important criteria, there are still plenty of schools that require students to live in dorms, and housing deposits aren’t due until after acceptances/matriculations.
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This isn’t anything new. Back in the stone ages, my big state flagship didn’t guarantee, housing for all incoming freshmen. They prioritized instate students. Some OOS students got campus housing, but not all that wanted it.
People also complain the other way that campus housing is required for anywhere from one to four years. What people want is the guarantee but not the requirement. That puts all the risk on the college.
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@JoeCollege, I don’t know if those schools are similar to our state schools, regarding how they are funded, but if University of Texas and University of Florida are state-funded schools then they have to wait for legislative approved dollars, from their State, to build or upgrade dorms.
We have that problem with the UC’s and California State University schools. At our local UC, they are constantly trying to build or upgrade dorms to try to keep up with the demand, but the price of land here is outrageous, so they have to wait for the dollars to come from Sacramento.
These public schools have massive numbers of hopeful applicants, much more so than when I attended, so it has changed dramatically for aging housing.
We paid UF, UGA, and FSU.
In light of the admissions cost, tuition costs and the like, it was a small amount.
That said, I was in a financial position to afford it whereas not everyone is - but it’s almost a must…a cost of participation because even if housing was guaranteed (vs. the title here not), you still want an early # so you can get the best that’s being offered. So in that regard I’d recommend paying the fees, housing guarantee or not, at any school that wants it up front - if it impacts your pecking order in line.
In many ways, I wish I could steer my kids to a 3-4 year housing required school. We look at admissions - but don’t think of over the four years - and housing is a hassle for sure in subsequent years.
The fairest schools don’t do this til you are admitted - but all aren’t fair.
Good luck.
I thought it was weird that students paid housing deposit for UGA in late November after EA acceptance. Paying with the application is odd.
D21 applied to FSU and that was the recommendation there. I believe they refund 75% of the housing deposit if you don’t go (but I think you have to show proof of enrollment elsewhere). It wasn’t high on my D’s list, so we didn’t deposit. In the case of FSU, I read numerous accounts from current students who said it was definitely possible to get on campus housing without depositing and joining the queue, but it might come at the last minute when those who deposited and went elsewhere, dropped out of line, and one couldn’t be picky.
D21’s university (large, public) only guarantees on campus housing for freshmen (exceptions are Greek houses, 2-year LLC’s and RA’s). This results in what some parents think are predatory practices by student apartment complexes in the area who know that roughly 6,000 rising sophomores will be scrambling to look for housing (in addition to the current off-campus student population). My older D attended another large university where being able to stay on campus after freshman year was not an issue, yet her off campus rents were similarly priced to what we’re seeing at D21’s school, so I don’t know if it’s actually “predatory” in that sense.
Supposedly, there are plans for an all-new residential area of campus, which will expand on campus housing options for upperclassmen/women. Not sure we’ll see it within my D’s 4 years there.
As others have said, I think it’s becoming more and more common at the large, popular universities.
Housing around campus may be high, but it is less predatory than the food cost that you have to take at many colleges. Even with paying for 12 months of rent, the overall R&B cost for my DS has gone down because of food cost.
I didn’t bring up predatory pricing - that’s supply and demand. I’m paying like $1100 for 1/4 of a 4 bedroom apartment - but I knew that going in (that the city is pricy). There is cheaper but only the closest for my female student.
I said hassle - such as - it’s September, you already need to sign next year’s lease and you’re a freshman and don’t know anyone. Or you want a 4 BR but there’s only three of you. Or someone flakes last minute.
Then you get a bad roomie (but had no way to know at the time one month into school for next year). Or your kid can’t find a roomie and is scrambling or whatever. It’d be nice if it was 3 or 4 years required and you didn’t have to go through the entire - check this place out or ask that person to room or all that stuff. It would just flow much easier. The apartments are no different than the schools that “promote” ED for admissions - they hammer you on get it done now!! I think we signed last Sept or October. And next year my daughter may be in DC for a semester (it’s an application not an auto) and will be abroad. So we may need housing for one semester and then it’s sign a year and sublet or just sublet or go greek. It’s all a hassle and while my daughter would never change her decision, I wonder as a parent if that should be looked at in advance (now that I realize) and maybe choose a school with a more organized residential system.
I actually got my kid a meal plan. She complained how embarrassing it is for a 2nd year to eat in the dining hall and blah blah - but I knew she wouldn’t have time to cook or access to shopping - and she’s used it - and thanked us. We didn’t get our money’s worth but it’s been a good thing.
I would prefer my student live on campus - forgetting it is cheaper in Charleston - it’s more convenient to me.
That was my reference to hassle - but yes others discussed predatory pricing. To me, that’s supply and demand - so I don’t see it as predatory but I do see it favoring the wealthy.
On the other hand, my son has lived in the same 3 BR apartment for three years - same room and everything. Each year has had two new roommates from random - but he would never leave his room which he feels is the best location. As his roommates have moved on, he’s stayed and didn’t even attempt to bring others in. So he’s sort of been easier because it was just a one time thing.
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