My son has applied to 3 schools (Texas Tech, UT Austin, and TAMU). While we are waiting for admissions and merit award decisions, should I have him apply for housing at each school now or wait to apply once admissions decisions come in? The cost to apply for housing is $50 non-refundable per school. Benefit of applying for housing now is that if he gets accepted, there will be a greater chance of him getting into his first choice dorm per school, the down side is that I will be paying $50 bucks to two schools that he will not be going to. What have other parents done in similar situations? Suck it up and pay $, or wait until admissions decisions come in (expected by March 1)?
We sucked it up and paid it. If he had applied to ten schools it might have been different but three was manageable for us.
At UT, freshmen are not guaranteed on campus rooms. Not sure about A&M and Tech but the downside at UT includes not getting a dorm at all.
Definitely apply at all 3. 150$ in the grand scheme is pretty small. I know UT Austin does not guarantee housing for freshmen. If your son wants on campus housing, apply ASAP
Thanks for the replies. I went and looked up more info at each school and Tech and TAMU open up housing reservations after acceptance, while UT Austin opens housing reservations after acceptance submission!
Just to make sure we are saying the same thing- with UT you can pay the initial $50 when you apply. You don’t have to wait until you are accepted. I think that is what you meant, but just to be sure.
Will your a son be a auto admit or will he have to be reviewed for admission. Typically applying for housing is the very next step after being offered admissions.
Yes, he is review admission for UT Austin and TAMU. @gettingschooled that is what i meant, UT Austin a student can appply for housing once the application is in.