When to sign up for Bama Bound? Do I have to wait until I get my room assignment?

gearsstudio · April 11, 2016, 1:31am

I’m really confused about Orientation and housing and would really appreciate some guidance.
I sent my housing application in March, and thus expect to receive my room assignment in May. I’m an honors student, and thus plan on attending the July 18 – 19 session. Are housing and Bama bound related? When signing up for Bama Bound, we’re supposed to choose when we do housing check-in and check-out. What exactly is housing check in?

Also, I won’t be able to choose what dorm building (Ridgcrest, Presidential, etc) I will stay in, can I?

beth_s_mom · April 11, 2016, 2:07am

Are they talking about housing check-in and check-out for Bama Bound? In other words, when you would be arriving and departing from Bama Bound (assuming that you will be staying in the dorms for Bama Bound). That would be unrelated to your regular housing. You don’t need to have received a housing assignment to sign up for Bama Bound - they’re not related.

gearsstudio · April 11, 2016, 2:32am

That was helpful, thank you for replying. So when I sign up for Bama bound, I can expect to receive a random dorm room to stay in for two days?

beth_s_mom · April 11, 2016, 1:54pm

Most students stay in the dorms for Bama Bound. Students stayed in Ridgecrest South, North Tower when my daughter went to BB (four years ago). For the two day BB, some stay one night, others stay the night before the first BB day as well. You are assigned a room when you check in (so if you want to be with certain other students, check in together). It’s been a while since my D attended Bama Bound, but I believe they ask you when you sign up whether you’ll be staying in the dorm and when you’ll be arriving.

robotbldmom · April 12, 2016, 2:35pm

Actually, if I recall correctly, your room and roommates will be randomly assigned based upon your check-in time for Bama Bound. If you want to room with anyone in particular for Bama Bound, you would need to check in at the same time. I also remember Ridgecrest South as being the assigned building for Bama Bound.

I don’t think this has changed but "newer"parents, please chime in if things are different now.

Please note that your Housing Assignment has nothing to do with your Bama Bound Registration.

If you signed up for housing after the Housing Deadline, then you will be assigned a room randomly, but I don’t see why you couldn’t email Housing to request a preference (can’t hurt) or just to ask questions. Especially, if you have a monetary concern and need a less expensive housing option. UA Housing has always been helpful.

There are some NEW Freshman Living & Learning Communities where you can choose to live. These communities are assigned to specific residential dorms. You need to make an application and be admitted to the community, then you will be assigned housing based on that.

****If you are wondering what a Living & Learning community is…I copied this from UA’s website:

What is a living-learning community?
Living-learning communities connect a student’s academic interests with his/her living environment, providing a supportive environment in which residents have a shared college, major, or academic program. There are many different living-learning communities at UA, with varying requirements for admission and different expectations for participants. Please note, participants in some living-learning communities will be assigned by the HRC assignments staff and require application to, and acceptance by, the program before assignment can be made.

Some of these are new for 2016/2017

*There are Academic Communities such as Blount,see list here:

http://housing.ua.edu/new_students/living_learning_halls.cfm

*There are themed communities such as German House, see list

http://housing.ua.edu/new_students/themed_housing.cfm

There is a form which must be used to indicate interest and preference for this type of housing. find the application here:

https://universityofalabama.az1.■■■■■■■■■■■■■/SE/?SID=SV_2tTkaoJNqGs0CGx&Q_JFE=0

in addition other communities such as Blount have their own application and deadline.

If you want a particular roommate, you would also need to have pre-arranged this with other student(s), and they would need to have filled out interest form/application.

*Blount Application
Currently Open for fall 2016 find application here:

http://blount.as.ua.edu/apply/

*Civil Discourse Debate & Dialogue
Find application here: