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Housing Timeline
Housing Timeline By CollegiateParent
Your student is all moved in so housing is off your to-do list for a while, right? Wrong! Housing season starts earlier than you might think. If you don’t want your student scrambling at the last minute or discovering that all the desirable housing (and roommates) are taken, share this timeline and check in periodically about their progress.
Right Now
Look at the university’s housing website to find out when applications are due for returning students. Even if your student doesn’t plan to live on campus, this is a good end date for having a plan in place. On-campus housing applications are due: . Have your student ask an upperclassman when apartments start to fill up (try their RA or a Teaching Assistant from one of their classes). This varies by area, so the inside scoop is valuable. Don’t be surprised if it is early! Off-campus housing tends to fill up by: .
By Mid-Term
Now’s the time to start talking to potential roommates if they haven’t already. Your student should have a good idea what types of housing are available, and in some rental markets should already have started looking for a place.
Thanksgiving Break
If your student wants to live on campus: Encourage them to check out the different residence halls and on-campus apartments. If your student wants to live off campus: Rental search time! Start by deciding on a budget for next year’s housing (we have a helpful worksheet: bit.ly/cp-budget). Browse apartment websites with your student (their university may have a search portal) and point out the features that they may not have top of mind, but you know are important. They can also be talking to upper-level students about which neighborhoods and buildings are desirable and which they should avoid.
Winter Break
Your student should know where they want to live, and in some areas should be ready to sign a lease (review the lease with them). Check out our glossary of lease terms and our propertyviewing checklist (bit.ly/property-viewing).
Spring
It’s time to complete the housing process with the university or sign a lease. Encourage your student to make a plan for moving and/or storing their belongings.
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3180 Sterling Circle, Ste 200 Boulder, CO 80301 Main: (866) 721-1357 CollegiateParent.com Amy Baldwin, Ed.D. is a Senior Lecturer in the Student Transitions department at the University of Central Arkansas and co-author of A High School Parent’s Guide to College Success: 12 Essentials. Amy and her husband are parents of a college graduate and a current student. She blogs at Higher Ed Parent.
Rob Danzman, MS, NCC, LCMHC is a
licensed clinical mental health counselor and Nationally Certified Counselor with a focus on teen and college student anxiety, depression, substance use, and motivation issues. Rob wrote Insider’s Guide to Parenting and contributes to Psychology Today and The Shrink Space. His new book for students is based on the work he does with clients every day — look for Insider's Guide to College: Evidence-Based Tips, Tricks and Strategies to Win the Semester this fall, and visit Motivate Counseling to learn more.
Mindy East is Founder/President of East Talent Consulting. With decades of experience in human resources, including lead roles in college recruiting departments, she prepares students and recent graduates for successful transitions to their future careers. Mindy graduated with a BS in Public Relations from Illinois State University followed by a Certificate in Strategic HR from Cornell.
Kate Gallop is a senior at Washington University in St. Louis, where she majors in English and Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. Kate’s work has appeared on Creating Cultures of Dignity’s blog and Canvas, a teen literary journal.
Adina Glickman is the founder of Affinity Coaching Group, which offers academic, life, and parenting coaching. She is the former director of learning strategies at Stanford University. She pens the Dear Adina column and is a frequent guest speaker on the topic of resilient learning and progressive parenting. Oona Hanson helps parents and guardians raise kids who have a healthy relationship with food and their body. In addition to her private practice as a parent coach, Oona works as a Family Mentor at Equip, an eating disorder treatment program. Oona holds master's degrees in educational psychology and English. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and two teenagers.
Vicki Nelson has nearly four decades’ experience in higher education as a professor, academic advisor, and administrator. She also weathered the college parenting experience successfully with three daughters. Vicki provides resources for college families on her website, College Parent Central, and serves as co-host of the College Parent Central podcast.
LaTrina A. Rogers, MS Ed. is
The Dorm Mom and also Director of Residential Life at Ranken Technical College in St. Louis. She holds a Master of Science in Education from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and has over 15 years of experience in student affairs across a number of functional areas including admissions and degree completion programs.
Suzanne Shaffer counsels students and families through her blog, Parenting for College. Her advice has been featured in print and online on Huffington Post, Yahoo Finance, U.S. News College, TeenLife, CollegeXpress, Road2College, and more.
David Tuttle is a former Dean of Students who spent over 30 years in higher education in residential life and student affairs and has sent four children to college. He is the proprietor of a student and parent assistance service, PROsper Collegiate, LLC.
