Students who plan to live on campus again in the fall will have the opportunity to reapply beginning Feb. 5 starting at 9 a.m. through Feb. 11 ending at 11:59 p.m. Anyone can apply for housing but housing isn’t guaranteed for all students. These tips for applying will be helpful for anyone who wants to get the housing assignment and roommates they wish for, which will make for a memorable and fulfilling on-campus living experience.
The first and most important tip for applying for housing, whether you are a returning or new housing resident, is to apply when there is less online traffic. Log into Gulfline and click on the Housing Web Portal to apply. During the first couple hours when the application opens, the increased traffic will make the webpage slower than normal. It’s best to wait until the middle of the day if you want to apply on Feb. 5. However, reapplying early will not increase your chances of selecting or getting assigned a room early. Your room selection date and time will be considered based on your original application date when you applied for Fall 2023-Spring 2024 housing.
Figure out which villages on campus work best for you! If you decide to want to live in a place that has a lot of community and tropical scenery where you can take long, therapeutic walks, then North Lake Village is the best. But if you’re an upperclassman and want to live in a more reserved, private area with access to off-campus shops such as Target, then West Lake Village might be better for you. You get more privacy while also having easy access to food and shops right down the street. South Village (SoVi) is also a good option if you want a more laid-back suite-style living. SoVi residence halls are primarily for freshmen, however, some upperclassmen can stay in the area. It’s ok if you’re already living on campus and want to switch villages for next year. People’s living style preferences can change over time.
Find roommates on RoomSync if you need them. Usually, when a student applies for housing, they will be sent a link a few days after they get an application confirmation email. In the email, it will have a RoomSync invitation link that you will click to download the app. After downloading, make an account and you will be able to find roommates from there if you don’t have some already. Make sure you don’t pick roommates that are currently living off-campus due to limited space. Overall, it is highly recommended that you find roommates if you need them because the ones you end up with can make or break your on-campus living experience.
Lastly, always have a backup plan. Sometimes issues after applying for housing can come up. For example, someone may choose on their application to live at West Lake Village but end up only getting North Lake or SoVi rooms. A roommate may back out at the last minute and one will end up not having enough roommates, or a chosen roommate can’t pull you in for whatever reason. One of the worst-case scenarios would be getting placed on a waitlist, so also look at any off-campus housing options such as University Village or Coastal Reef if you’re on a waitlist just in case you can’t get a room. It’s always best to have several options for different housing when you’re applying and many roommate options because what you want initially may not work out or be available. Be cautious and smart with your choosing and good luck!
