Housing Applications: Deadlines and Decisions

By Lilee Cecchini

Location. Cost. Amenities. These are factors upperclassmen say returning students should consider if they plan to live on campus for the Fall 2026 semester.

Students who paid their housing deposit by March 1 have until March 16 to submit their housing contract and list their top three housing choices. Isabel Levardsen, a sophomore with a double major in psychology and painting and drawing, living in Outback, advises peers to “choose an environment that you can picture yourself succeeding in.”

Incoming upperclassmen can choose among Outback, Wayback and Fort Awesome residence halls. “Outback is nice because there’s only like 200 or so people who live here, so it's easier to get to know people,” said Saige Valentino, Levardsen’s roommate and a sophomore voice and opera major. “I like the big windows in my room, especially for my cat Tom to look out.”

Tom basking in the sunlight, shining through Valentino’s window in Outback, on his miniature hammock (Photo by Saige Valentino) 

Levardsen and Valentino are applying to live in The Olde next semester, because they want their own kitchen, something Outback doubles lack.

Frankie Larry, a sophomore screenwriting major, lives in a triple in Fort Awesome, the only upper-class residence hall that offers this room arrangement. Larry likes its proximity to the Campus Center South Loop stop and its location above Starbucks. “It’s easy to pick up food delivery since you can just say ‘Starbucks parking lot.’” Larry also said it is cheaper than the other buildings, which influenced her decision to live there. The downsides of the building, according to Larry, are, “It’s far from the Hub and the gym, and the laundry room is far and frequently in disrepair.”

Wayback is the newest upper-class residence hall with keyless building and room entry.  Instead, students use their ID cards and numeric codes on their doors to get in. “It helps you be more hyper aware of where your More Card is,” says Sephtis Gorcos, a sophomore voice and opera major living in Wayback, “which is important because if you lose that, you’re kind of cooked.”

Athletic housing is offered in Wayback, and athletes are given priority over non-athlete students in their grade level that have more credits. The highest priority is given to students with health concerns who need room accommodations, as was the case in Gorcos’s room assignment. “Someone in my group needed accommodations, so we got bumped up the list,” said Gorcos. After athletes and those needing accommodations, students with the most credits are prioritized.

Both Valentino and Gorcos note that in their experience, it has been the most desirable building and quickly fills up. Gorcos adds that there is a kitchen, ping pong table, two TVs,  vending machines and adjustable lights in the communal lounge on the first floor, which she  thinks contributes to its popularity among students.

Levardsen (Left) and Valentino (Right) in their dorm in Outback, with Valentino’s cat, Tom (Photo by Lilee Cecchini) 

“A lot of people like the option to cook and having a big space to get together with friends,” said Gorcos. “It’s also a great option for second years because it’s the only building with a backup generator, and with the way many buildings have been struggling with heat, it's reliable for emergencies.”

Alumni Village, The Commons and The Olde are apartment-style housing available for upcoming sophomores, juniors and seniors, so long as they have 40 completed credits or are 21 years of age or older, according to the Purchase College website. However, the housing policies  state that most apartments are assigned to juniors and seniors, despite sophomores meeting the  credit criteria.

Charly Sloss, a junior visual arts major who currently lives in The Olde, says he likes the location of the apartment buildings. “We live in the back in a more secluded area, and it’s really nice.” Sloss offers advice to students debating apartment life for next semester and says, “Because you have more space to breathe, you are going to need to bring a lot more stuff, specifically for the kitchen, like plates, utensils, etcetera. There is a lot more room to decorate as  well if you don’t want it to feel like a prison cube.”

Students have received multiple emails informing them of the strict housing deadlines,  detailing instructions on how to secure a spot in the building of their choice. Gorcos advises,  “You can live in the best spot with the best decorations and the comfiest bed, but it’s really  the people who make some place feel like home.”

Gorcos in the kitchen, near the stove, sink, refrigerator, and TV, located in the first-floor lounge in Wayback (Photo by Lilee Cecchini)