Frequently Asked Questions
This page will be updated frequently. Have a question that isn't answered here? Send it to us at rmassign@andrew.cmu.edu and someone will respond to your question within two business days. Any topics that we receive multiple inquiries about will be added to this page, so check back often!
Q. Can I pull-in a friend who is currently living off-campus?
No - only residents who are currently residing in university housing and are eligible to participate in Room Selection (and have not already confirmed an assignment) can be pulled-in. Residents who are currently off-campus are not eligible for Room Selection, and should complete an Upper-class housing application in order to get back into university housing.
Q. I retained/selected a prime room which shares a bathroom with another prime double room. Can I pull-in/select roommates for that adjoining room?
A. In most cases, no. Residence hall rooms are viewed as separate, independent rooms, even if they have a semi-private bathroom. Residents are only permitted to fill the individual room that they have retained or selected. For example, if you retain a prime double room in Henderson House, you can only select one roommate to live in that double room with you. The adjoining double room will be filled during a later phase of Room Selection.
Exceptions exist for Resnik and West Wing suites, Roselawn Houses, and multi-room apartments in Woodlawn, Margaret Morrsion, Shady Oak, Webster, and Fairfax apartments. In these instances, retaining or selecting residents are permitted to select the roommates for the entire suite or apartment, and are - in fact - encouraged to do so.
Q. I would like to retain my current assignment but then try for a better assignment during General Room Selection. Can I do this?
A. No. Residents need to decide whether or not they would like to retain their room during the Retain Your Room phase which runs from February 16 through February 27, 2009. Once you've retained your room, your 2009-2010 academic year assignment is confirmed, and you will no longer be eligible to come to General Room Selection.
Q. What are my chances of getting a single room?
A. Single rooms are extremely popular. Single rooms are frequently retained and tend to fill up quickly during general selection. During Room Selection 2008, most single rooms were filled on the first day of General Room Selection.
Q. I am planning on studying abroad for the Fall 2009 semester. What should I do for Room Selection?
A. If you know for sure that you will be studying abroad during the Fall 2009 semester, you should not participate in Room Selection. Instead, complete the Upper-class Housing Application available at http://www.housing.cmu.edu/forms and submit it to the Housing and Dining Services office before you leave at the end of the semester. You will be guaranteed a housing assignment when you return in the spring.
If you're not sure whether or not you've been accepted into a study abroad program, then you're welcome to participate in Room Selection to secure a room for the fall semester as a back-up plan. However, you will be held to the cancellation deadlines just as any other resident would, and depending on when you cancel, may be responsible for paying the $300 housing reservation fee on your Fall 2009 student account. If you find out about your study abroad acceptance after the open cancellation period is over, please be sure to e-mail rmassign@andrew.cmu.edu to coordinate your housing cancellation so that you are not responsible for the fullhousing cost. You will still be responsible for the $300 housing reservation fee.
Q. I read in the Tartan... (insert statement here.) Is this true?
A. Although the Tartan can be a valuable source of information, there are instances where incorrect information has been published.
This Room Selection website is the official source of all information regarding Room Selection, and residents should check this site to verify anything that they've read in the Tartan or heard from friends. Other sources of official information from Housing and Dining Services includes e-mails from the plaid@andrew.cmu.edu and rmassign@andrew.cmu.edu e-mail accounts.
If you can't find an answer on this site, please send us an e-mail at rmassign@andrew.cmu.edu and we will clarify for you.
Q. I'm not interested in retaining my current room, but I heard that there was something called "Building Retention" where I could select a different room in my building. Can I participate?
A. Building Retention was a phase of Room Selection in past years, but it no longer exists. Residents who are eligilble to retain their current rooms can either retain, or participate in General Room Selection to try for a different room. To view all of the phases of Room Selection, check out the Room Selection Options page.
