Freshmen Room Self-Selection Process

Freshmen Online Room Selection Process 2013

A number of changes and new policies have been incorporated into the assignment process for 2013-2014. Please read the following information carefully and thoroughly. If you have any questions, please contact Residential Services at (847) 467-HOME (4663) or at housing@northwestern.edu.

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FALL 2013/WINTER 2014/SPRING 2014 CANCELLATION TIMELINES

DATE

FEE

On or before Friday, June 7, 2013

Returning Students: 25% of Fall Quarter room charges

Entering Students (freshmen or transfer): forfeit $200.00 prepayment

Saturday, June 8, 2013 – on or before Friday, July 19, 2013

Returning Students: 50% of Fall Quarter room charges

Entering Students: (freshmen or transfer) $1,342.00

Saturday, July 20, 2013 – on or before Friday, August 9, 2013

All Students: 75% of Fall Quarter room charges

Saturday, August 10, 2013 – on or before Monday, September 16, 2013

All Students: 100% of Fall Quarter room charges

Monday, September 16, 2013 – Full Contract Term

All Students: 100% of room charges for Term of Agreement (full academic year)

Room Selection Is An Online Process

Students will be selecting their rooms for the 2013-2014 school year online at https://rms.housing.northwestern.edu.  Any available room will be displayed for room selection. Rooms not visible are already assigned.

There will be three (3) assignment rounds.  All times listed are Central Time.

Assignment Round 1: General Room Selection with Roommate Pull-in
All double-occupancy rooms and available singles
Begins: Wednesday, July 10, 2013, from 9am to 4pm
Continues:  Thursday, July 11, 2013, from 9am to 4pm
Ends: Friday, July 12, 2013, from 9am to 4pm

General Room Selection with Roommate Pull-in is available to entering freshmen who have matched themselves with their own roommates.  During this round, only roommate pairs may select double rooms.  Freshmen may not sign up for partial rooms during this round.

Freshmen who have applied to and been selected for assignment to a residential college or exclusive-use building will only see rooms within the residential college/exclusive-use building to which they have been accepted.

Assignment Round 2: General Room Selection
All remaining assignable bed spaces in University Housing
Begins Tuesday, July 16, 2013, from 9am to 4pm
Continues:  Wednesday, July 17, 2013, from 9am to 4pm
Ends: Thursday, July 18, 2013, from 9am to 4pm

General Room Selection is available to any freshman who has not already selected room through the online process.   A roommate choice is not required to participate.  During this round, please be aware that freshmen are selecting rooms based on personal preference and not based upon any previously submitted roommate compatibility criteria.  As this is an online room selection process, it is not possible for Residential Services to assign random roommates during this process.

As a result, it is possible for two freshmen with different habits, likes, and schedules, to become roommates by selecting two halves of the same double room.

Freshmen who have applied to and been selected for assignment to a residential college or exclusive-use buildings will only see rooms within the residential college/exclusive-use  building  to which they have been accepted.

Assignment Round 3: Auto-Allocation of All Unassigned Freshmen to Remaining Available Rooms
Begins: Friday, July 19, 2013
Ends: When remaining freshmen are assigned

Residential Services will assign all remaining unassigned freshmen who have not participated in the online room selection process to any remaining assignable bed spaces in University Housing.  During this round, the roommate matching criteria entered on the freshman housing contract will be evaluated by computer in order to match random roommates for placement into the remaining spaces within University housing.

During this assignment round, every effort is made to match freshmen with compatible roommates. As spaces in some buildings will be limited due to selection by freshmen in the previous two assignment rounds, assignments made during this process may be to buildings and room types other than the personal preferences entered on the housing contracts.

Assignments made during this process require no additional participation by entering students.

Assignment Order

Students will be broken down into assignment groups based upon priority number and allocated a specific login time. All numbers within an assignment group will be granted access simultaneously to the self-assignment room selection process.

For example, if Assignment Group #1 contains priority numbers 1 through 25, anyone with a priority number 1 through 25 will be able to select their rooms at the same time. Therefore, it is possible for a person with priority number 25 to self-assign into a more desirable room than a person with priority number 1.

Students applying to live together as roommates are called “roommate groups.” The roommate with the best priority number is the “controlling” priority number.

For purposes of assignment, a roommate group will be awarded the same priority number as that of the “controlling” priority number.  In short, the best priority number is that group's priority number.

Controlling priority numbers wishing to pull in roommates will need the NetID and roommating passwords (not University NetID passwords!) for those individuals to be pulled in. Passwords may be created by signing into https://rms.housing.northwestern.edu and clicking on the “Profile” link beginning Sunday, June 23, 2013, at 9:00am. Those with controlling priority numbers must have these passwords in order to pull anyone into his/her roommate group.

Room Selection Procedure

A. View Your Priority Number

During the week of July 1, 2013, entering freshmen may log on at https://rms.housing.northwestern.edu to view their priority numbers. Priority numbers are non-transferable.

B. How Priority Will Work

Students applying to live together as roommates are called “roommating groups.” The roommate with the best priority number is the “controlling” priority number.

For purposes of assignment, a roommating group will be awarded the same priority number as that of the “controlling” priority number.  In short, the best priority number is that group's priority number.

C. Where You Wish to Live and Your Proposed Roommate

After receiving your priority number, you will have a few days to determine your choices of residence halls, rooms (and if you have not already done so, your roommate). Discuss your preferences with your intended roommate and make sure that both you and your roommate have read over this information. Make a list of your choices of where you wish to live and with whom.

If you are selecting a double-occupancy room, you must have a roommate in order to select it. It is in your best interest to identify a roommate in order to make the best use of your priority number. Students without roommates wishing an assignment to University housing will be accommodated after those with roommate choices are assigned in either Assignment Round 2 or Assignment Round 3.

You will need to set a “roommate password” in order for you to be pulled in by a controlling priority number. Those with controlling priority numbers will need the NetID and roommate password for those within the roommate/suitemate group in order to pull them in.

The following list details the building code for each residence hall. When selecting a room online, “DBL” indicates a double room, and “SNGL” indicates a single room.

  • Allison Residential Community (ALL)
  • Ayers College of Commerce and Industry (CCI)
  • Bobb Hall (BOB)
  • Chapin RC (CHA)
  • Cultural and Community Studies at 2303 Sheridan (CGR)
  • Elder Residential Community (ERC)
  • East Fairchild – Communications RC (EFC)
  • G.R.E.E.N. House at 2303 Sheridan (CGR)
  • Jones Arts RC (JON)
  • Lindgren House (LIN)
  • McCulloch Hall (MCC)
  • North Mid-Quads (NMQ)
  • Public Affairs RC (PRC)
  • Rogers House (ROG)
  • Sargent Hall (SAR)
  • Slivka Science and Engineering RC (SLV)
  • Shepard RC (SHP)
  • South Mid-Quads (SMQ)
  • West Fairchild – International Studies RC (WFC)
  • Willard RC (WIL)
  • Women’s RC at Hobart (630)
  • 1835 Hinman (HNM)

Assignment Procedure

A. The student web self-assignment process will be held online beginning on Wednesday, July 10, 2013, at 9:00am.

On the appropriate day and time, assignment groups will be permitted to access the Room Selection website (https://rms.housing.northwestern.edu). The controlling priority number will be making the room selection and booking all rooms for the roommate group.

While it is possible to sign in to select a room after your initial time, it is not possible to sign in prior to your scheduled time.

At the successful completion of this process, you and your roommate will have contracted for a specific room in University housing for the 2013-2014 academic year.

Please check https://rms.housing.northwestern.edu, as times may be adjusted daily.

There are three (3) assignment rounds, depending upon whether you have self-selected a roommate. These assignment rounds are as follows:

Assignment Round 1: General Room Selection with Roommate Pull-in
All double-occupancy rooms and available singles

The following times are good for the Assignment Round 1 (all double-occupancy rooms and available singles) beginning on Wednesday, July 10, 2013. This assignment round will continue on Thursday, July 11, 2013, and Friday, July 12, 2013.

Time

Wednesday

July 10, 2013

Thursday

July 11, 2013

Friday

July 12, 2013

9:00am #1 - #25 #701 - #725 #1401 - #1425
9:15am #26 - #50 #726 - #750 #1426 - #1450
9:30am #51 - #75 #751 - #775 #1451 - #1475
9:45am #76 - #100 #776 - #800 #1476 - #1500
10:00am #101 - #125 #801 - #825 #1501 - #1525
10:15am #126 - #150 #826 - #850 #1526 - #1550
10:30am #151 - #175 #851 - #875 #1551 - #1575
10:45am #176 - #200 #876 - #900 #1576 - #1600
11:00am #201 - #225 #901 - #925 #1601 - #1625
11:15am #226 - #250 #926 - #950 #1626 - #1650
11:30am #251 - #275 #951 - #975 #1651 - #1675
11:45am #276 - #300 #976 - #1000 #1676 - #1700
12:00pm #301 - #325 #1001 - #1025 #1701 - #1725
12:15pm #326 - #350 #1026 - #1050 #1726 - #1750
12:30pm #351 - #375 #1051 - #1075 #1751 - #1775
12:45pm #376 - #400 #1076 - #1100 #1776 - #1800
1:00pm #401 - #425 #1101 - #1125 #1801 - #1825
1:15pm #426 - #450 #1126 - #1150 #1826 - #1850
1:30pm #451 - #475 #1151 - #1175 #1851 - #1875
1:45pm #476 - #500 #1176 - #1200 #1876 - #1900
2:00pm #501 - #525 #1201 - #1225 #1901 - #1925
2:15pm #526 - #550 #1226 - #1250 #1926 - #1950
2:30pm #551 - #575 #1251 - #1275 #1951 - #1975
2:45pm #576 - #600 #1276 - #1300 #1976 - #2000
3:00pm #601 - #625 #1301 - #1325 #2001 - #2025
3:15pm #626 - #650 #1326 - #1350 #2026 - #2050
3:30pm #651 - #675 #1351 - #1375 #2051 - #2075
3:45pm #676 - #700 #1375 - #1400 #2076 - #2100
 
Assignment Round 2: General Room Selection
All remaining assignable bed spaces in University Housing

The following times are good for the Assignment Round 2 (all double-occupancy rooms and available singles) beginning on Tuesday, July 16, 2013. This assignment round will continue on Wednesday, July 17, 2013, and Thursday, July 18, 2013.

Time

Tuesday

July 16, 2013

Wednesday

July 17, 2013

Thursday

July 18, 2013

9:00am #1 - #25 #701 - #725 #1401 - #1425
9:15am #26 - #50 #726 - #750 #1426 - #1450
9:30am #51 - #75 #751 - #775 #1451 - #1475
9:45am #76 - #100 #776 - #800 #1476 - #1500
10:00am #101 - #125 #801 - #825 #1501 - #1525
10:15am #126 - #150 #826 - #850 #1526 - #1550
10:30am #151 - #175 #851 - #875 #1551 - #1575
10:45am #176 - #200 #876 - #900 #1576 - #1600
11:00am #201 - #225 #901 - #925 #1601 - #1625
11:15am #226 - #250 #926 - #950 #1626 - #1650
11:30am #251 - #275 #951 - #975 #1651 - #1675
11:45am #276 - #300 #976 - #1000 #1676 - #1700
12:00pm #301 - #325 #1001 - #1025 #1701 - #1725
12:15pm #326 - #350 #1026 - #1050 #1726 - #1750
12:30pm #351 - #375 #1051 - #1075 #1751 - #1775
12:45pm #376 - #400 #1076 - #1100 #1776 - #1800
1:00pm #401 - #425 #1101 - #1125 #1801 - #1825
1:15pm #426 - #450 #1126 - #1150 #1826 - #1850
1:30pm #451 - #475 #1151 - #1175 #1851 - #1875
1:45pm #476 - #500 #1176 - #1200 #1876 - #1900
2:00pm #501 - #525 #1201 - #1225 #1901 - #1925
2:15pm #526 - #550 #1226 - #1250 #1926 - #1950
2:30pm #551 - #575 #1251 - #1275 #1951 - #1975
2:45pm #576 - #600 #1276 - #1300 #1976 - #2000
3:00pm #601 - #625 #1301 - #1325 #2001 - #2025
3:15pm #626 - #650 #1326 - #1350 #2026 - #2050
3:30pm #651 - #675 #1351 - #1375 #2051 - #2075
3:45pm #676 - #700 #1375 - #1400 #2076 - #2100

B. Select Your Room

On the appropriate day and time, assignment groups will be permitted to access the Room Selection website. The controlling priority number will be making the room selection and booking all rooms for the roommate group. At the successful completion of this process, you and your roommate will have contracted for a specific room in University housing for the 2013-2014 academic year.

C. Cancellation of Residence and Board Contract

Depending upon when you choose to cancel your contract, you may be held to part or all of the contracted rates.

DATE

FEE

On or before Friday, June 7, 2013

Returning Students: 25% of Fall Quarter room charges

Entering Students (freshmen or transfer): forfeit $200.00 prepayment

Saturday, June 8, 2013 – on or before Friday, July 19, 2013

Returning Students: 50% of Fall Quarter room charges

Entering Students: (freshmen or transfer) $1,342.00

Saturday, July 20, 2013 – on or before Friday, August 9, 2013

All Students: 75% of Fall Quarter room charges

Saturday, August 10, 2013 – on or before Monday, September 16, 2013

All Students: 100% of Fall Quarter room charges

Monday, September 16, 2013 – Full Contract Term

All Students: 100% of room charges for Term of Agreement (full academic year)

Please be aware that if you have not properly notified Residential Services of your cancellation and fail to report to your contracted room at the beginning of the Fall quarter, you will be held responsible for the Fall quarter room charge for your residence hall.

How to Complete the Process if you are not On Campus

As the room selection process is a totally online process, anyone with internet access may complete the self-assignment process.

If you are without internet access, or cannot complete the process for any reason, you should contact Residential Services (housing@northwestern.edu). Due to the delicate nature of NetID passwords, it is not recommended that you share your NetID password with anyone.

Public Information

The following information is considered by Northwestern University to be public information: (a) student's name, (b) school, (c) class, (d) campus address, (e) campus telephone number (f) home address, (g) home telephone number, and (h) e-mail address.

Disclaimer

The information contained in this document is tentative; Northwestern University reserves the right to make changes to its content at any time.