Guide to 2021 – 2022 Housing for Upper-level Students

NOTE: See the December 16, 2020 Guide to General Room Selection for the most recent updates to processes and dates. The deadline to sign up for on-campus housing for academic year 2021 - 2022 is Saturday, March 6, 2021 at 11:59pm
 

Several webinars and info sessions will be held beginning October 23, 2020 to help you research housing options. While the application processes for Program Houses and serving as an RA begin this fall, the sign-up period for other on-campus housing does not start until January 2021. 

Some of you may feel pressure to sign a lease for an off-campus apartment, but there’s no need to rush. There will be many apartments still available in spring semester 2021, with plenty of time to sign a lease.

Rising sophomores are guaranteed on-campus housing next year, as long as you meet all deadlines and requirements.

Watch webinars and info sessions

Program House Takeover – Virtual Fair, Wednesday, October 21, 5:00- 7:00pm, in Campus Groups

Housing Beyond the First Year. Friday, October 23, 12:30 – 1:30pm EDT.  View recording of the Oct. 23 webinar.

Information sessions about applying to be a Resident Advisor (RA) - Multiple dates until Dec. 6. See RA position information session dates and register.

Off-Campus Living – Creating Success. Friday, November 6, 12:30 – 1:30pm EST. View recording of the Nov. 6 webinar.

Explore your options

Program Houses, which have separate application processes. The priority application deadline is Tuesday 11/10/20. Apply in the Housing Portal. Decision notifications will be sent by 12/18/20.

Co-ops, which have their own application processes, beginning with virtual open houses on 2/21/21.

West Campus House System (apply through General Room Selection; see timeline below)

Residence Halls in South Campus (apply through General Room Selection; see timeline below)

Serving as an RA; application deadline has been extended to Monday 12/21/20 at 9:00am

Living off-campus; see resources from the Off-Campus Living office

Greek houses; see resources from the Office of Sorority & Fraternity Life

If you currently live in an upper-level residence hall on South Campus or West Campus, and would like to live in the same building next year, you may take part in your community’s In-Hall or In-House Continued Occupancy process. See your Hall or House leadership for details.

Benefits of living on campus:

Room blocking (with up to five of your friends)

Faculty interaction

Convenience to classes, Cornell Dining eateries and all that campus has to offer

A housing contract for the academic year rather than a 12-month lease

You (and you alone) sign your contract; don’t worry about roommate leases and liabilities

Pay through your bursar bill, with all utilities included. No payment due until August 2021

Safety and security  - our residential buildings are well-lit, secure with either key or card access, and have staff members living on-site (in all buildings except for the co-ops)

Factors when living off-campus:            

Apartments - Every landlord sets their terms independently. Most leases do not include utilities or furniture. Be aware that some landlords may require payments as soon as you sign your lease. Your lease with a landlord is a binding contract between you and that business; the university is not involved in any questions or changes that may come up. You must work directly with the landlord.

Greek Life – Fraternities, sororities and multicultural organizations have separate recruitment processes and options for housing. In most cases the housing terms and payments are completely separate from the university. In a few cases the billing is processed by the university as a service to the Greek organization.

Timeline:

October and November 2020 - Webinars and info sessions (see above)

November 10, 2020 - Program House priority application deadline. Apply through the Housing Portal. Decision notifications will be sent by December 18, 2020.

December 7, 9:00am - Deadline to apply to be a Resident Advisor (RA)

January 1, 2021 – General Room Selection sign-up opens. Students must sign up in advance in order to participate in room selection in March. Sign up in the Housing Portal.

February 16, 2021 – Program House application deadline. Decision notifications will be sent soon afterwards. Program House room selection will be on February 24, 2021.

February, 21, 2021, 1:00 - 5:00pm  - Virtual Co-op Mosey, an open house of Cornell's Cooperative Houses. After Feb. 21 information about houses, including links to some application forms, will continue to be available in the virtual fair platform. Notification of co-op application decisions will be sent March 7, 2021. 

February 22 - 23, 2021 – West Campus House System continued occupancy room selection

February 24, 2021 - Continued occupancy room selection for South Campus and for the Townhouse Community. (Townhouse Community will be for sophomores only.)

February 24, 2021 - Program House room selection

March 6, 2021, 11:59pm - Deadline to sign up for General Room Selection

March 7, 2021 - Notification of co-op house application decisions.

Starting March 8, 2021 - Notification of timeslots for General Room Selection. Timeslots are randomly generated and emailed to students who signed up before the March 6, 2021 deadline.

March 15 - 17, 2021 - General Room Selection (For rising sophomores: 3/15 5pm - 11pm and 3/16 5pm - 11pm. For rising juniors and seniors: 3/17).  Read General Room Selection instructions.

March 18, 2021 - Waitlist sign-up begins

March 28, 2021 - Waitlist sign-up ends