Frequently Asked Questions-New Students
When can I apply for housing?
After you've been admitted to SMU and have paid your deposit! You will be sent an email with instructions about two weeks after your deposit payment is completed. The application process is all on-line.
Am I required to live on-campus?
SMU is moving to a new Residential Commons model for on-campus living which includes a two year on-campus housing requirement. This two year requirement takes effect for new students as follows:
- First-year students, June 2013
- First-year transfer students, Fall 2014
- Transfer students with sophomore standing, Fall 2014
Students from the Dallas area may request an exception to the requirement in order to live at home with parent or guardian in their primary residence. Exceptions to the on-campus requirement are granted at the discretion of the Executive Director of Residence Life & Student Housing.
Can I request a particular residence hall?
For the 2013-14 academic year, you may indicate up to three preferred residence halls when you apply for housing. Assignment to a hall is by application date priority and depends on available space. Some halls are requested by more than four times the number of students the hall accommodates! Therefore, assignment to a preferred hall is not guaranteed.
In 2014, SMU is moving to the Residential Commons model. Incoming students will be randomly assigned to an RC and will live in their RC for two years. Each RC will house students from across campus representing all the SMU colleges and schools. Specific RCs cannot be requested.
Is on-campus housing guaranteed?
First-year (and in 2014, sophomore students) who are required to live on-campus are guaranteed a space. For other students (juniors, seniors, and upperclass transfer students) housing is not guaranteed until a room assignment is made.
Can I choose my roommate? How about suitemates?
If you know who you'd like to room with, you will need to enter his or her SMU ID number when you apply on-line. If you aren't sure of a roommate request when you apply, you may add your roommate request until June 1. Roommate requests must be mutual to be granted. Requests without an ID number cannot be processed. Deadline for requests is June 1. Requests received after June 1 are not guaranteed.
First year students may not request suitemates.
Can I request a single room?
You may request a single room when you apply. There is an additional cost for single occupancy rooms. Singles are assigned using application date priority.
What does "Four-Class Hall" and "First-Year Hall" mean and who lives where?
Four-class halls house students who are first years, sophomores, juniors and seniors. Approximately 60% of the residents in four-class halls are first-year students. First-year halls (Boaz, McElvaney, Perkins and Smith) house only first year students. First year students may live in any four-class hall, or a first-year hall. Sophomores, juniors and seniors may live in a four-class hall.
Is there housing for transfer students?
Housing for transfer students for the 2013-14 academic year will be very limited and is not guaranteed. Transfer students are typically assigned to one of the four-class halls.
How are hall assignments made?
Assignments are made in application-date order beginning in June for the upcoming fall term. Assignments are made as much as possible using the preferences indicated on the housing application. Assignment to a particular hall or with a particular roommate is not guaranteed. All assignments are made on a space-available basis.
For first-year students entering in the Fall of 2013, assignments are first made for incoming first-year students requesting a specific theme community, in application-date order (additional priorities and limitations apply, especially for the Honors Hall, Engineering Floor and Hilltop Scholars.) Second, assignments then continue in application date order for the remainder of incoming first-year students.
For first-year students and transfers entering in the Fall of 2014 will be randomly assigned to a Residential Commons.
What kind of computer do I need to connect to the SMU network?
Both Macs and PCs will work on the SMU network, but there are specific software and hardware requirements. See the Information Technology Services web site for more information.
Have a question we haven't answered here? Please let us know!
January 2013