First-Year Housing Process

Access to the first-year housing application typically opens in late April or early May.  Incoming first-year students will receive an email from Housing & Residential Services (HRS) with details regarding the housing application process, as well as the application submission deadline.  Important housing dates will also be posted to the housing Dates & Deadlines webpage.  

All applicants are given equal weight; it does not matter when you submit your housing application, as long as it’s received by the posted deadline.  Building placements are made according to a lottery process, so don’t feel rushed to complete the online form – take your time when evaluating the housing options and be honest when sharing your living preferences.  You can also amend your submitted preferences at any time before the deadline – just make sure your changes are saved within the housing portal. 

The application captures students' housing preferences, including which living community students prefer to join.  Through the application, students may also choose to form a group of up to four total students who are interested in the same building placement.  While HRS will make every effort to assign students to one of their top three residence hall preferences, there is a possibility that a student may receive an assignment in any of the available residences based upon space availability.  But don't worry!  There are multiple opportunities to change your housing assignment at MIT (see below).   

Careful attention is paid to students’ room assignments to help ensure a positive living experience. A unique feature of MIT’s residential system is that student Room Assignment Chairs or "RACs" coordinate individual room assignments in each building along with members of their House Team.  While a key set of principles guides the room assignment process, each house approaches room assignments a bit differently and information about each house’s room assignment process is linked below. 

After receiving living preference information from students, HRS shares these details with student Room Assignment Chairs (RACs) to facilitate individual room assignments for each residence hall in coordination with the House Team. Confirmed room assignments will be shared with incoming students according to the posted date.

When students arrive to campus for the start of the academic year, they have the opportunity to participate in Residence Exploration or "REX" which allows for exploration of each house, and to participate in special programming organized by existing residents.  After seeing each of the living communities during REX, students who would like to change their housing assignment are welcome to participate in the First Year Residence Exchange or "FYRE" process.  

FYRE, which is dependent upon housing availability, allows students to change their housing assignment.  Students who are unsuccessful at changing their housing assignment are also welcome to apply through the Building Switch Process, which enables successful residents to change their housing assignment beginning the next semester.