Housing Selection Process

Housing Selection Process Overview

Housing Selection Overview
  • The housing application is available beginning Tuesday, January 16th, 8am at the website: https://WPI.starrezhousing.com/StarRezPortalX.
  • Students will use WPI credentials to log in. 
  • All actively enrolled students in the class of 2027, 2026, 2025 will have access to the housing application
  • All other undergraduate students will be able to participate in the housing standby list through the housing portal.
  • The DEADLINE to complete the application and verify a roommate group is Friday, March 1 at 11:59pm. 
  • All Upper-Level housing is gender-inclusive - this means that you may form your group with any other eligible Upper-Level students, regardless of system labeled gender
  • EVERYONE must make a group to participate in housing selection, even if a group of 1 person. 
  • GROUP LEADERS must verify their group to receive a selection time.  
  • The maximum group size is 4 people. 
  • Selection times/building options will be based on the class year of the GROUP LEADER. 
  • Selection times within class year will be completely random. 

Housing Selection Programming & Events

Please visit the University Calendar and filter categories by Housing & Residential Experience Center to stay up to date on all housing selection programming and events.

Timeline for Housing Selection for 2024-2025

  • Application Opens – Tuesday, January 16 
  • Accommodated Documentation Deadline to the Office of Accessibility Services – Friday, February 1 
  • Application Closes – Friday, March 1 at 11:59pm.
  • Selection Times Sent – Week of March 11 
  • Housing Selection Week – March 18 – 22

     

Preview

New Process Timeline

Upper-Level Housing Selection Process Steps

How to Fill Out the Housing Application & Form Roommate Groups 
How to Select Housing in the Housing Portal 
Step 1: Complete a housing application in the housing portal
Step 2: Learn more about the housing selection process by attending events
Step 3: Form a roommate group and verify your roommate group
Step 4: Receive your housing selection day and time 
Step 5: Select housing 
Step 6: Confirm housing and meal plan 

Residence Hall Availability & Group Sizes

Tips & Tricks for Rising Juniors & Rising Seniors 

Subject to change based on incoming class size.  

All class year distinctions are based on the group leader. 

The following locations are available to Rising Sophomores through Advanced Placement (explained below).  If space allows, groups of 3, 2, and 1 will select from the remaining bedrooms. 

The following locations are available to students of all class years in groups of 2 or 3. Priority will be given to Rising Sophomores, followed by Rising Juniors, then Rising Seniors.

The following locations are available to Groups of 4 during general selection; Groups of 4 select in the order of Rising Juniors, then Rising Seniors, then Rising Sophomores. If space allows, groups of 3, 2, and 1 will select from the remaining apartments (with remaining beds in partially filled apartments being available for other groups). 

The following location is available to Groups of 3 during general selection; Groups of 3 select in the order of Rising Senior, then Rising Juniors, then Rising Sophomores. If space allows, groups of 2 and 1 will select from the remaining apartments (with remaining beds in partially filled apartments being available for other groups). 

Any open double or triple bedroom will be available to Groups of 2 during general selection; Groups of 2 select in the order of Rising Senior, then Rising Juniors, then Rising Sophomores. If a Group of 2 selects a triple bedroom, the remaining bed will be available for a group of 1 to select. 

Any open bed will be available to Groups of 1 during general selection; the order for Groups of 1 is entirely random (not based on class year). Groups of 1 are strongly discouraged, as there are almost no locations designed for only a single student. 

 

Preview

Where Will I live New

What is Advanced Placement?

Advanced Placement Explained - 

Advanced Placement is the opportunity for groups with leaders to bypass the general selection process and be pre-placed into a housing assignment in either South Village, Ellsworth Apartments, or Fuller Apartments.

Reminder: All Upper-Level housing is gender-inclusive - this means that you may form your group with any other eligible Upper-Level students, regardless of system labeled gender

To participate, please follow these few steps:

Step 1 - Create and verify a roommate group for the size bedroom you desire and the students you wish to be in your bedroom

  • Ellsworth/Fuller 7 person apartments - groups of 3 students/2 Students/2 students (to fill a triple/double/double in the same 7 person apartment, each bedroom group must have a rising sophomore group leader)
  • Ellsworth/Fuller 5 person apartments - groups of 3 Students/2 Students (to fill a triple/double in the same 5 person apartment, each bedroom group must have a rising sophomore group leader)
  • Oak House 5 person space -  triple room/double room with a shared bathroom - groups of 3 Students/2 Students - each bedroom group must have a rising sophomore group leader 
  • Double or triple room in South Village houses - available to all classes for groups of 2 or 3 students.
  • WPI Townhouses - Rising seniors may now request Advanced Placement into a 6-person Townhouse. Students must form two groups of 3. Depending on availability and number of requests, some groups may be placed into adjacent 3-person Townhouses. 

Step 2 - Email the Housing & Residential Experience Center (housing@wpi.edu) with your desired TOTAL group and location with ALL group members CC'd. (If you wish to live in a 5 or 7 person space, make sure all 5 or 7 students are CC'd on the email).

  • If you are a group of 2 or 3, please include your top 2 South Village house preferences 
  • If you are a group of 5 or 7, please include if you prefer Ellsworth, Fuller or Oak House
  • The Housing & Residential Experience Center will do our best to accommodate your preferences, but understand demand may be larger than availability

Step 3 - The Housing & Residential Experience Center will place your group BEFORE housing selection times are assigned

  • All requests must be received by 11:59PM on March 1st.
  • By requesting an assignment through advanced placement, you understand and accept that your housing contract will become active and financially binding upon being assigned housing by a WPI H.R.E. Center staff member.
  • The Housing & Residential Experience Center will confirm your assignment in writing by responding to the email in which you requested a placement.

If the demand for the Advanced Placement Process is larger than the availability of space, the Housing & Residential Experience Center will randomly generate a placement order to assign groups.  Any groups that are not placed will receive a selection time to participate in general housing selection.

Preview

Senior Advanced Placement

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I participate if I'm a 5th year student?

You may participate as long as you are currently a full-time enrolled WPI undergraduate student that will be returning to WPI in the Fall.

This includes students that need an additional year to complete their undergraduate studies, as well as students participating in a BS/MS program.

We recommend that these students not be group leaders.

If you would like to discuss housing options, please contact the Housing & Residential Experience Center at housing@wpi.edu

What is a Group Leader?

The Group Leader is the person chosen by the group to select housing for the entire group. 

The Group Leader is someone the entire group trusts to make the decision for housing for everyone.

Who can make groups?

Any full-time enrolled WPI undergraduate student.

All other students will be directed to the housing standby list.  If a student is not full-time enrolled, they are not eligible for WPI campus housing.

How do housing accommodations work?

All accommodation requests and documentation must go to the Office of Accessibility Services. We work together to place these students in locations that meet their needs. Accommodated housing placements are done prior to and separate from the general selection process. 

Why does the class year of my group leader matter?

Selection days and times will be assigned based on the class year of the group leader.

Why should I have back up plans?

You should create a few different plans for your housing just in case the room or building you want is not available when your group leader logs in to select housing.

Your group should also discuss if there are any circumstances in which you would not want to select housing. 

What does it mean to sign a housing contract and when does my housing contract become binding?

In order to participate in the housing selection process, everyone must sign a housing contract.

The housing contract becomes binding when a group leader selects housing for the housing group or a student is assigned housing by a H.R.E. Center staff member at the student request.

What if my group leader doesn’t select housing during the assigned time window?

If your group leader does not select housing during the assigned time window, then the individual students from the housing group can sign up for the housing standby list to be offered housing at a later date after the selection process is completed.

Is there a shortage of housing on campus?

Nope! A common misconception is that there is not enough housing on campus for Upper-Level students. In the past few years, we have been able to offer a placement to everyone that applied. 

What if a group member takes a Leave Of Absence? (before or after selection)

Students who are on a LOA are able to join groups and participate in the housing selection process. All documentation for returning must be submitted to the Registrar's Office by July 1 to maintain placement. If the student does not return to WPI, their placement can be filled by another student. 

How do I secure WPI housing if I am currently on a Leave Of Absence?

Students on a Leave of Absence may still participate in housing selection. They must finalize their return with the Registrar's Office by July 1 to retain the assignment they have selected.

How do I find a Roommate?

The Housing & Residential Experience Center will be hosting Roommate Meet & Greets for current students to meet potential roommate for next year. Check the University Calendar and filter by Housing & Residential Experience Center to find out when and where they will be held. 

 

In the Housing Portal, you will also be able to view a list of students who have completed the housing application and see how compatible you are based on how you both answered the lifestyle questions in the portal. 

What is the Studio Single raffle?

We will be raffling off the chance to win placement in a studio single apartment next year. Any student can enter by visiting our office on Wellness Day. This is done after accommodated placements have been made. Winners will be financially responsible for their placement upon acceptance.

What is the Standby Housing Application?

The Standby Housing Application is similar to a waitlist.

Students who missed the application deadline or are dissatisfied with their placement, can apply to the standby list opening on April 1.

We work to place students from this list throughout the summer so make sure that you are regularly checking your WPI email. 

Additional Information

If you are a current student with questions about on-campus housing, please email housing@wpi.edu