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Room Selection Process: March 10-31, 2025
Welcome home to NDSU Residence Life. If you will be a new first-year or transfer student next fall (2025-2026 academic year), this information is for you!
During the online Room Selection Process you will choose your residence hall and room. Read below for step-by-step directions, and view this video before or while you select your space.
Roommate Information
There are four ways you can match up with a roommate:
- Match up with someone you know on My College Roomie
- Meet someone new and match up on My College Roomie
- Participate in the LGBTQ+ Roommate Matching
- Have your roommate assigned by Residence Life.
Learn more about roommate matching options.
If you decide to match up with a roommate, only one of you will need to participate in the room selection process. The person with the earliest designated room selection time will select the space, and the other will be automatically pulled in.
Tips and Reminders:
- You cannot log in to MCR unless you have already applied for housing and waited 24 -hours for your account to be activated.
- Both you and your preferred roommate need to log in and create an account on MCR to match up.
- Being "friends" is not the same as being matched roommates. One of you must request the other as a roommate, and that person must accept the request. You must be officially matched up in My College Roomie by March 7.
Roommate FAQs
- If I am matched with a roommate, will I only see rooms where 2 spaces are available? Yes, you will only see spaces that accommodate two people.
- How do I drop my roommate so I can see more spaces? Click on "Room Selection", and then "Select Roommates." Make sure the term is Fall 2025. Click on the three dots to the left of your roommate's name and click delete. Once you do this, you will be able to see all spaces that have at least one open bed.
- Can I match up with suitemates? You will only match up with one roommate. Once room selection is completed, if you are living in a suite-style hall you will be able to view contact information within your housing portal and connect with your suitemates.
- Why can't I match up with suitemates? More than half of our students live in a hall without suitemates (Burgum, Dinan, Churchill, Stockbridge, Reed, Johnson, North and South Weible). By only matching up with one roommate, this ensures that you see all available options when you are selecting your room and allows everyone to pick their room at their assigned time. If you end up with suitemates, you will be able to see who they are in your housing portal after room selection.
- If I did not match myself up with a roommate, when will I get one? More than half of our first-year students room with someone new! Your roommate's assignment could happen at various times. A person could select your room during the room self-selection process, which is March 10-31. Or you could get a roommate assigned much later in the spring or summer. Note that you will not receive an email notifying you that someone has selected the other bed in your room, so keep checking back on your housing portal to see if you have a roommate.
- Am a selecting a bed or a room? If you are selecting a space on your own (and you do not have a roommate matched through My College Roomie), you are only selecting the bed, not the entire space. If you select one bed space in a room, someone else will be able to select the other.
- I sent a request to room with my friend via My College Roomie. Is that all I need to do to be matched? Yes, but your friend needs to accept that request by March 7. Then one of you, whoever has the earliest designated start time, will select your room.
- Can I select a room with a current student? It is a possibility. Contact Jason Medders at Jason.Medders@ndsu.edu to learn more.
- I identify as part of the LGBTQ community. How do I make sure I select a safe space to live? Residence Life is committed to providing a safe, inclusive, and welcoming living environment for all students. For our LGBTQ community and allies, we provide a roommate matching program to assist you in finding a roommate who doesn't judge based on sexual gender or identity. If you complete the form, we will reach out to you personally to help select your space.
- I am searching for spaces right now, and see that one space in the room is occupied. How can I find out who is in there? You will not be able to see the student’s name or contact information until you have selected the space. Likewise, if you select a room, other people searching will only see that one space of the double room has been filled, but will not know your information unless they choose to live in that space.
Designated Room Selection Time
The room self-selection process will take place March 10-31, 2025. More than 2,000 students will be participating, and each one will be given a specific start time, after which they will be able to log in and participate.
Your room selection time is viewable on your housing portal. Times are listed in CST.
Note that you do not have to select your space at the exact time you are given; it is simply the earliest time you will be able to log in and participate. The longer you wait, however, the fewer options may be available. Selection times are determined by the date housing applications are received. If you do not select your space by April 1, your space will be assigned to you by Residence Life.
Selection Time FAQs
- How do I find out my selection time? Your room selection date and time is visible on your housing portal.
- How is my room selection time determined? As students submit their residence hall agreements online, they are automatically given the next available space for a room selection time and date. The first selection start time is Monday, March 10 at 8:00am. Each person thereafter is spaced one minute after the student in front of them, with the last selection time being at 4:00pm. The start times pick up the following days from 8:00am until 4:00pm, until all selection times have passed. Each day 480 students can select a space.
- What if I am not available to select a room at my assigned time? Remember, you may select your room any time after your designated time arrives.* If you are in class, at practice, at work, etc. when your designated time arrives, you may make your selection later in the day (or later in the week). It is important to remember, though, that the longer you wait to select your room, the fewer options you will have. *Please note that if you do not self-select your space by Sunday, March 31, Residence Life will assign a space for you.
- Why are the room selection times during the day, rather than at night? I have school, work, practice, vacation, etc. during that time. The room selection schedule was chosen to give Residence Life staff the best opportunity to assist with any questions or concerns that may arise. By having selection times that begin after the work day has started and before the work day ends, we can have staff available to answer phone calls or emails as needed. Additionally, whether the selection times were during the day, at night, or over the weekend, it would be impossible to find a convenient time for all 2,000 students. By offering daytime/weekday hours, we will have the best opportunity to provide needed customer service.
Hall and Room Selection Process
Once your designated room selection time arrives, log in to your housing portal and click on "Select a Room/Suite." Search available halls/rooms and assign yourself (and a roommate, if applicable) to a space. If you are using the floor plan layout to select a space, available rooms are highlighted in green. View the instructional video below for step-by-step instructions and screenshots.
Instructional Video
View first-year student room facts that are important for room sign-up.
Hall and Room Selection Process FAQs
- Why can’t I see any available spaces in my hall of choice? If you are unable to find any rooms in your preferred hall, it is because one of two things has happened. Either there are no more bed spaces available, or the number of spaces available is not sufficient to accommodate you and your roommate. For example, if you are planning to be roommates with another person, the system will only show rooms that have at least two available beds. If the remaining rooms in your preferred hall only have one bed available, you will not see them unless you drop your roommate.
- I selected a room, but now I changed my mind – can I go back in and make changes? You cannot go back in and make a change. Please contact Residence Life at ndsu.residence.life@ndsu.edu or (701) 231-7557 for assistance in making the change.
- I want to be part of a learning community. Do I participate in the room self-selection process? Students who qualify for a learning community will be notified in February and will be assigned a space by Residence Life. Those who are not selected due to lack of eligibility or lack of space will be asked to participate in the room self-selection process.
- What if I am in a learning community, or an athlete, or I need an ADA space? Those in the categories listed will not participate in the room selection process for first-year students. Those who are invited to live in a learning community will be assigned to that location by Residence Life staff. Athletes will also be assigned by Residence Life, in consultation with coaches. Students needing ADA accommodations should work with staff in Disability Services ((701) 231-8463). Staff in that office will notify Residence Life of the needed accommodation, and an appropriate assignment will be made.
- What is the best hall to select? Every hall has its own unique features and amenities that make it “the best.” And usually, students who live in Burgum, think Burgum is the best. Students who live in Stockbridge, think Stockbridge is the best. And so on. Every hall will offer an amazing first-year living experience. Click here to view some fun facts regarding our first-year student rooms.
- How can I find out more about each building? Visit the Residence Hall Page for descriptions of each building, photos, room diagrams, and more.
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