Making a second-year housing decision
Your student may have already started talking with you about where he or she might live next fall. Part of the reason for this is that property owners and managers in the campus area begin contacting students about fall vacancies as early as October. Another reason is because of what some call the “November Housing Rush Myth” — a myth that students need to decide by November where to live next fall or there will be “nothing left.” This is simply not true.
Choosing where to live is an important decision. There are many things to consider, such as budget, roommates, location, furnishings, amenities, meal plans/food options, parking, pets, and more. It is our belief that students who select a housing option that best fits their needs will be better positioned to not only succeed at UW–Madison, but to make the most of their Wisconsin Experience.
We encourage first year-students to wait until at least after winter break before they make their second year housing decision. Throughout the fall semester, new students are still acclimating to their current living arrangements as well as the campus. They continue to meet new people, and their friendships are evolving. By waiting until after winter break, students are more likely to make an informed decision about housing, including knowing who they want to live with, as well as having a better understanding about their second-year housing needs.
The University Residence Halls are always an option for upperclass students. Both current on-campus residents and off-campus students are given priority to select the specific room they want to live in, as well as the option to “cluster” with friends so that a group of students may choose to live in a particular area within a hall. There are a variety of floor-plan options available, ranging from single rooms to suite-style units, in a wide variety of locations across campus. The 2013–14 contract process for returning University Residence Hall residents begins after winter break. Visit the University Housing website for more information.
In addition to the variety of on-campus options, students may choose from a wide range of campus-area options, such as apartments, houses, suites, roommate vacancies, cooperative living arrangements, etc. Students who choose to live off-campus are encouraged to use UW–Madison’s Campus Area Housing Service, which features a consolidated and searchable list of campus-area rentals from property owners and managers, big and small. Please note that the university simply hosts this online domain for third-party relators and does not inspect or endorse any of the rental units.
In addition to listings, Campus Area Housing also offers consumer rental information. A few things to keep in mind about the privately-owned rental market in Madison are:
- Leases for privately-owned properties located in the campus area generally run mid-August to mid-August.
- There are more quality vacancies than there are students to fill them.
- The largest selection of fall 2013 vacant units will be available December through February, although vacancies are advertised beginning in November and will continue to be advertised throughout the spring and summer.
- Students with specific criteria (I.e., specific building/trying to coordinate a lot of roommates), should rent earlier. Students who are flexible and/or desire a lease term that is shorter than a calendar year, should rent later.
- Some property owners/managers may require parents or guardians to co-sign. We encourage you to discuss whether or not you are comfortable being a co-signer before your student begins his or her search.
To help students begin thinking about the many options available, Campus Area Housing, in collaboration with campus and community partners, is hosting the Student Housing Fair on Monday, November 12 at Union South, from 3–6:30 p.m.
For more information about housing options, visit the Parent Program website.