Frequently Asked Questions

• Can I choose my own roommate?

  Yes, certainly. If you've got a friend or someone you've met who is coming to Calvin, you can both indicate on your housing application found on your your desire to be roommates. As long as the request is mutual (and space allows), we'll make the match happen. If your request comes after your housing application has been submitted, just contact our office.

• How do you match me with a roommate?

  If you leave the matching to us, which approximately two-thirds of our first-year students do, we rely on a specialized computer program as well as our experience in making matches. The computer takes the information you enter on your housing application and matches people who have similar interests and lifestyles. We check all matches and make many of them "by hand." Getting your application to us on time is helpful, as late applications tend to have fewer open roommates for us to work with. Most roommate matches work out fine, as long as roommates have realistic expectations and always communicate, cooperate and compromise.

• When will I find out the names of my roommates and suitemates?

  For students with Priority Housing status (applications received by May 1), roommate contact information will be sent out in early June via email (at your new Calvin email address). For all other students, roommate information will be included in an early August mailing, which will include building assignments for all students. You'll find out who your suitemates are when you arrive in the fall.

• When will I find out what hall and room I'm in?

  You will find out your assigned hall when roommate and housing information is sent at the beginning of August, and you'll find out your room number when you arrive in the fall (specific room assignments sometimes change at the last minute).

• Can I request a specific dorm, floor or suitemate?

  Sorry—we can't take these types of requests. If you have specific issues or needs, please indicate them in the "Additional Comments" section of your housing application. We intentionally avoid placing groups of high school friends together on one floor or in one building and we do not typically allow students to choose suitemates. We've found that by randomizing placements, our communities end up being stronger and more diverse, and our students tend to agree.