Office of Residential Engagement and Wellbeing First-Year Student Information

How will you match me with roommate(s)?

A few factors make a big difference! Sleep and wake times, considerations about hosting guests, bedroom study habits, quiet time, outdoor smoking practices, etc. are collected by us for making informed roomate pairs. Lifestyle preferences are believed to be the most important information to collect in order to effectively and randomly place students together and to avoid conflict. The opportunity to choose specialty housing (all-women or all-men community or living on a floor with a gender-inclusive restroom) is also available on the Housing Questionnaire that we will send to you.

May I request a roommate?

No, roommate requests will not be considered.  All roommate pairings will be made based on the Housing Questionnaire as processed by the algorithms used by our electronic records management system.  

The first-year campus experience is one of the most exciting in our program. Students benefit and learn from navigating the challenges of living with someone they hadn't known before and expanding their perspectives by engaging with difference. First-year residents develop valuable social/life skills such as compromise, self-advocacy, active listening, and effective communication. These skills foster the efficacy of students' classroom experience and experience at Amherst College as a whole.

When will I receive my 2023/2024 academic year room assignment?

Room assignments are released by email in mid-July, 2023.

What if I don't like my assignment or change my mind about something I designated?

We ask you to be thoughtful while completing your Questionnaire, to arrive to campus with an open mind and be ready to stretch and benefit from the residential experience ahead. The First-Year Quad will be at full capacity and room changes will not be possible, except for emergency or extenuating circumstances.