Part II: General housing versus special interest housing

Finally, after months of anxious waiting, you have received an acceptance letter from the international university of your choice. And you are over the moon. You inform the university of your intention to enrol, and eagerly begin looking towards your time abroad.

But your preparation isn't over yet. Between visa concerns, financial issues and course selection, there are a lot of decisions you still have to make.

Before tackling these issues, however, it will help if you take out the time to concentrate on a little discussed decision. What most students don't realise is that this decision -- which relates to housing and dormitory preferences -- will impact their first year at university.

• Tips, strategies on studying abroad

It is now standard practice for US universities to include online housing preference forms as part of the acceptance package sent to incoming students. A URL is given which, when accessed, presents a lengthy questionnaire designed to gather information about you and your ideal living conditions. The university then makes every effort to match you to a roommate and a dormitory that will be suitable to your unique preferences.  

For returning students, housing is allocated according to seniority and 'housing lotteries'. In the housing lottery, students are randomly assigned a number determining their 'place' or 'spot' in the housing selection process. Let's say you are awarded number 21 in the lottery; this means you will be the 21st person in your class to pick your room, so 20 other rooms will already have been chosen.

Incoming students cannot participate; they get the leftovers. Therefore, for these new students, the key is to complete the housing preference form as early as possible.
 
Many new students fail to realise the tremendous impact accommodation has on their academic and social success at the university. If you select the wrong type of housing or fail to complete your preference form as early as possible, the results can be disastrous and you may ruin an otherwise wonderful opportunity to study abroad.

For example, if you do not declare your intentions of studying often and living in an academically geared dorm, you may be randomly assigned a roommate who parties heavily or you may live in a dorm not conducive to studying. Therefore, it is necessary to review the various housing options offered by universities and to determine which is most suitable to you.

The vast majority of US universities will not allow you to live off-campus during your first year, so you are most likely going to live in a dormitory for at least a year or two. This article examines the various options that universities provide for on-campus living.

Rooms and roommates

Dorm rooms vary in size and amenities offered, but there are some standard guidelines that most universities follow. As an incoming student, you will be paired with a roommate, unless you pay extra to live alone in a small 'single room'. This option will raise living fees by around $1,000 a semester, but many students feel the privacy and security are worth the cost.

One potential drawback of a 'single room' is the potential for alienation and loneliness. Only if you are outgoing and easily make friends should you consider this option when just beginning your college career.

Living with a roommate in your freshman year will force you to interact with others on a daily basis, and will naturally bring you into contact with a diverse set of people. Once you have established a core set of friends and have a routine that includes time for socialising, moving into a 'single' room may be a more attractive option.

On average, a 'double room' will be the size of a small hotel room, and will feature two beds, two cupboards and two desks. Some students opt to 'bunk' beds, or place one on top of the other (they are designed to allow this), in order to create more space.

Because of lack of housing, some universities have started to give students two roommates, or a 'triple dorm room'. When filling in your preference form, make sure to make it abundantly clear that you prefer a 'double room' to a 'triple room', if the form allows it. 'Triples' are exceedingly cramped and will only make normal roommate problems, such as disagreements over bedtime and guests allowed, doubly worse.

If you know someone going to your university, you have the option of requesting a room together. Be advised, however, that many good friends have been unable to withstand the additional pressure of living together. Furthermore, living with a fellow Indian may seem ideal as a newcomer, but will most likely hamper the integration process of getting to know students from other cultures.

To help match you with a person with similar interests, the online questionnaire ranges from questions about sleeping preferences to questions about major/ minor and career plans. Give honest responses and pay attention to the potential effects of certain answers (how often do you study, how late do you go to sleep, etc). Also, most schools will allow you to select a preference for living with an international student or living with an American student.
 
There are many opportunities to meet and mingle with fellow Indians, but finding opportunities to interact with American students will not come as easily or as frequently. Many times, freshman roommates who are complete strangers, and are from different cultures, end up forging lifelong and cherished relationships.

Part II: General housing versus special interest housing

-- Matthew Schneeberger graduated in political science from Denison University, Ohio, USA, and currently lives in Mumbai. His substantial experience with Indian students allows him to speak authoritatively on the transition from India to the USA.