Housing Selection

Housing Selection Overview

This year students will be selecting rooms through a new software called Housing.Cloud. While the website linked on your 1600grand may look different the process will be the same. Step 1: Sign your Housing Contract. Step 2: Match with your Roommates. Step 3: Select your Housing.

Housing.Cloud has a lot of great resources and how to guides on how to complete an application, sign a contract, how to join or form a roommate group, and how to select a room. These are great resources in case you have questions on how to navigate your Housing.Cloud portal. The link to the larger portal can be found at this Housing.Cloud Zendesk website. Please also use our Housing Selection 25 google doc to see any live updates about events or other important FAQ regarding housing selection.

The Three Steps

Step 1 – Complete Housing Contract (Live as of 2.19.25 – Housing Selection)

• Go to 1600grand.macalester.edu > My Housing and Dining > Housing and Dining Self Service.
• Selecting a space during the draw invokes the Housing Contract and commits you to live on campus and pay the associated room and board costs. Accepting a space in a Living Learning Community also commits you to that space and to pay the associated room and board costs.
• Rising sophomores are required to live on campus, accept the Housing Contract, and pay the associated room and board costs.
• Please visit Housing.Cloud Zendesk article: Completing a Housing Application, for students to get photo guides on how to complete the Housing Contract.

Step 2 – Roommate Matching (Live as of 2.19.25 – Housing Selection)

• Go to 1600grand.macalester.edu > My Housing and Dining > Housing and Dining Self Service.
• Select Find a Roommate. If you are looking for a roommate, please consider making your Roommate Questionnaire Public!
• If you know your roommate group, please select Create Roommate Group. For more information, please check out the form a roommate group article. 
  
• Matching will remain open throughout each selection so students may match and remove matches to meet the required number of students for a particular room, suite, or apartment. You will only see spaces that align with the number of people you are matched with.
• Contact [email protected] at least one business day before the draw if you need help in completing your matches.

Step 3 – Select a Room (One Person Per Group) (March 25th for Rising Juniors & Seniors and March 27 for Rising Sophomores )

• At the start of the draw or anytime during the draw, go to 1600grand.macalester.edu > My Housing and Dining > Housing and Dining Self Service. Click Room in the navigation panel to access room selection options.
• Designate ONE person from your group should select the space and assign individuals to the rooms within a suite. If you are part of a roommate group, only the group leader can select a room for the entire group. Only applicants with an approved housing application can select a room.
• Select Room Selection from the left side bar and then click Select a Room/Suite. Each room card provides key information to help guide your selection. Along with the room number and building name, you’ll see details such as the number of available beds and any special designations. If you want to revisit a room later, use the star icon to mark it as a favorite.
• Only spaces that equal the number in your matched group will appear. Filter by room or suite to adjust the display of available housing options. Suites contain multiple rooms, making it easier for roommate groups to view and select spaces that accommodate their entire group. During the selection time, click on a room card to view room details. Click Book this Room to proceed with your chosen option. Click Confirm to finalize your selection. After confirming your selection, your room assignment appears in your profile under Residency. You can view details about roommates assigned to the same room.
• Suites, quads, and triples that match the number in your group will appear during the groups draw,  Double rooms will appear during the Doubles Draw for students with one roommate match.
• For students with no roommate matches, only single rooms will appear.
• Room selections are final. If you need to change your room after selecting, please reach out to [email protected]. We cannot guarantee a new room but will work to find a space that best fits your needs.
• Rooms are first-come, first-served. If another student selects the room before you confirm, you’ll receive a notification that it is no longer available.
• Eligibility rules may apply. Some rooms may be restricted based on specific requirements, such as class standing, program participation, or other housing policies.
• Language and specialty housing assignments are filled before Housing Selection. Students interested in living in a Living Learning Community should apply directly on the LLC Application. Application closes February 24, 2025.
• Mixed gender doubles, triples, quads, and suites are permitted.

Housing Selection Schedule

All selections are first-come-first-served! Look at the rooms that are available for Housing Selection, here.

Selection Type: Living Learning Communities and Accommodations (both CDR & CSRL)
Apply By: Apply to Living Learning Communities by February 24, 2025. CDR Accommodation process opens Feb 14 and the deadline to submit a request and meet with staff is March 7. Reach out to CRSL by early March to receive an accommodation through them.
Placement: All students who are placed in Specialty Housing will be informed prior to March 25th.

Selection Type: Rising Juniors & Seniors (Including Returning from Leave of Absence & Study Away Spring 25)
Apply By: Sign contract prior to Housing Selection.
Placement: Selection Date is March 25, 2025 from 11:30am-2:30pm (Central time)

Selection Type: Rising Sophomores (Including Returning from Leave of Absence & Study Away Spring 25)
Apply By: Sign contract prior to Housing Selection.
Placement: Selection Date is March 27, 2025 from 11:30am-2:30pm (Central time)

Spring 2026 Housing

Housing Selection is only available to students living on campus for the full academic year (Fall – Spring) or for folks needing housing for the fall semester. If you are looking for housing for the Spring 26 semester, please reach out to Residential Life.

If you’re unsure about housing on-campus, but interested being put on the waitlist to hear about the spaces we have available, please place your information on this spreadsheet. As we move through housing assignments, we may contact you (via Macalester email) with more information about the waitlist or about housing assignments.

Resources

Language and Specialty Houses

Living Learning Communities are available on our website. This information will aid in you knowing available options for the next academic year.

Hall Pages

All of our Residence Halls have a dedicated webpage where you can learn more about the hall, view blueprints, and see who the Residence Hall Director is.

Room Tours

Please watch our Virtual Room Tour Video to see a variety of rooms available and further details about each. We also have 360 degree virtual tours of many types of our residence hall rooms.

Off Campus Living

Living off campus is a popular option for many Macalester juniors and seniors. Our St. Paul neighborhood provides a wealth of rental opportunities within a short walk of campus. As with many decisions, living off campus brings a host of freedoms and responsibilities. The college is committed to educating students to make informed choices, and be accountable for themselves as they interact in the surrounding neighborhood.

Find more information about Off Campus Living here.

Housing Selection Events

Check us out on our instagram to learn more about events we are hosting!