Waitlist Policy

Spaces are assigned based on the type of space available and how well matched that space is to students on the waiting list based on gender, room and other preferences, as well as consideration of compatibility with other roommates/housemates.

If a space matching one of your room preferences becomes available, you could be assigned to the space. You will not receive notification prior to being assigned, but a confirmation email will be sent to your UCSC email account informing you that you’ve been assigned housing.

Assignments will first be made for students who have indicated a preference for the available room type. Then housing staff may provide alternative offers to students who have requested room types that are not available. For example:

Student A and Student B both prefer a residence hall single, but only Student B has also included a residence hall triple among their preferences. If a residence hall triple becomes available it will be assigned to Student B. The more options you include, the more opportunities it gives housing staff to try to find a space for you!

We strive to make housing assignments that align with student preferences. Because of this, and due to limited availability of housing space, it is difficult to answer this question.

The number and types of housing preferences a student includes in their application can impact the chances of receiving a housing assignment. The more flexible you are in your housing options and the more room preferences you include in your application, the greater your chance of being assigned housing.

Residence hall triples are the most common room type on campus, and therefore the most likely type of housing to become available. If a residence hall triple is not among your preferences, we strongly recommend returning to the Housing Portal to update the room preferences listed in your housing application to include this room type at all communities, in addition to expanding your options to include all the room types and communities you agree to accept.

Because we are committed to offering students housing assignments that align with their preferences, this question is hard to answer. The waitlist is NOT a numbered list and does not work as such. The length of the waitlist correlates to the number of students wanting housing on campus. Students are assigned off this list based on what spaces are available and how well matched that space is to preferences indicated by the student in their application, including consideration of compatibility with other roommates/housemates.

Students with DRC accommodations for a specific type of housing will be among the first students we attempt to assign off the waitlist, subject to availability of space. 

Housing accommodations for a specific type of housing may include things like housing without steps or stairs; additional space for mobility devices; ADA accessible furniture; visual alarms, etc. Accommodations for an Emotional Support Animal (ESA) are not in this category.

Best efforts are made to assign students to housing options they request. However, there is a finite number of each room type and some room types are highly sought after, such as apartment spaces and single rooms. If a room type you did not request becomes available, a Housing Coordinator may offer you that spot.

If you receive an alternate housing offer via UCSC email you will have 48 hours to accept. This deadline is strictly enforced.

Please review your UCSC email account on a regular basis.

If there are no spaces that match your room preferences and a different type of housing becomes available, you may be offered a different room type. This may include a housing space at another college or housing community.

If you receive an alternate housing offer, it means the room preferences you requested are not available. We strongly encourage you to accept the alternate option if your goal is to secure university housing.

Alternate housing offers are made via UCSC email and require students accept the offer within forty-eight (48) hours or the offer is void and the space will be offered to another student. This deadline is strictly enforced.

Closely monitor your UCSC email and/or set up email forwarding to have your UCSC email forwarded to another account you check regularly.

When a student is assigned to housing, they get an automatic email titled “UCSC Housing Assignment Confirmation”. The email provides confirmation of an assignment and that your application is now a legally binding contract for the current or upcoming academic year. Specific housing assignment information, including information on any roommates, is provided separately.

• If you are assigned to fall housing, you will receive your roommate and room placement information by the end of August. While the majority of assignments are usually finished by mid-August, we may assign students through the first week of classes.
• If you are assigned to winter housing, you will receive your roommate and room placement information by mid-December. Please note that university offices close in late December for Campus Closure. Housing assignments resume at the start of winter quarter in January.

We work diligently to house as many students as possible but, regretfully, are not able to provide university housing for all interested students.

• List as many room types as you would be comfortable taking at all communities. The more room types you include in your housing application, the more likely it is that an available room will match your preference increasing the likelihood of an assignment.
• Mark or flag housing emails as Important/VIP/etc. on your phone and in your email.
  • The housing emails will be sent primarily from housing@ucsc.edu and the email address of the housing community you applied to.
• The housing emails will be sent primarily from housing@ucsc.edu and the email address of the housing community you applied to.
• Opt into texts from UCSC in MyUCSC Notification Preferences. The Housing Office may text you to check your email for an alternate housing offer.

Check your UCSC email daily. Your UCSC email account is used to communicate important housing information. Some messages may be time-sensitive and/or require you to take prompt action. Closely monitor your UCSC email and/or set up email forwarding to have your UCSC email forwarded to another account you check regularly.

As long as your application is active on the waitlist it represents your interest in being assigned housing. If you haven’t heard from us, it means you are still on the waitlist and that you currently don’t have housing.

If you have questions that are not addressed on the list, please reach out to the housing community you applied to for further assistance.