Penn simplifies housing process

The complicated process of applying for on-campus housing will soon be much simpler, according to executive director of Business Services Douglas Berger.

On March 30, Penn Housing Services will introduce the first fully online housing application to all incoming students.

The changes — made following feedback from students, including residents, the Residential Advisory Board and the Undergraduate Assembly — will be integrated in the fall for all students.

Freshmen as well as incoming transfer and graduate students will be able to access the application online using My Home at Penn through Campus Express, associate director of Housing Administration Ellie Rupsis said.

Application questions for all types of housing, including residential programs and community living will remain similar to previous years, Berger said.

Currently, the housing application process begins in December for some students and ends around April. Berger hopes that the new system will allow applications to be completed in a shorter window of time.

Additionally, Berger said students “will be able to have more information at their fingertips” about the application process and houses for which they are applying. Administrators and college house deans will also have more control and oversight of their residences and programs, he said.

High school senior Nicole Williams, who was admitted as an early decision applicant, said she was happy about having less paperwork involved in her matriculation. “Having it online definitely makes it less of a hassle,” she said.

Williams was also enthusiastic about accessing an easier system where she could sign up with a chosen roommate and understand the different options among college houses.

As part of the change, Rupsis said the application will have a “more modern feel” than the current system, which was created about 10 years ago.

College sophomore Mallika Vinekar, who applied for community living last year but did not receive it, said shortening the timeline of the application will allow students without assignments to have more time to find off-campus arrangements.

“My friends and I had to scramble for off-campus housing because most places were taken by upperclassmen,” Vinekar said. She added that applying for housing earlier in the year will allow students to have more time to understand their options.

College sophomore Kristy Willard, who has applied for on-campus housing three times — each through a different process — said she was excited to hear about the new changes.

“There is a need to streamline and make it more efficient,” Willard said. “It’s been a long time coming.”

Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.