Q: Can I reserve a dorm room prior to my UF acceptance?

A: If you have not yet been accepted to UF, you should request the Freshman Contingency Addendum. When signed with your housing contract, this allows you to cancel your housing contract (should you not be accepted to UF) by sending proof of non-acceptance to the Luxury Residence Hall Office by February 29, 2013. Since students applying for UF Fall 2013 admission will be notified regarding acceptance on February 15, 2013 this addendum gives you two weeks to let us know if you are not accepted.

Due to the high demand for the luxury halls, we do not recommend waiting to apply for Luxury Residence Hall rooms until after you receive your acceptance. The most popular room sizes are often booked before that time. If you have signed a Freshman Contingency and provide proof of non-acceptance, any pre-paid deposits will be fully refunded. For complete details on the Freshman Contingency, please request one from a Housing Specialist by calling 352-376-6223.

After signing up for Windsor Hall or Ivy House, you can start meeting potential classmates in your residence hall by liking our Facebook Pages. These groups are closed groups for students who have already signed up for Windsor Hall and Ivy House; they are a great way to get in touch with others and stay up to date before school starts. Often, students meet potential roommates in these groups and request to live with them in the Fall. You can also see what currents residents are up to and what they have to say about their residence hall.

Q: Can students in UF Innovation Academy live in the luxury residence halls?

A: Answer: Yes! The luxury residence halls are a popular housing option for UF Innovation Academy 2013 students. In addition to the luxury amenities offered at the residence halls, they allow UF students with a spring start-date the opportunity to live next to UF campus in the fall semester for internships, social connectivity, football games, and more. This way, students enrolled in UF Innovation Academy have the opportunity to interact in a social environment with students their age, and of course these rooms are much nicer than on-campus housing at UF.

Q: Which residence hall is right for me?

A: Many factors affect which housing option you should choose. Your decision should be made based on the building's proximity to your classes/dining halls/libraries, age of the building, bathroom options, roommate matching options, room size, price and whether or not you are guaranteed placement into the room when you sign up. Unlike the traditional on-campus residence halls, the Luxury Residence Halls guarantee placement when you sign up. They are also closer than many traditional dorms to your classes, dining halls, and libraries. They are the closest options to UF's Sorority Row, and they offer the largest, newest rooms at the most affordable cost per month.

Ivy House and Windsor Hall are both great options, but here are a few things to consider:

* Ivy House is female-only.

* Ivy House is located on UF's Sorority Row (and Windsor Hall is just around the corner), making both residence halls ideal choices for students planning on joining a sorority. Since sororities have limited parking, it's best to be within walking distance so that you can attend meetings and eat your meals in the sorority house. Tip: meals in the sorority house are included in your annual dues

* Ivy House is typically chosen by students looking for the cheapest option; the rooms are a bit smaller and have shared bathrooms.

* Many students will tell you that Windsor Hall is the nicest option for UF students.

Windsor Hall offers larger rooms than Ivy House, and each room has a kitchenette and a private bathroom inside the room. In addition, Windsor Hall is newer and has an on-site pool.

Q: When should I sign up for housing at Ivy House or Windsor Hall?

A: Like traditional rooms, rooms in the Luxury Residence Halls fill up very quickly. We recommend reserving a room at Windsor or Ivy as soon as you apply to UF. Most students sign up via our online reservation system, but you can also tour the halls in person and see rooms lived in by real students and sign up after your tour. Tour hours are available Monday-Friday from 10am until 4:30pm; the Residence Hall Office also has extended hours during preview for students who have already reserved a room. You can schedule a tour online or call the office for complete details at 352-376-6223.

Q: Can I reserve a room if I already have a UF Housing Contract?

A:That may be possible, depending on the time of year and whether or not UF is currently accepting cancellations of signed contracts. Please call one of our housing specialists for more information about making changes to your UF Housing Contract. They can be reached at 352-376-6223. You can begin the process by completing the Luxury Residence Hall reservation form. In your comments, be sure to add that you have a current UF housing contract.

Q:What happens if I get into UF but choose to attend another school?

A: If you think you may get into UF but may not attend, please request an Undecided College Addendum. This addendum will allow you to cancel your lease if you decide to go to a different school and provide documentation showing that you will be attending another school by the deadline specified in the addendum. So, even if you are not sure if you will choose UF for your college, you can still secure a room at Ivy or Windsor for your first year at UF. And if you decide to go to a different school, the only thing you have to lose is your deposit. Be sure to request the addendum if you are considering attending another college.

Q: When is the roommate request deadline?

A: While it is important to reserve your luxury residence hall room far in advance, you have until April to request a roommate for Summer B move-in and late May to request a roommate for Fall 2013 move-in. Often, students will reserve their residence hall in November but meet a potential roommate during UF Preview in the spring/summer and then request to room with them.

Q: What if I don't have a roommate in mind?

A: No problem. Windsor Hall & Ivy House offer professional roommate matching based on each student's unique personality profile, including study and sleeping habits, personality, age, social activities, cleanliness and more. You'll be matched on many different aspects – whether you're an early bird or a night owl we'll find a perfect match for you. Do you spend more time partying and socializing, or are you a bookworm who can't get enough of the library? Are you a neat freak, or does your room usually look like your closet exploded (we won't tell your mom!). This is critically important for ensuring roommates get along well and is not available in traditional residence halls (which only match based on gender). Many students also use the corresponding Facebook Page for Windsor Hall or Ivy House and pick their own roommate. You can change your roommate requests until April for Summer move-ins or late May for Fall move-ins.

Q: Can I apply financial aid toward the luxury residence halls?

A: If you plan on using financial aide, we offer a luxury residence hall deferment payment plan which allows you to pay two installments rather than monthly. This deferment plan is popular with students because it allows them some payment flexibility until after financial aid disbursement. All scholarships are sent directly to the University of Florida and are applied to tuition before any excess amounts are disbursed to the students for housing, books, supplies, etc. After the drop/add period, when you receive scholarships/grants/etc in excess of tuition fees for that semester, students are typically allowed to withdraw that money for housing, living expenses, books, etc. University of Florida Student Financial Affairs will be able to give you more information; you can contact them at (352) 392-1275. You can also speak with a Housing Specialist about the payment options at 352-376-6223.

Q: Are there Late Applicant Triples in the luxury residence halls? If I reserve a double room, is there a chance we could have an additional third roommate?

A: No. In case you don't know, in previous years, the traditional residence halls have had to place three students into rooms made for only two people. This makes for a very rough transition from home and first year at college. This will not happen at Ivy or Windsor. At Windsor Hall and Ivy House, you are guaranteed placement into both the residence hall building AND the room size and style that you sign up for. There are no Late Applicant Triples in the luxury residence halls. We do not overbook housing and therefore do not change room sizes.

Q: How close are the luxury residence halls to my classes?

A: The University of Florida campus is very, very large—but the far majority of classes are located in the North East quadrant of campus, and most freshman take classes within a handful of buildings including Turlington, Carleton, Little and Norman Hall. Ivy House is the closest residence hall to Norman Hall, and both Windsor Hall and Ivy House are only a short walk away. In fact, Windsor Hall and Ivy House are located closer than many of the traditional on-campus residence halls. While living in the luxury residence halls, you're just steps from your UF classes, libraries, the football stadium and the main student hangouts around campus. It's the perfect location.

Q: What is included in the luxury resident hall rooms?

A: Like the traditional residence halls, the luxury residence halls are fully furnished, and all utilities are paid for by management. The furniture packages vary, as indicated below. Ivy House: A standard twin mattress (not an extra-long mattress), bed frame and box spring, desk, desk chair, pedestal sink, and ceiling fan. Windsor Hall: Standard twin mattress (not extra-long), captain's bed, desk, desk chair and ceiling fan. The attached kitchenette includes a fridge, microwave and sink. Bathroom includes a shower curtain rod.

Q: Is there a dining hall? Are the options the same as those in traditional on-campus dorms?

A: Both Windsor Hall and Ivy House are walking distance to one of UF's most popular dining halls: Broward Dining. Like most traditional on-campus residence halls, there is not a dining hall within the actual residence hall. At UF, residence halls share centrally located dining halls. Students living at all the residence halls have the same options for meal plans. In addition to dining options located in the traditional dorms, Windsor Hall rooms have a kitchenette inside. Because of the kitchenette, many UF students living at Windsor save money by choosing UF's declining balance meal plan and eatting some of their meals in their rooms. The kitchenettes at Windsor allow the most versatility in food options.

Q: How do I start the application process?

A: You can put in a reservation request online or call (352) 376-6223 to speak with a housing specialist. If you are coming to Gainesville in the near future, you can also schedule a tour of the residence halls.

Q: Can I apply over the phone?

A: Yes. Please call one of our housing specialists at (352) 376-6223, and they will help you with the reservation process.

Q: What happens if I do not attend UF?

A: If you are not 100% certain that you will attend UF after being accepted, you will want to ask a housing specialist about the Undecided College Addendum. This addendum will allow you to cancel your lease if you decide to go to a different school. If you get into UF but decide to go to a different school, this addendum allows you to cancel and only lose is your reservation fees.

Q: I reserved my housing, what next?

A: Join the Ivy House Girls 2013 or Windsor Hall 2013 group on Facebook and meet other freshman that will be living in your hall. These groups are available for students who have already reserved their rooms. What fees are due when I reserve my dorm room? There is $250 redecoration fee/application fee due when reserving your luxury residence hall.

Q: How do you assign roommates?

A: After you reserve your room, we will match you on many different personality aspects – whether you're an early bird or a night owl we'll find a perfect match for you! Do you spend more time partying and socializing, or are you a bookworm who can't get enough of the library? Are you a neat freak, or does your room usually look like your closet exploded (we won't tell your mom!). Whatever unique qualities you have, we will find a roommate for you!

Q: Can I live with a friend?

A: Yes. You can request to live with a friend on your housing application. Both you and your roommate will need to complete a housing contract in order to live together. Roommate requests are guaranteed as long as both students sign up for the same size room before the floorplan is fully booked.

Q: Can I get a private/single room?

A: Yes. Unlike the traditional residence halls, Windsor Hall and Ivy House offer private rooms to first year students, as well as upper classmen. Private/single rooms tend to fill up very early in the year. You can check the availability and reserve a room online.

Q: Are there any luxury residence halls without air-conditioning?

A: No. Unlike the traditional on-campus residence halls, all of the luxury dorms have air-conditioning, which is great because summer and spring in Gainesville are HOT.

Q: When do classes start?

A: You can check out all of the important dates for the school year on UF's website here. Fall 2013 classes are scheduled to begin on August 21, 2013.

Q: When do halls open?

A: Move-in dates for the luxury residence halls vary depending on the building you choose, as shown below. All residence halls have move in dates before classes begin, giving students time to make friends and get to know the campus.

Ivy House: August 10th

Windsor Hall Building A (all female): August 10th

Windsor Hall Building B (co-ed): August 15th