Are you an incoming student hoping to experience life in the residence halls? Are you excited to meet the future friend you鈥檒l be rooming with? Are you interested in attending events hosted by your RA, sharing dinner with your suitemates, or seeing live performances in the Siena Arboreto? You鈥檙e in luck 鈥� the housing selection process is only a few weeks away!
On March 15th at 9 a.m., will invite you to fill out a brand-new section: your Housing Preferences! The profile you design will connect you with a potential roommate who鈥檚 just your style. You鈥檒l be asked whether you prefer the room to be hot or cold. Do you listen to loud or soft music? Later, you can filter your search for a roommate based on these preferences. If you can鈥檛 stand an early bird, don鈥檛 sleep in and miss out! You can absolutely use the Housing Portal鈥檚 roommate search to find someone you鈥檙e compatible with.
If you鈥檝e already met someone you鈥檇 love to live with, you can also use the Housing Portal鈥檚 search bar to find them! Simply ask your friend for the username they chose, and you can join a Roommate Group 鈥� this keeps the two of you partnered together, so you鈥檙e guaranteed to receive the same room!
Still, looking for a roommate to call your own? You鈥檒l meet tons of potential friends throughout Bellarmine鈥檚 summer programming, such as Admitted Student Day and Knight U: Bellarmine鈥檚 Academic Orientation!
Grace Long, a third-year Communications major, has stayed with the same roommate her entire college career and cites her roommate as a major source of her social success at Bellarmine.
鈥淲e were placed in the same tour group during Knight U and simply hit it off. We didn鈥檛 have roommates yet, so it just worked out perfectly,鈥� Long said. 鈥淚 think both of us were just as nervous as the other about making friends and living with a roommate, and honestly, those shared nerves helped us bond.
While many students report feeling nervous about meeting their new roommate for the first time, it鈥檚 just as likely to hear success stories about strong friendships 鈥� many of which follow students much further than just their first year. Your roommate can link you to an entirely new side of campus that you might not discover otherwise, like Registered Student Organizations (RSOs), events, and students!
鈥淢y first year specifically was shaped by our friendship. Having that support on campus encouraged my involvement and overall experience.鈥� Long reported.
Long also recommends first-year students prioritize meeting new people through many of the brand-new ways Bellarmine provides: 鈥淚ntroducing yourself during events like Knight U, campus tours, or even the Bellarmine Bound Instagram account is the first step you can take. Being proactive about the roommate process will serve you well if you are nervous about living with a stranger.鈥�
Once assigned a roommate, you鈥檝e completed one of the most exciting parts of the housing process! Next, you鈥檒l need to know which residence hall you鈥檒l be living in. There are four residence halls for first-years, each with unique perks.
Siena Primo and Secondo are located along the upper campus. While Primo hosts male students and Secondo hosts female students, they share a few things in common: easy access to Palio, Bellarmine鈥檚 Food-on-Demand dining hall, and the fire pit and Arboreto! Living in Sienas also puts you near certain events, such as Bellaroo and Bellarmine鈥檚 annual music festival.
Located along the lower campus, Kennedy Hall and Newman Hall are connected by the Crossover: a lounge area boasting a ping pong table, an air hockey table, and a television. If you鈥檙e feeling sniffly in the fall or need access to over-the-counter medication, don鈥檛 worry 鈥� the Office of Health Services is right next door. Don鈥檛 worry about scrambling to pick up your packages, either! Kennedy and Newman Hall are a short walk from Petrik Hall, where the Office of Housing & Residence Life awaits your mail.
No matter where you live or who you live with, Bellarmine provides an amazing community perfectly suited to welcoming and empowering first-year students. Students can expect guidance and support from their Resident Assistants (RAs) throughout the year and additional programming to bolster fun and community among neighbors in the hall!
If you have any additional questions about what you (or your student) should expect when moving to campus this fall, contact reslife@bellarmine.edu.