We’ve all been there. That terrifying moment when logging into student-web self assign. Palms sweating, heart racing, the words “no space” staring you in the face over and over and over. It’s mocking you, laughing at you, “have fun in your cardboard box next year, we have no space available. Yes, you may have paid your deposit, you may have even paid it early, but we don’t care.”
Congratulations you’ve been rejected by a computer screen. If you’re like myself you proceed to scream, or cry, or any combination of the two until you can’t breathe or make the un-wise, but warranted, decision to punch your computer screen till the deliverance of justice calms you down.
To avoid this catastrophe, use some of these helpful hints.
1. MAKE YOUR PAYMENT A.S.A.P. When that e-mail pops into your TUmail suggesting you pay your deposit as soon as possible–listen to them. Temple housing allows you onto their site based on the date and time you make your payment. If you pay just 3 hours later than another student that may be the difference between living in Temple Towers or that box on the side of the road. Pay your deposit on the first day, first hour, and first minute you possibly can.
2. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A FUNCTIONING COMPUTER. Time and Time again students go to log on to my housing and are greeted by the dreaded computer crash. Don’t let this be you. Go to the Tech center and use a computer there. Those extra five minutes you spend agonizing over your frozen screen will make or break you in the race for rooms.
3. USE MULTIPLE COMPUTERS. Grab your roommates for next year and all log on to my housing on different computers, in the same room. Sometimes accidents happen; your computer may unexpectedly shutdown or freeze and having your friend’s computers as back up always helps. Also, there is strength in numbers. Four people attempting to find a room have a better chance than one person attempting.
4. DON’T BE AFRAID TO CONSIDER OFF CAMPUS. Keep your options open. Don’t have your heart set on living in a residence hall; sometimes it just won’t happen. Collect numbers of off-campus housing realtors. Consider Oxford or University Village, these locations are affordable, safe, and close to campus. Living off campus is great and at the end of the day may end up being a better option.