Navigating Sophomore Housing at WashU: A Comprehensive Guide

For Washington University in St. Louis (WashU) students, the residential experience is a cornerstone of campus life, particularly during the first two years. All WashU first- and second-year students are required to live on campus, fostering a strong sense of community and providing convenient access to university resources. This article provides a comprehensive overview of sophomore housing options at WashU, encompassing the unique environment of the South 40, the housing application process, available amenities, and important considerations for students.

The South 40: A Residential Hub

The South 40 functions as a self-contained campus town, offering a wide array of resources and amenities designed to enhance the student experience. It boasts a student government (the Congress of the South 40, or CS40), dining facilities, a fitness center, a technology center, meeting rooms, intramural fields, and sports courts for basketball and sand volleyball.

Living on the South 40 provides opportunities for students to connect with peers and engage in various activities and organizations. Residential communities feature social lounges, study rooms, personal computing labs, and recreation rooms, encouraging both social interaction and academic collaboration. Dedicated faculty, student, and staff members, including Residential Community Directors (RCDs) and Resident Advisors (RAs), are available to support students' personal and educational goals and manage day-to-day operations.

The Congress of the South 40 (CS40) plays a significant role in shaping the residential experience, sponsoring and producing many events, including large sporting events, outdoor music festivals, and formal dances.

Housing Options: Modern and Traditional Halls

Sophomore students have the option of living in either modern or traditional residence halls. Modern buildings primarily consist of double rooms, with a limited number of triple and single rooms. Traditional buildings offer a mix of single, double, and triple room options on each floor, with shared common restrooms for each floor community.

Regardless of the building type, each room is equipped with essential furniture, including an extra-long twin bed, a desk, a chair, a dresser, bookshelves, and a closet. All rooms also have mini-blinds and are air-conditioned.

The Rising Sophomore Housing Renewal Process

The Rising Sophomore Housing Renewal Process guides sophomores as they reapply for Residential Life housing for the upcoming academic year. Students are required to thoroughly read and familiarize themselves with the Terms and Conditions presented before completing the Housing Application. By completing the Housing Application, students agree to these Terms and Conditions.

All undergraduate students who plan to be enrolled full-time in courses at the university are eligible to apply for housing. Residential Life guarantees housing for any eligible student who applies with them. Placement is based on preferences outlined on the completed and signed Housing Application within the WashU Housing Portal. However, WashU Residential Life does not guarantee placement in any specific building or facility.

Navigating the WashU Housing Portal

To access the Housing Application, students must log into the WashU Housing Portal. After signing and submitting the application, students will receive a confirmation from the Office of Residential Life.

Housing Accommodations and Disability Resources

WashU Disability Resources determines housing accommodations based on individual student needs. Being approved for a housing accommodation does not guarantee placement in a first-choice residential hall or with preferred friends. WashU Disability Resources makes determinations regarding functional accommodations in housing but is not involved in assigning a student’s specific room or roommates/suitemates.

Students with an approved accommodation can have no more than three (3) roommates but can also apply as an individual. Students who submit requests or appeals after the posted deadline may need to be placed as an individual, instead of with chosen roommates. Disability Resources is located on the ground floor of Gregg House on the South 40.

Regardless of eligibility for housing accommodations, students must follow all WashU Residential Life housing processes and procedures to secure campus-owned housing.

Roommate Groups and Ursa's Nightlife

Students can create a group within the housing application and group with any student who has submitted their housing application prior to the priority deadline. To create a group, one member will need to click the "Create Group" button and set the group’s name, password, desired group size, and choose which selection process the group is taking part in. The Group Leader can then click the link to "Search for Roommates by Username" to find and invite their roommates to join the group.

Ursa’s Nightlife hosts a roommate mixer for all rising sophomores. Students should complete their Group on the WashU Housing Portal prior to the deadline.

Additional Considerations

Dietary Restrictions

WashU Dining Services works to support students with special dietary needs, including those with medically restricted diets and those with food allergies and intolerances. Dining Services is generally able to meet the needs of students requesting specialized meal plans, and all students with special dietary needs are encouraged to work with dining services to make dining on campus enjoyable and safe.

Read also: Alumni events guide

Transportation and Proximity to Academic Buildings

All on-campus residential buildings are considered to be within close proximity to academic buildings and other campus facilities. Students whose disabilities may limit their ability to walk and/or carry a heavy backpack for long distances are encouraged to utilize the Campus Circulator and/or Medical Escort Service when traveling across campus.

Environmental Allergens

The university has conducted tests of environmental allergen levels throughout the Residential Life buildings. The results of these tests found that there is not a significant difference in allergen level between the various building types.

Distraction-Reduced Study Space

Residential housing is not a distraction-reduced environment.

Cancellation Policy

For an in-depth understanding of the Cancellation Policy, students should review the Terms and Conditions within the Housing Agreement. Cancellation Requests must be submitted via the Housing Portal. For the 2026 - 2027 Academic Year Application, students can cancel at no penalty anytime on or before March 31, 2026.

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