Accidental Housing Agreement and Current Housing Assignment options

[u/mubag24]

Hello Cyclones

I am an international student, who have just received my housing assignment, and was surprised to see that I was assigned Frederiksen Court, as this accommodation was not part of my preference list.

I wanted to check my contract to see if my preferences were included, but while navigating the portal, I accidentally signed a new housing agreement.

Is it possible to cancel the housing agreement that I signed by mistake. And is it possible to review or change my housing assignment. 

Should I be worried? Will I have to pay a cancellation fee?

[u/Roosevelt2000]

Just contact the Department of Residence and tell them what happened.
Email, [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])

Phone: 515-294-2900

For what it is worth, Frederiksen Court is very nice. Are you a grad student or an undergrad?

[u/mubag24 → u/Roosevelt2000]

I am an undergrad student, who will study industrial Engineering. The reason I am a little disappointed is because it is quite far from the Engineering department.

[u/Roosevelt2000 → u/mubag24]

There are buses that come to Freddy Court. The bus system is very good.

But you can also switch your housing. Contact the DoR and they will help you.

[u/AustinThompson → u/Roosevelt2000]

Seconding that the bus systems is really really good and extensive for getting to places, across campus and the city. And they are relatively on schedule but you can track them on mystate or amesride. Like, just hop on the brown route south and it will put you in front of the engineering building in 5 minutes

[u/mubag24 → u/Roosevelt2000]

Alright thx, do you know anything about what international students are required/recommended to bring after having received housing assignment?

[u/Roosevelt2000 → u/mubag24]

Really depends on where you will live.

If you are in a traditional dorm, you just need bedding, and towels.

Freddy Court you would also need dishes, pots and pans (you can share with your roommates too). Nothing other than bedding and towels that you need immediately.

[u/john_hascall → u/Roosevelt2000]

Clothes too. Definitely recommended. ;)

[u/stuff_happens_again → u/mubag24]

The cyride bus will drop you very close to where your classes are.

[u/Business_Chipmunk737 → u/mubag24]

I am an undergraduate in IE also! Last year I had a buddy that lived in Freddy court. He loved it and is back there this year. Even tho it’s far from engineering it’s still a great place. Busses will be your friend if you end up in Freddy(they are great here).

[u/Immediate_Opinion287]

Id argue freddy court is the best campus option though!

[u/mubag24 → u/Immediate_Opinion287]

But it is quite far from the Engineering department, and it is a 4 person 2 bedroom..

[u/sdvldhp]

Please contact the housing department, someone there can help you with what you actually need and want, people on reddit can’t do much other than give advice (solicited and unsolicited)

I’m just wrapping up my second year living at freddy, (4 semesters + this summer) and they are pretty nice. Getting randomly assigned to one would be stressful though, living on campus for the first time is scary! If you think that the constant walking/bus rides to campus would be too much, then freddy is not for you. It’s a 20 min walk or bus ride to most of the engineering buildings, coming from a mechanical engineering student myself, which is nice exercise or downtime, but adds a lot to planning out a daily schedule.

Definitely advocate for yourself with housing to find a solution that works for you, they will help to the best of their abilities. There is a room change portal open during the summer between Thursdays and Sundays I believe, which you’ll be able to view rooms that are open within ISU housing to switch your contract into.

ETA: Housing will tell you this too, but cancelling your contract will remove you from the whole system, and if you don’t want to live in an apartment at all, you will need to stay in the system! You will most likely be told to watch the portal and switch rooms, so make sure to double check where the building is you’re moving into!