Five Tips for Transgender Students Seeking Campus Housing

Going to college can be exciting and a little scary, but for transgender students, the stakes can feel particularly high. College towns may tend to be more liberal and LGBTQ-friendly than surrounding areas, but going to college also means disclosing one's legal name and sex to individuals who may not know or care to take a student's preferred name or transgender status into account. This is particularly troublesome where campus housing is concerned. Very few schools offer gender neutral rooms, and many halls of residence have communal rather than en suite bathrooms.

Fortunately, an increasing number of colleges and universities have begun looking at ways to accommodate residents'. While schools vary in how welcoming or helpful they are to transgender students, here are some tips that can help students succeed in finding a safe, comfortable place to live on campus.

1. Know What You Need (And What You Can Afford)

Reflect on what your housing needs are, and then find out what options are available at the universities you'd like to attend. Can any of those choices meet your needs? If a school on your list offers gender neutral housing, or a transgender-inclusive housing policy, find out about it. Bear in mind that suite-style and detached single rooms can cost more than traditional on-campus spaces, so it's a good idea to know what your financial needs are as well. And, of course, it doesn't hurt to consider colleges with non-discrimination policies that include gender identity.

2. Ask Around

See if you can find others who've had good or bad experiences with housing at the schools you're interested in. Online communities can be a trove of information about particular institutions, as well as practical advice for navigating the admissions and housing process as a transgender person. If you know someone else who has attended one of your preferred schools, ask questions about their experiences there. Was the housing office helpful? If they had concerns about roommates or accommodations, were they satisfied with the way those concerns were addressed?

3. Get Help Within the System

One of the most common pieces of advice student affairs professionals give when asked about securing trans-friendly housing on campus is to get in touch with the LGBTQ student union or resource center on campus and ask for advice. Many times, resource center coordinators will know what sorts of precedents have been set on campus. They'll also know the right people to contact within housing, and may be willing to assist with the process of securing an appropriate housing assignment from start to finish.

4. Start Early

Student housing is often assigned on a first-come first-serve basis according to availability. That means you should have your research done and all of your ducks in a row as early as possible. Most schools begin accepting housing applications for the following year months before the present year ends. It's especially important not to leave things to the last minute if you anticipate needing special consideration at your institution of choice.

5. Have a Back-Up Plan

Does your second choice of school have a more inclusive housing policy? Do you have a friend or family member you can live with off-campus if your housing assignment doesn't work out? If you're truly stuck, you may need to change plans quick. If campus administrators (resource center coordinators, housing department directors, etc.) have been assisting you, have their contact information handy. Most hall directors and support staff are also willing to assist a resident if there's a last minute problem with your housing assignment, so don't hesitate to ask for help.