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First Year Students

First Year Experience Mission
We lead and support efforts to create safe and healthy residential learning communities that promote personal development and academic success. Our aspiration is to help first year students transition to TCNJ, to feel at home in our academic community, and to lay a foundation that encourages a safe, healthy, productive, and purposeful college experience.

At TCNJ we know there’s a strong correlation between campus engagement and academic success. Students who are involved in activities and events are more likely to: form personal relationships with faculty and staff; appreciate academic ideas within relevant social contexts; develop skills associated with both academic and social maturity; learn about social responsibility and what it means to live with others; be prepared for post-college careers; become engaged and thoughtful citizens; form lasting bonds with friends and fellow students; and most importantly, have a fun, meaningful, and memorable college experience. Learning to live in a diverse community is an important part of the undergraduate experience and one we take seriously!

How do I apply for housing?

Access MyHousing through the Online Orientation portal in Module 3 starting on May 30, 2023.

What will my room and building be like?

Each residence hall has its own personality, but all come with communal space, vending, laundry facilities, mail boxes, Residential Education staff, and all are on 24 hour card swipe access. Rooms come with a bed, desk, chair, dresser, closet/wardrobe, overhead light, and 2 trash cans.

When is move in?

It is anticipated that residents for fall 2023 will be able to sign up for a window of time in August to move their belongings in advance of living on campus. Information regarding the drop and go move in processes will be shared with first year residential students after the housing application closes. First year students will be able to start living on campus on Thursday, August 24, 2023.

How is my room/roommate assigned?

All first year students will be able to self-select a space in our designated first year halls (Travers, Wolfe, Centennial, Allen, Brewster, Ely, Cromwell or Norsworthy Halls) unless a needed accommodation places you outside that area. 

First year students will also have the option of creating a roommate group with a preferred roommate. This is completely optional, and if you do not have a preferred roommate you can participate in room selection and you will likely gain a roommate via the selection process.

If you choose to request a specific roommate, please review the Roommate Requests page for detailed information.

What is a health hold?

All new students are required to complete pre-entrance health requirements as a condition for entry to campus housing. When you meet all TCNJ health requirements, Student Health Services will release your health hold. If you have not done so already, please go online to the Student Health Services’ website and download “Pre-Entrance Health Requirement Packet.” All pre-entrance health requirements, including proof of COVID-19 vaccination, are due to be completed and uploaded to OWL by July 15 (or June 9th for those participating in our EOF Summer Program).

It is important that you get started on completing these requirements right away because you may need to get a missing vaccination or locate a record. It also takes time after you submit your records for Student Health Services to review them. Please allow sufficient time!

Please note that students who are applying to live in campus housing are required to have a meningococcal meningitis ACYW vaccination within 5 years of July 14, 2023. If you had this vaccination more than 5 years ago, even by one day, a second vaccination is needed (NO EXCEPTIONS). Student Health Services also recommends that students between 16-23 years of age get vaccinated against meningococcal meningitis type B. Please talk to your healthcare provider and request this vaccination.

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