What is overflow housing?

Overflow housing is a process that BGSU and many other universities open to ensure students who need a room on campus are able to be assigned if they are not able to select during room selection in May. Every year, we have students who forget to cancel their housing contract or decide to commute from home after they select a room. Over time, the true amount of beds available will open up, it's just a matter of time.

It is important to note that students in overflow housing WILL receive a room assignment before they arrive on campus for the Fall semester.

kreischer-room-roommates

How can a student be in overflow housing?

Students can get into overflow housing two ways:

  1. By selecting into overflow housing during room selection week in May.
  2. Automatically placed into overflow housing, this happens if you apply for housing after the May 1 deadline.

There may be a point during Room Selection that you see overflow housing show as the only option to select into. If that is the case you will want to do the following:

  • You need to select an overflow room before room selection closes.
  • This tells us you are committed to living on campus next year, and the housing team will assign you to a room when space opens.
  • After you select your overflow room, the housing team will start working on your final room assignment.
  • Throughout the summer, the housing team will look at the room occupancy across campus and remove students who submit cancellations and pair students who are assigned to a double room without a roommate. Over time, the true amount of beds available will open up, and you will be notified as soon as your room assignment is secured.

Make sure you are checking your BGSU email account. Our office will send all updates to you through email.

Please note: If you plan on living on campus but do not select into overflow housing our housing team will not know you want to live on campus and we will not place you in a room as space opens up.

Final room assignments will be allocated

Aug. 8, 2025

Do I get anything from being in overflow housing?

Yes, by selecting into overflow housing you unlock:

  • Access to the room change and waitlist process that will open at the end of May.
  • The ability to schedule your move-in time for Aug. 

Overflow Housing FAQs

What buildings do students in overflow housing get assigned to?

Statistically, you are more likely to be assigned to a room in Kreischer Quad than any other residence hall because it has the most bed space, but you could be assigned to a room in any building that has an opening over the summer.

New students will only be assigned to buildings and floors with new students, and returning students will only be assigned to returning student spaces.

What if I am in overflow housing but I want a room in a specific building?

You will need to follow the room change and waitlist request process when it opens. You will have an equal opportunity to be assigned to a room through those processes, and assignments will be granted in the order they are received.

I had to select overflow housing, do I still have the RSG I created?

If both members of your RSG have to select an overflow room, you will have access to our Room Change Process. When that opens, both you and your roommate will need to submit a Room Change request. This will allow you to request a room in a building with that person as your roommate when a room opens up.

How will I know if I have been moved out of overflow housing?

Our housing team will be working hard over the summer to move students from overflow housing into their final room assignments. You will get an email from the Office of Student Housing to your BGSU email account when you have been assigned a room. You can also check your Housing Portal, room assignments can be found on the left-hand side of the home page.

How does Student Housing “find rooms” to place people after selection closes?

Student Housing has rooms that they keep closed during room selection and open when we are placing students from overflow housing into rooms. These rooms are typically three or four-person rooms.

Updated: 03/14/2025 10:26AM