Incoming Transfer Student Information

Welcome to the Transfer Experience!

Geneseo is a residential college with a compassionate Residence Life staff that values belonging and seeks ways to highlight Transfer Students and their many attributes to the campus community. Transfer students come to Geneseo with rich and diverse college experiences. We honor these experiences and hope to have these perspectives shared widely in the residence halls. In addition, it is essential to ensure that our transfer students can transition to Geneseo smoothly and have the best information to set them up for success. 

This page provides transfer students with information about requirements, options, and opportunities each step of the way!

Our Prospective Student Information page is also relevant to transfer students.

Pre Acceptance Information

Where do incoming students live?

Our incoming students live throughout the residential campus (North, Central, and South Villages), and all areas provide a variety of offerings. Most students live in double rooms in corridor communities. About half of our incoming students live in Living Learning Communities (LLCs)! We have a number of single rooms available for first-year students who deposit and apply early.

An LLC is a floor or building where those of similar academic fields, interests, hobbies, or identities come together to live. A few of our LLCs involve courses, others have specialized programming, and some are cohort communities—where people of similar interests live together. LLCs can be a great way to meet people in your first year!

Please visit the LLC website for more information.

If you want to live with other transfer students, there is also a Transfer Student Experience LLC with transfer student mentors who focused on creating a positive living environment geared toward supporting and connecting community members.

For more information on LLCs please see our website here.

How does roommate selection work?

While a small number of students prefer a specific person they would like to live with, most incoming students are assigned to a room with a roommate by Residence Life. While this can be stressful for some students, living with and being open to living with new people is one of the great experiences of college. Our housing software system asks basic lifestyle questions that are used to match you with your future roommate. You can expect questions about cleanliness, guests, and other lifestyle questions. The top predictor of success in a roommate group is the willingness to communicate and compromise.

Though rare, some transfer students know another Geneseo student with whom they would like to live. This information can be included in the housing application. 

Transfer students are not automatically matched with other transfer students. For those who wish to live with other transfers, the Transfer Student Experience LLC is a great option.

What is the Residency Requirement

SUNY Geneseo believes on-campus living is a key component of the educational experience. Therefore, there is a residency requirement.

Fall transfer students admitted with fewer than 30 credits (exclusive of AP credits or credits obtained by testing), must live on campus for two academic years (4 semester). Spring transfer students admitted with fewer than 30 credits (exclusive of AP credits or credits obtained by testing), must live on campus for the remainder of that academic year (spring) and the following academic year (3 semesters). 

The residency requirement and the housing contract are different. Housing contracts are for the entire academic year, regardless of the residency requirement status. Once a student has filled out the housing application, they are agreeing to living on campus in a residence hall for the entire academic year. SUNY Geneseo guarantees housing for all undergraduates. Students should be sure they want to live on campus before submitting an application if they are not residency required, as that submission does create a binding contract.

Please note that once a student files a housing application, they are agreeing to a full-year contract. 

For more information on residency requirements, housing confirmations, and waivers/releases from housing, please visit the housing website.

Deposited Student Information

After depositing and setting up your My Geneseo account, you will have access to the Symplicity Housing Portal. The application is available on March 1 for Fall admits and on November 1 for Spring admits.

Visit the New Student Housing page for more information about setting up a roommate group, submitting a housing application, and locating new student housing. 

Transfer specific FAQs:

Are there different options available to Spring Transfers than to Fall Transfers?

Most available spaces in the spring will be where early graduates, study abroad, and other students have vacated rooms. This often means that we may have less availability in popular housing choices or LLCs. We strongly urge students to apply and deposit as early as possible for the best housing selection.

I am transferring in for Fall. Can I participate in housing selection?

Only current returning students can participate in the April housing selection process. We place our incoming transfer students along with our incoming freshmen over the summer in the order they deposited. 

I want to live with a current Geneseo student. How can I do that?

There is a selection on the housing application to select a current student as a roommate. To request a current returning student you will need to input their information on your application. Placement is also dependent on available space in their room or unit. We are not able to remove another roommate from their assigned room. If we are unable to place you together immediately, you are welcome to request a room change during the open room change process.

How do I live with another transfer student?

The Transfer Student Experience LLC is a great option for those wanting to live with another transfer student on a transfer floor. These floors are usually in upper level housing and provides opportunities to meet other upper-level students. The floor has a transfer RAs and programming designed to assist in transitioning to Geneseo. This is usually suite-style housing and is popular with our upper-level students.

I didn't initially think I wanted to live on campus but now I do. How do I do that?

We guarantee housing for undergraduate students, and we encourage students regardless of their residence requirement status to live on campus. If you've decided to live on campus for the first time, or after living off campus, just reach out to us and we will help you to secure on-campus housing.