What possible issues might I encounter with student housing as a Jewish student? How can I avoid them?

There can be many difficulties associated with living in college housing as Jewish student, and you may be required to do so, at least for your freshman year. Difficulties can include walking up several flights of stairs or avoid using electric keys on Shabbat, sharing a kitchen with students that don’t observe kashrut, or sharing a communal bathroom with students of the opposite gender. The best way to avoid any potential issues is to know what issues there might be and to be in touch with colleges early and frequently. Read “All About Campus Housing” for more information on possible issues, what you should be asking colleges about student housing, and some guidelines for advocating for your needs as an observant Jewish student. While some colleges will accommodate your religious needs (such as Jewish roommates or specific floors), ask to make sure this is the case before picking the college. Additionally most accommodation requests need to be in early, so make sure once you choose a college you are familiar with the application process for student housing, submit everything ahead of the deadlines, and follow-up if you don’t receive any confirmation. Finally, many of the most popular colleges for Orthodox yeshiva high school graduates also have an OU-JLIC couple you can contact today for more information or help on this.