Incoming Undergraduates

Residential Experience

The University of Rochester is a highly residential campus. On-campus living is a major part of the Rochester college experience, and most students call the campus home for their entire four years. First and second year students are required to live on campus. Check out the video below for a virtual tour. 

First-Year Residential Experience (FYRE)

The First-Year Residential Experience (FYRE) is a year-long, structured, residentially-based program for all first-year students designed to help them transition and acclimate smoothly. FYRE consists of peer leaders and staff who are dedicated to supporting you. You will have the opportunity to participate in activities, discussions, and traditions designed to meet the unique needs of your first-year experience. Please see below for more information about FYRE. 

First-Year Residential Experience (FYRE) (pdf)

FYRE Team

 
Your first-year team living in your residence hall consists of an RA, a First-Year Fellow, and a D’lion. They work to increase peer support and encourage academic excellence by connecting students with campus partners.

Resident Advisors (RA) are undergraduate students who live on each residence hall floor. RAs are selected and trained to serve as a campus resource person, mediator, and policy enforcer. RAs plan social and educational activities.

First-Year Fellows are upper-class students who live in first-year residence halls to increase first-year student academic success through coaching and mentoring. They further serve as guides to connect students to appropriate academic resources on campus; they provide tips and education to assist in the academic preparedness and acclimation of first-year students to college life. Follow the First-Year Fellow Instagram @ur_first_year_fellows to stay updated on first-year fellow events!

D’lions are a long serving club on campus. Each member is an undergraduate student who also lives in the halls. They are assigned to assist incoming students with their transition to campus life specifically in the area of social engagement. Additionally, d’lions promote campus spirit, and participate in community service throughout the Rochester area. Follow the D’Lion Instagram @rochesterdlions to stay updated on d’lion events! Here is a link to the First-Year Residential Experience (FYRE) PDF for more information. Under the first subsection add the following subsection about Campus Partners Events.

Campus Partners Events

We are pleased to collaborate with The Learning Center, The Office of Undergraduate Research and Writing Center for programs conveniently located in the first-year residence halls. Feel free to attend!

Although these programs are primarily aimed at first-year students, any student in one of the supported courses is welcome to attend, regardless of their class year.

Study Groups at Night
Study Groups offer an opportunity to study collaboratively with classmates under the guidance of an upper-level undergraduate leader who did well in the same course.

Study Groups at Night (no sign-up required)

2025 Fall Schedule: 9/9 – 12/3

Writing and Speaking Center Tutoring 

Trained undergrad peer tutors to help with the writing process including assistance with the WRTG 105 class and any other writing material.

Writing Study Groups at Night (no sign-up required)

2025 Fall Schedule: 9/9 – 12/3

Office of Undergraduate Research
Stay tuned for forthcoming information from undergraduate Research Ambassadors regarding getting started in research and approaching faculty

 Office of Undergraduate Research : University of Rochester

Campus Housing

Campus housing offers:

• Traditional style residence halls
• Opportunities to form relationships with others, including classmates, upper-level students, graduate students, and faculty and staff
• Reliable connectivity (voice, video, and data)
• Convenient proximity to classes, libraries, and events
• Opportunities to participate in on-campus activities
• Energetic residential, academic, support, social, recreational, and resource programs
• On-site student and professional staff to help with transition and student support

The Office for Residential Life and Housing Services houses first-year students in traditional corridor style halls with engaging programming, supportive upperclassmen mentors, and comfortable spaces.

The First-Year Hill, including Susan B. Anthony and Genesee Halls, is located near Rush Rhees Library and features taller tower-style buildings close to athletics and dining services.

The First-Year Quad, including Gilbert, Tiernan, Hoeing, and Lovejoy Halls, sits on the traditional Residential Quad near Wilson Commons and the center of campus.

Most first-year students will share a double room with another first-year student; however, there also are a limited number of single rooms and triple rooms. Sometimes Lovejoy Hall is used as a first-year hall during large class size years. Students can also indicate an interest to live in affinity housing as a first-year student.

Housing for Transfer Students

Most University of Rochester students live on campus, and Rochester welcomes transfer students to join our residential undergraduate community as much as possible. However, we cannot always accommodate every transfer student who wants to live on campus.

Spring transfer students may find it easier to obtain housing on-campus. Transfer students are encouraged to fill out the application as soon as they receive it.

More Information

We encourage you to read the residential life materials carefully. They are designed to help you prepare for living at the University of Rochester.

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to visit us at the Office for Residential Life in 020 Gates Hall (Susan B. Anthony Halls), call (585) 275-3166, or email us at housing@reslife.rochester.edu.