Shared Interest Living Communities provide an opportunity for groups of students to live together for the purpose of exploring a common interest. The group defines goals and objectives, and members of the group agree to work toward achieving the stated goals. In order to qualify as a Shared Interest Community, the group must demonstrate how through living together the goals of the group will be enhanced. In other words, will the group be more successful if they live together than if they don’t?

So, what is a group? A group can be any size, single sex or coed and can be formed for any purpose that is consistent with the goals of a liberal arts education at Carleton. Examples of groups that have flourished in the past include: Science Fiction, Story-Telling, Community Service, Religious Diversity, Sign Language, Farm and Greenhouse. Groups can request housing within a traditional residence hall or one of the College's small houses. Groups are never awarded College apartments such as those located in Stadium or Dow House.

If you are interested in living in one of the existing Shared Interest Living Communities or would like to create your own community, please stop by the Office of Residential Life for specific information. Applications for the following academic year are available during winter term.