Carleton College is a residential college; therefore, all students, except those married or having dependent children living with them, must live in College-operated residences and participate in the College dining plan. The College recognizes the benefits associated with independent living environments and, as a result, offers a limited number of releases from the residency requirement through the Northfield Option program.

Northfield Option will be offered to Seniors only. With the addition of Cassat and Memorial Halls, we will only need 100 seniors to live in non-College owned housing. We continue to believe that seniors should receive the first opportunities to live in apartments in Northfield. Although, we are aware that frequently seniors are hoping to live with juniors in apartments off campus, we must caution that seniors may receive the only offers.

We will take Northfield Option requests this year at 6 p.m. on Monday, February 15. Seniors or proxies of seniors off campus this term are invited to come to Olin 149 for the Northfield Option Draw. Seniors will apply in order of lottery number. Randomly assigned housing lottery numbers will determine placement with 1001 being the best number available. There is no sign up before the Northfield Option Draw.

Like Room Draw, seniors will be able to select roommates for the Northfield Option Draw. Each senior will be allowed to include up to four other seniors in their request for Northfield Option. After sign up, seniors offered Northfield Option will have two weeks to secure an apartment and submit a confirmation that they are accepting Northfield Option.

Who's eligible?

Students who will be classified by the Registrar’s Office as seniors beginning Fall Term of the following year are eligible to apply to live in non-College owned housing.

Do I need to reapply each year?

DO I NEED TO REAPPLY EACH YEAR? Yes, all students must reapply each year for Northfield Option. In other words, students who currently have Northfield Option are not guaranteed Northfield Option for the next year.

How to apply

WHAT DO I DO? You may request Northfield Option for yourself and up to four proposed roommates by attending Northfield Option Draw on February 15 and submitting your name and the names of your proposed roommates along with an Agreement to Reside in Northfield Housing which is available online. If offered, you and any proposed roommates will have two weeks to return the signed offer letter to Residential Life. If you are off campus, you must designate a housing proxy who can act on your behalf for the Northfield Option Draw.

Do not sign a lease for off-campus accommodations until you have been offered Northfield Option and returned your acceptance form. A signed lease agreement does not guarantee that you will get Northfield Option.

HOW DO I ACCEPT IF OFFERED? It is imperative that you return your acceptance letter by 5 p.m. on the date indicated on the approval letter. Failure to respond by the deadline is interpreted as declining Northfield Option and an offer is extended to another student.

WHAT IF I DON’T RECEIVE AN OFFER?

• Seniors who apply for Northfield Option at the Northfield Option Draw on February 15 and are not offered Northfield Option will be placed on the wait list in order by lottery number.

WHAT IF I DECIDE TO APPLY AFTER THE DRAW?

• Seniors who apply for Northfield Option after the lottery number sign-up will no longer be offered based on their lottery number but rather on a “first come, first served” basis according to request date. Sign up after the Draw will be in the Office of Residential Life, Sevy G10.

Read the Northfield Option FAQs