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Room Selection

Room selection for first-year students begins April 1

Before you begin

Not us over-explaining everything...

We broke this process down in extreme detail so you don't miss anything!

If you have a roommate, whichever of you has the earliest selection date should do the process and assign everyone. Only one student needs to complete the process for all roommates.

PSA: If you know who you want to room with, you must have each other locked in as roommates in My College Roomie. 

How does that work? One roommate must request the other to be their roommate, and that request needs to be accepted by the other student.

We recommend selecting a room on a laptop/desktop vs. your phone.

How to select a room

1. Log in to CatPAWS
2. Click Housing
3. Navigate into the Housing System
4. Click 2024-25
5. Click Select My Room
6. Select a Shared Room and hit Next
   NOTE: If you plan on living in a private room, you will want to select private.
7. Review your roommate list (if applicable)
   a. If your roommate(s) is correct, click Next
   b. If your roommate(s) is not correct, click Manage My Roommate
8. Choose your room by clicking on the campus map!
   a. (Click the Residence Halls box. Make sure to select your residence hall, floor and floor section!)

How to navigate

• Any item with a green border or a green bed icon is an available space
• Any item with a red border or a red bed icon is not available
• Tip: Clicking a red bed icon lets you see who is assigned there and their lifestyle preferences.
• If you need to go back, click the Northwest Missouri State University hyperlink directly above the map graphic.

9. Select a green bed icon to select a room
   a. You will have seven minutes to complete the remainder of the process or your room will be released.
   b. If you wish to change your selection, click Release Room

10. Use the drop-down menu(s) to assign yourself and your roommate (if applicable) a specific bed space
    a. If you choose to live in a private room:
           1. Assign yourself first to the first bed space
           2. Select Buyout this Bed Space on the second-bed space/
    Note: This step must be completed to reserve a private room
11. Scroll down and choose Next
12. Click Finish

Review your selections by clicking View My Assignments.

Meal plans

We will contact you in late May to select your meal plan. In the meantime, you can check out those options here (page 13). 

Need help?

Email reslife@nwmissouri.edu with your question(s). Please include your Northwest 919# so we can respond as quickly as possible. This email account will be monitored constantly during regular business hours on selection days. 

Call 660.562.1214 or 660.562.1430. We strongly encourage you to email first, but if more immediate assistance is needed don’t hesitate to call.

What time do I select my room on my assigned day?

You will receive an email with your specific selection date and time before your selection date. After April 10, 2024, students may apply for housing and select their room in the same day.

Will I need to match with my roommate in My College Roomie?

Yes. Even if you haven't entered My College Roomie and have a roommate match outside of the system, you will still need to enter My College Roomie and match with one another to select a room. 

What happens if my chosen roommate has a different selection day than me?

As long as you have locked yourself in as roommates in My College Roomie, whichever of you has the earliest selection date will be able to book you both in a room together. On selection day, only one person in each roommate pair needs to do the process.

Why are students with roommates able to select a day earlier?

Finding a good roommate match is very important!

After all, you're going to be sharing a single room for nine months. Students who aren't spending their energy on roommate conflicts can focus on classroom and overall college success.

What if I want a private room?

Northwest allows incoming first-year students to buy out the 2nd bed in their room for an additional $825/semester. This is permitted in Dieterich and Millikan Halls only.

Any student who buys out their room will qualify to select their room on the first day of their applicant group.

For example, a November 1st applicant who buys out their room can select on April 1 as if they have a roommate and not wait until the next day.

If this is the first time you are logging in to CatPAWS, you will need to set up your Northwest email account first. 

• Once in CatPAWS, select the Housing tab and navigate to the Housing System
• Click 2024-2025
• Start Your Housing Application by selecting
  • Option 1: Click Start LLC Application for a major-based Living Learning Community
  • Option 2: Click Start Housing Application for Bearcat Living Communities (first-year housing)
• If you applied to an LLC, continue to complete your housing application.

Are you a commuter?

• Meet the requirements of a commuter and plan on living off-campus.
  • Submit your commuter card.