As the fall semester kicks off, there are still 248 University of Guelph students in limbo on the waitlist for residence.
This is down from 1,250 in June, when it was expected over 1,000 students wouldn’t get a spot – though the number typically changes throughout the summer as students’ plans change.
There were 5,050 spots in total, up from 4,800 as the university added more beds to residence buildings and is utilizing the former Days Inn on Gordon Street.
In 2023, the university offered spots to all students who applied for residence, with only 4,462 students applying. This year, however, there was a surge in incoming first-year students – a record 7,000.
Where it sits now, the waitlist is comparable to 2022 numbers, said Jessamine Luck, stakeholder communications manager for U of G.
“The waitlist changes on a daily basis due to a number of factors, including offering spaces due to cancellations and students removing themselves from the waitlist,” she said.
Even though school has started, she said students are welcome to stay on the waitlist throughout the fall semester “as additional movement can occur and those who remain on the list by the end of the semester will be prioritized for any residence spaces that may open in the winter.”
Any students who were on the waitlist and chose to defer their acceptance until next year are being offered a confirmed spot in residence for 2025, she said.
“This year, the total number of deferral requests was approximately 205, which is in line with previous years. This number represents students who deferred for any reason and so would include students who received a place in residence, did not receive a place in residence and did not apply for residence.”
