First-Year Residential Experience

Welcome to the FOREST

Introducing the First-year Orientation and Residential Experience for Student Transformation. The FOREST at Lake Forest College aims to introduce all students to a rich and vibrant campus community.

What is the first-year residential experience?

By building small residential communities within each first-year residence hall, we are able to foster a transformational experience for first-year students.

Creating a strong sense of community and shared experience for all first-years on campus
Creating a community lounge for each wing of eighteen students, allowing the physical environment to shape academic and interpersonal behavior in positive ways
Training RAs to focus on first-year experiences and student needs unique to this population of students
Building close-knit communities of first-year students by keeping a low RA-to-student ratio

Housing application

We’re excited to help you take the next steps to make Lake Forest College your home away from home. One business day after the Student Information Form is submitted, you will be granted access to the housing application.

You can access the application by clicking the “my.housing” link on the my.lakeforest home screen once you’ve logged in.

After you complete the housing application, you may request a roommate under the 'Room and Roommate Selection' section in the housing portal. First year students will not select their room, but they can reuqest to match with one other person if they wish. Change the term to Fall and look up the name of the student you want to be your roommate. If that student has completed a housing application, you will find their name. Request them! They will get a message in their housing portal that you have requested them, and they will need to accept the request.

First-Year students may only request one roommate, even if they plan to live in an adjoined double. Residence Life will match you with other students, based on the lifestyle questions answered on the housing application, to fill the room.

my.lakeforest

Important Dates and Arrival Information

May 15 – July 1

Housing Application is available for new students (priority submission deadline is June 15); one roommate can be requested on the housing portal during this same timeframe once an application is completed by both students.

July 15

Room assignments will be sent via email.

Where will I live?

First-year students will live in four residence halls located on South Campus: Roberts, Gregory, McClure, and Nollen.

Roberts, Gregory, and McClure are identical in layout and will be divided in such a way to create six distinct First-Year Communities in each hall. Each Community will house seventeen first-year students with one RA. In addition to the student rooms, each Community will have its own study room and community lounge for the residents. Nollen will house both first-year and returning students, but First-Year Communities will be assigned to their own wings of the building.

Residence Halls and Rooms

aerial view of harlan and blackstone halls

Residence Halls and Rooms

Lake Forest College has ten residence halls, on-campus apartments, and opportunities for living off campus in the local area and in the city of Chicago.

What to Bring

Trying to decide what all to pack and bring to college can be stressful! Don’t worry, each residence hall room includes the necessary furniture – a bed, mattress, desk, desk chair, closet or wardrobe and dresser for each resident of the room.

Want to meet your future classmates or find a roommate?

ZeeMee is a social app designed for the college journey where you can join the admitted student chat, connect with students who share your interests, take the roommate quiz, and participate in live social events!

Join ZeeMee

Conduct and Damages Fridge/Microwave Rental Housing Accessibility Accommodations Housing and Dining Costs Laundry and Linens Residence Life Staff