Skip to main content
Southeast Missouri State University
Audience  Search  Menu 

You are here:

  1. Home
  2. Blog
  3. Insider Tips for Deciding on a Residence Hall | SEMO

Insider Tips for Deciding on a Residence Hall

Continue to main content
  • Becoming a Redhawk
Published: May 09, 2018

Share Options

  • Share to Twitter
  • Share to Facebook
  • Share to Linkedin

Living on campus can provide some of the most memorable experiences in your college career. You’ll be gaining your first feelings of independence, meeting new people and making life-long friends. It’s also a commitment you won’t want to take lightly. There are a lot of considerations in choosing the right residence hall, and we’re here to give you the tips you need to make the right decision.

  1. Location Location Location
    Southeast’s campus is beautiful. It’s also located in Southeast Missouri, which means HILLS. Physical activity is important for health and wellness, but when most of your classes are in Magill Hall and you live in Vandiver Hall (and you have a tendency to be late to class…), you might wish you had picked LaFerla Hall instead. Thankfully, Southeast’s shuttle service runs across campus throughout the day, so you’ll likely be able to catch a ride! Also, consider where your residence hall is in relation to other parts of campus. For example, Merick Hall overlooks Houck Field. Perfect for game days, because you can watch the game from the lounge! But if you aren’t really into that kind of thing or you prefer the quiet, watch out for morning marching band and football practices on the field.
  2. Community Style vs. Suite Style vs. Apartment Style
    When looking at Southeast’s residence halls, consider what type of living situation fits your personality best. Community style housing is great for those who don’t mind sharing bathrooms as well as common areas. Enjoy the perks of socializing with the people in your hall! Suite style housing is comprised of multiple bedrooms adjoined by a bathroom and living area, and sometimes even a kitchenette. This option gives students more privacy, but you’ll still get to know your suitemates. Apartment style living is usually one bedroom, one bathroom. This gives you the most privacy, but if you’re a social butterfly, you’ll want to venture out.
  3. Special Interest Housing
    Southeast’s Special Interest Housing are residence halls dedicated to students with specific interests. Are you an education major? In the Honors Program? Studying Cybersecurity? You can live in a residence hall with people in your classes. This is awesome because you’ll be spending so much time making connections with these people. You can support each other, study together and build life-long relationships.
  4. Food is Fuel
    If you fancy yourself a chef, consider choosing a residence hall with a kitchenette. It’s not a full-blown kitchen, but it will have what you need to get through late-night study sessions. And if you HATE to cook, pick up a mini-fridge and stock it with all the snacks and leftovers from the dining halls. You’ll thank me later.
  5. Freshmen Only
    Much like the Living-Learning Communities, there are halls reserved just for freshmen students. A lot of you are going through similar experiences when you move on campus, and it may be hard to deal with all on your own. Many times, upperclassmen have already created friend-groups and may not be as receptive to a younger crowd anymore. Living in a freshmen-only hall will give you the opportunity to go through the transition from high school to college together.

Explore Categories

  • Why Southeast?
  • Becoming a Redhawk
  • Southeast Services
  • Conquering College
  • Your Best Years
  • Take It From Us

Site Menu

Southeast Missouri State University

Secondary

  • Apply
  • Visit
  • Request Info
  • Give

Site

  • Academics
    • Program Finder
    • Undergraduate
    • Graduate
    • Online
    • Early College Programs
    • Study Abroad
    • Research
    • Honors Program
  • Admissions & Aid
    • Admission Requirements
    • How to Apply
    • Paying for College
    • Visiting SEMO
    • Admission Events
    • Meet the Team
  • Life at SEMO
    • Living on Campus
    • Dining
    • Student Life
    • Events
    • Traditions
    • Cape Girardeau
  • Student Support
    • Academic Support
    • Career Support
    • Health & Wellness
    • Diversity & Inclusion
    • Financial Services
    • Dean of Students
    • Military & Veteran Services

Secondary

  • Apply
  • Visit
  • Request Info
  • Give

Quick Links

  • About
  • News
  • Southeast Online
  • Economic & Workforce Development
  • Colleges & Departments
  • Offices & Services
  • People Directory
  • Athletics
  • University Foundation
  • En Español
  • Institutional Data

Audience Links

Southeast Missouri State University

Resources for you.

  • Current Students
  • Parents & Families
  • Accepted Students
  • Counselors
  • Alumni
  • Faculty & Staff
  • Donors
  • Community Partners

Info For:

  • Current Students
  • Parents & Families
  • Accepted Students
  • Counselors
  • Alumni
  • Faculty & Staff
  • Donors
  • Community Partners

Current Students Resources for you

Featured Links

  • Canvas
  • mySEMO
  • Email
  • SupportNET
  • University Calendar
  • Campus Map
  • Office Directory
  • People Directory
  • People Search
  • University Closings

Academics

  • Program Finder
  • Academic Calendar
  • Academic Advising
  • Academics
  • Course Catalog
  • Register for Classes
  • Registrar
  • Help Desk
  • Kent Library

Paying for College

  • Pay My Bill
  • Financial Services
  • Student Employment
  • Financial Calendar

Student Life

  • Apply for Housing
  • Residence Hall Association
  • Student Transportation
  • Dining
  • SE Link
  • Dean of Students

Career Services

  • Schedule an Appointment
  • Handshake Jobs
  • Resources
  • Events

Parents & Families Resources for you

Featured Links

  • Family/Parents
  • Family Weekend
  • About Southeast
  • Campus Map
  • Academic Calendar
  • Office Directory
  • People Directory

Your Student

  • Admissions
  • New Student Programs
  • Opening Week
  • Financial Services
  • Residence Life
  • Academic Support
  • Health and Wellness
  • Dean of Students
  • Department of Public Safety

Accepted Students Resources for you

Featured Links

  • Admissions
  • Camp Redhawk
  • Engage in 8
  • First Step
  • First Year Experience
  • New Student Programs
  • Textbook Rental
  • University Calendar

Academic Advising

  • Academic Calendar
  • Program Finder
  • Schedule an Appointment

Career Services

  • Schedule an Appointment
  • Handshake Jobs

Paying for College

  • Financial Aid
  • Scholarships
  • Payments

Student Life

  • Apply for Housing
  • Residence Life
  • Dining
  • Student Orgnizations

Counselors Resources for you

Featured Links

  • Office of Admissions
  • Find My Admissions Counselor
  • Counselor Resources
  • College Planning
  • Early College Programs

Applying to SEMO

  • Admissions Requirements
  • How to Apply
  • Deadlines
  • Test Optional

Financial Aid

  • FAFSA
  • SEMO Scholarships
  • Cost and Affordability

Launching Careers

  • Academics
  • Outcomes
  • Career Services

Alumni Resources for you

Featured Links

  • Alumni Association
  • Update Your Information
  • Share Your Story
  • Employment
  • Office Directory
  • Southeast News
  • People Directory

Get Connected

  • Alumni Events
  • Campus Events
  • Show SEMO Spirit

Give Back

  • Giving to SEMO
  • Get Involved
  • Annual Fund

Faculty & Staff Resources for you

Featured Links

  • Profile Spotlight Form
  • Offices and Services
  • People Directory
  • People Search
  • mySEMO
  • Email
  • Academic Calendar
  • University Calendar
  • Campus Map
  • SupportNET
  • Kent Library
  • Human Resources
  • Training and Development
  • University Closings
  • SE Alerts
  • WebQ
  • Southeast News

Faculty Resources

  • Faculty Senate
  • Canvas
  • Center for Teaching and Learning

Staff Resources

  • Professional Staff Council
  • CTS Staff Council

Facilities

  • Work Order/Order Supplies Request
  • Central Receiving

Donors Resources for you

Featured Links

  • Giving to SEMO
  • University Foundation
  • Office Directory
  • People Directory

Making an Impact

  • Student Stories
  • Ways to Give
  • Student Emergency Fund
  • Get Involved

Connecting with SEMO

  • Alumni Association
  • Alumni Events
  • Academics
  • Redhawk Athletics

Community Partners Resources for you

Featured Links

  • Economic and Workforce Development
  • Continuing Education
  • Factbook
  • About Southeast
  • Career Services
  • University Foundation
  • University Communications
  • People Directory
  • People Search

Workforce Development

  • Small Business and Technology Development Center
  • Southeast Online
  • Regional Professional Development Center
  • Alumni Association

Community Service

  • Southeast Serves
  • Office of Campus Life
  • Office of Greek Life
  • Redhawk Athletics

Media Inquiries

  • Southeast News
  • Redhawk Sports Information
One University Plaza Cape Girardeau, MO 63701
(573) 651-2000
Contact Us

Social

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin
  • Youtube

Campuses

  • Cape Girardeau
  • River Campus
  • Kennett
  • Sikeston
  • Poplar Bluff

Campus Links

  • News
  • Athletics
  • Events
  • Accreditations
  • Show Me Center

Social

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin
  • Youtube

Footer

  • Employment
  • Accessibility
  • Nondiscrimination Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sunshine Law

© 2023 SEMO