Residence-Based Advising: Making an Informed Advising Choice
All freshmen assigned to live in Maseeh Hall, McCormick Hall, Next House, Chocolate City, and Spanish House are advised through RBA.
Before entering the Freshman Housing Lottery, please be sure to first read all the information in this RBA section to learn how your housing decision will affect your options for freshman advising.
- Benefits of Choosing a Residence-Based Advising Dormitory
- Advising Disadvantages in Choosing a Residence-Based Advising Dormitory
- How to Apply for Both Your Housing Choice and Your RBA Freshman Advising Choice
Benefits of Choosing a Residence-Based Advising Dormitory
The Residence Based Advising Program (RBA) supports your transition to living and learning at MIT by providing academic resources within the residential community. All freshmen assigned to live in Maseeh Hall, Next House, McCormick Hall, Chocolate City, and Spanish House are advised within the RBA program.
- As a freshman in an RBA residence, you will be part of a small group of students advised by a Faculty or staff advisor and by a Resident Associate Advisor (RAA). Because the RAA is an upperclass student who lives in the residence, you always have someone to turn to for questions or support.
- Your RAA is a resource for all things MIT and a direct connection to the culture of your residence. Your Freshman Advisor and your RAA are responsible for making sure you have the information you need to make a smooth transition to MIT. Whether in an advising seminar or in traditional advising, you and your advisor will work together all year long.
- To ensure the continuity and the quality of the advising experience, all freshmen living in RBA dorms make a commitment to live in their RBA community for their entire first year at MIT. Only freshmen assigned to Next House and the participating cultural houses will have the option to enter the Adjustment Lottery during Orientation.
- Students assigned to Next House after the Adjustment Lottery will be assigned to a traditional Next House RBA advisor and have the same commitment to RBA as other students assigned to Next House during the Freshmen Housing Lottery.
- In Maseeh Hall, McCormick Hall and Next House, you may elect to participate in a select group of RBA Freshman Advising Seminars or to be advised by a traditional advisor. See the RBA seminar descriptions for information on the seminars offered to residents of each RBA house.
- You may live in any Residence-Based Advising house and participate in any of the Learning Communities (Terrascope, Experimental Study Group, Concourse, and Media Arts and Sciences). Your freshman advisor, however, will be a faculty or staff member from the Learning Community.
- In Chocolate City and Spanish House, all residents are automatically assigned to a traditional advising group
Advising Disadvantages in Choosing a Residence-Based Advising Dormitory
Be aware that your choice to live in Maseeh, McCormick, or Next House will directly impact your freshman advising choices.
- If you want to participate in a Freshman Advising Seminar, you are restricted to choosing from the available FAS selections in that residence.
- If you are placed in an RBA residence, you will NOT be allowed to participate in any of the seminars outside of Residence-Based Advising.
- If you apply for an RBA seminar but do not get any of your choices, you will be assigned to a Traditional Advisor.
How to Apply for Both Your Housing Choice and Your RBA Freshman Advising Choice
- RBA students who rank RBA dorms among their top five choices must provide their RBA-specific advising preferences on the Summer Housing Lottery page.
- Additionally, ALL freshmen must also fill out the general online non-RBA Freshman Advising Application, whether for Traditional Advising or non-RBA Freshman Advising Seminars. Follow the instructions on Apply for Your Preferred Freshman Advising Option page.
