Real Talk: Finding Your Home at TCU
Where you live shapes everything about your first year. It's the friendships you build
at 11 p.m. in the hallway, the study groups that form in the common room, the sense
of belonging that takes root before you even know it's happening. That's exactly what
our latest Real Talk livestream tackled — and Craig Allen came ready.
Dean of Admission Mandy Castro was joined by Craig Allen, Executive Director for Housing
& Residence Life and Fraternity & Sorority Life, for a full hour of honest, practical
conversation about what residential life at TCU actually looks like. Whether you're
weighing your college options, trying to understand the housing application process
or a parent with a list of questions, this one was built for you.
What Makes TCU a Residential Campus
TCU is residential by design — approximately 5,000 students live on campus, and that's
not an accident. Craig talked about how the residential experience is built to do
more than provide a bed. Living on campus at TCU is where students develop responsibility,
learn to navigate different perspectives and find their people.
Navigating the Residence Hall Options
One of the most common questions families have is simple: where will I live? Craig
walked through TCU's full range of options — from first-year halls like Clark, Foster,
Colby and the newly added Hill & Walsh Halls, to mixed-classification options like
Milton Daniel, to upper-division housing including apartments like Tom Brown/Pete
Wright, Liberty Lofts and Molly Reid Hall.
The key takeaway: there's no single "right" answer. Different halls offer different experiences, and the housing application process is designed to help students find the fit that works best for them.
The Housing Application Process
Craig broke down the timeline and what students can expect after committing. The big
dates to keep front of mind: the housing application opens May 1 — the same day as
the enrollment commitment deadline — and closes May 15. Don't wait.
Living On Campus and What to Expect
From Resident Advisors to community programming to what the halls actually feel like
day-to-day, Craig gave an honest picture of the residential experience at TCU. The
throughline was clear: the connections students make in their residence halls are
often the ones that last.
This recap only scratches the surface. Craig covered a lot more in the full hour,
and if housing is still a question mark for your family, it's worth watching from
the beginning. The conversation was practical, specific and genuinely useful — exactly
what this series is designed to be.
Dates You Need to Know
- May 1 — Enrollment commitment deposit due; housing application opens
- May 15 — Housing application closes
- June 1 — Final application deadline for transfer students applying for fall 2026
Stay Connected
- Email: frogmail@tcu.edu
- Phone: 817-257-7490
- Apply: tcu.edu/apply
- Housing: housing.tcu.edu