63 first years and 137 sophomores switch residences through FYRE and SYRE

Number of FYRE applications lowest in five years

By Kristina Chen and Nicole Chan Sep. 8, 2021

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Reddit
• Email
• Print

Approximately 550 first-year students moved onto campus Aug. 28–30, “joining more than 1,024 students who had previously arrived for FPOPs, international student orientation programs, orientation, and REX,” David Friedrich, Senior Associate Dean of Housing and Residential Services (HRS), wrote in an email to The Tech. 

This data does not include student athletes or students who transitioned from SHARP summer housing to their Fall 2021 housing assignments in early August. There are “more than 3,400 total campus residents that are expected to have arrived after the Labor Day holiday,” Friedrich wrote.

First-year and sophomore students were able to move into different resident halls by participating in the opt-in First Year Residence Exchange (FYRE) and Sophomore Year Residence Exchange (SYRE) programs, respectively. Students who wished to change their building assignments for the 2021–2022 academic year filled out online applications for the exchange program, according to the Division of Student Life website. SYRE was offered twice, once virtually between June 18 and 23, and once in-person for sophomores participating in S’more Welcome activities.

Of 1,184 members of the Class of 2025, 89 submitted FYRE applications for a 7.5% participation rate. The participation rate was approximately 11% in Fall 2019, 12% in Fall 2018, 11% in Fall 2017, and 13% in Fall 2016.

As a result of FYRE, 63 first years moved between residence halls. New Vassar and New House were the most popular choices for the Class of 2025, followed by MacGregor House and Next House. Simmons Hall saw the largest number of requests to move out at 19, followed by East Campus, Baker House, and New Vassar.

Of 1,076 members of the Class of 2024, 175 participated in virtual SYRE for a rate of 16%, and 108 successfully switched residence halls. 

For virtual SYRE, Next House was the most popular choice, followed by MacGregor House, New Vassar, and Simmons Hall. New Vassar received the most requests to move out at 50, followed by Maseeh Hall, Simmons Hall, and Next House.

For in-person SYRE, 64 sophomores submitted applications, and 29 successfully moved between residence halls. 

For in-person SYRE, MacGregor House was the most popular choice, followed by Next House, New House, and Simmons Hall. New Vassar once again received the most requests to move out, followed by Maseeh Hall, Next House, and Simmons Hall.

The SYRE process was launched by the team at HRS in collaboration with DormCon and Room Assignment Chairs in order to “help sophomores explore MIT’s residential communities as many students did not have the opportunity to live on campus during the previous academic year,” Senior Communications Manager Zachary Tsetsos wrote in an email to The Tech on Sept. 7.

FYRE and SYRE data in this article were provided to The Tech by Tsetsos.