I saw on the housing contract that it gives you preferences to roommates, halls, and other things. I filled it out with my first preference being East Halls and my second being Pollock. Is there a part of the contract that I missed where you can put down preferences for certain buildings within those halls? Or is it just a request for the total area in general? Thanks in advance!
You don’t get to choose specific buildings, if I recall correctly.
It gives preferences to roommates, halls etc, and I am also thinking for east halls. West halls are also better right? 
Correct; you only select a dorm complex, not a specific building within the complex.
I have been admitted to penn state university park, for mechanical engineering. The living expenses estimated by them for the first year are 21000$. Does this cost reduce drastically once we live off campus? Please comment
You can request dorm area (EAST, WEST, etc…) not specific dorm buildings.
@“Great player”
@Great player Two things…West isn’t always best for freshmen. Depends on what you are looking for. A lot of upperclassmen live in West so you won’t have as many freshmen there. If you are looking to be with others going through the same things you are, I’d recommend East or Pollock. East is ONLY freshmen. My daughter lives in East this year and loved it. But if you are looking for quiet and people more staying to themselves, then West may be a better fit.
Second…where are you getting $21,000 for housing? Traditional dorms would be about 6k per year. Plus a meal plan. You will be closer to 10k for the year for room and board. Living off campus can be less expensive but it depends on where you live. We own a house that we rent out to students about 5 blocks from campus that is $550 per student per month - so they will pay about $6600 for a year’s rent plus food. So probably same or cheaper than dorms. But they have their own bedroom, full kitchen, living room, dining room etc…The rates are typical for that area. If you live directly downtown, the rates are more for your own bedroom…cheaper if you have 3 in a room. There is a huge variety in rents around state college depending on how far out from campus you are.
But either way, in neither case, will you pay $21,000 for living expenses. Not sure where you saw that.
Actually I am an International student, so for me it is 21000$
@Great player Your residency status makes no difference in housing costs. Tuition, yes…Housing no…
Here are the rates for housing for UP for fall 2016/Spring 2017. Standard double room is about 6k per year.
http://hfs.psu.edu/fall-2016spring-2017#up_undergrad
When will be informed of our housing allocations i. e. which halls, building, etc.? All I did was fill the housing preference in eLiving couple of months back. Nothing after that.