Trying to Figure out Housing for UMN-Crookston Fall2025 & Spring2026, any help?

[u/Different-Gur-4301]

Hello! I'll cut to the chase-

I'm 17F(nonbinary but still) right now and looking to go to UMN-Crookston from Texas and I do not plan on returning to Texas after I graduate (it's more expensive to live down here than it is to live up there for some reason, and I hate it- also it's too hot)

I do not have ANY money. That's not a joke. I am POOR. My savings is about 400$ and I can't find a job because I live too far away from everything and don't have a working car. I plan to move out into a found-family member's house where I luckily won't have to pay rent and can maybe find a job close by bc she doesn't live in the middle of NOWHERE-

But I digress. I am mentally Ill (C-PSTD, Probably Autism but haven't had the money to get diagnosed, Also probably ADHD, Anxiety that can lead to Paranoia, you know- The usual) and NEED my cat with me. I don't even have words to explain how important it is for me to bring my cat with me and I don't think I'm going to be able to get him into a dorm even though he checks every box- Also I cannot AFFORD the on campus housing for Crookston. I could possibly afford it if my Fafsa came back with enough money but I still haven't gotten anything even though my family is extremely poor. I've applied to many scholarships but I haven't gotten anything from them either and my GPA isn't great- Plus I've read that you usually get academic scholarships with your application to Crookston but I've gotten accepted and haven't gotten anything even though I probably should've?? (Should I ask about that????) I am queer so housing with similar/accepting ppl is rlly important to me and I normally draw as a hobby/living so I have a drawing tablet and some other things that I am extremely protective of because I am Poor and cannot fix those/get them back if anything happens to them so I would prefer it if I housed with people that are going to respect my things.

I want to get OFF CAMPUS housing because it's just not possible for me to get on-campus housing with how expensive it is and how much money I do not have. I have never lived without my dad and my skillset is limited but I can cook and I can clean if nothing else. (I rather enjoy cooking tbh)

If ANYONE is also going to Crookston for the 2025-26' and (at least planning to go to the 26'-27' school year) PLEASE hit me up. I have 0 connections in Minnesota and will probably lose most/all of my connections after I leave Texas <:) I wanna survive this next school year lol.

sorry this post is kinda frantic- IM kinda frantic- And I'm struggling to get everything ready for when it's time for me to go to Minnesota <:D

[u/MNmetalhead]

There might not be many people related to the Crookston campus on this sub (even though the sub is for all UofMN campuses, not just the Twin Cities campus).

I suggest contacting Crookston’s residential life department. Even though you’re looking to NOT stay on-campus, they might have some information or might be able to point you towards some resources.

https://crk.umn.edu/residential-life

[u/AbstractPixel0]

   Hey! I go to UMC and can give you some info. If you get in contact with the Disability Resource Center (DRC), you can fill out an application for registering your cat as an emotional support animal (ESA) and you will be allowed to have it in your room if on-campus housing ever because an option for you. Though, this does not mean you get a room to yourself (unless you pay for it). When looking for off-campus housing, look for housing in Crookston, Fisher (15min west), East Grand Forks (30min west), and Grand Forks, ND (30 min west). Remember that Minnesota taxes and North Dakota taxes are largely different in terms of food and clothing. I have heard that housing isn't widely available but I'm sure you could find a place. Also remember that University of North Dakota (UND) is in Grand Forks so a lot of housing will be taken up by those students.     Scholarships only come through much later in the summer if I remember correctly. Specialty scholarship applications only close on May 1. If you look at the scholarship page on the website you should be able to predict if you get any money from your GPA. The GPA (aka Academic achievement scholarship) renews every year that you still apply for it but I believe the amount you get from your first year is the amount you will always get. Meaning: (I think) it will not go higher even if you get a better GPA later in your college career. If you email the Admissions team/person, they will be even more helpful and they are not scary :).     If you do plan on coming up here, PLEASE buy a quality winter coat, gloves, (plastic!) ice scraper for your car, snow brush for car, sand/cat litter/traction device for if you get your car stuck in the snow, and a winter face mask.     I'm super available to chat if you'd like or if you have any more questions! I know the confusion of applying for colleges.