Housing

University Housing & Dining Services & Inter-Hall Council (IHC) presents the annual - Rank My Room Contest - at Western Illinois University

Rank My Room Contest 2024-2025

University Housing & Dining Services and Inter-Hall Council are excited to announce the 11th annual Rank My Room Contest! Formerly known as the Coolest Room Contest, this contest is open to all Western Illinois University students living in the Residence Halls.

Show off your space for a chance to win!

Prizes

  • 1st Place: 2nd Generation Apple Airpods 
  • 2nd Place: Google Home Mini
  • 3rd Place: 25 Rocky Dollars

The top 3 finalists will have the first opportunity to choose their room for the 2025-2026 academic year, after Same Hall Same Room, before the competitive online Housing Renewal begins! All entries will be considered for a professional photo shoot to be included in University publications. And yes - prizes will be awarded to each roommate!

Contest Dates

  • Thursday, August 15: Contest Opens
  • Friday, September 20: Entries due by 11:59pm
  • Monday, September 23 - Friday, September 27: Online voting period on UHDS Facebook Page
  • Friday, October 4: Winners Announced

Guidelines

  • Contestants can submit a maximum of 5 photos.
  • For students living in a double room, both roommates must agree to enter the contest.
Upon entering, you agree to:
  • Authorize Western Illinois University to reproduce, broadcast, edit, publish and/or publicly display the photographs taken during this contest. You understand that you will not receive any monetary or other form of compensation now or in the future for allowing your images to be used for these purposes by Western Illinois University.
  • Be present and have your room professionally photographed as scheduled by University Housing & Dining Services.
  • Abide by University Housing or Western Illinois University policies when decorating your room and agree to not display offensive materials or decorations that promote alcohol or other drugs, or any violations of local, state, and federal laws. If you do not understand the policies, please check with your Resident Assistant before entering the contest.

How to Enter

The Rank My Room Contest will open on Thursday, August 15. Enter here.

Voting

  1. Submit up to 5 photos of your room by midnight on Friday, September 20.
  2. Room photos will be compiled into a collage and rooms will be given a random voting number for online voting.
  3. Collages will be posted at 8am on Monday, September 23 to the UHDS Facebook page for the public to vote on their favorite room. To vote for your favorite room, simply "Like" the collage. Online voting will remain open until midnight on Friday, September 27.
  4. The top 10 coolest rooms will then move forward to the final voting round. Final voting will take place at the Inter-Hall Council meeting the week of Sep. 30 by those in attendance. Meeting attendees will select the top three winners from the 10 rooms that received the most "likes" during the online voting period.
  5. Winners will be notified via email and will be announced on Friday, October 4 on the UHDS Facebook page.