Raney House Dorm Checklist 2026

Raney House FAQ

Does Raney House have air conditioning?

Partially. Air conditioning at Raney House is available on some floors but not all, and availability is tied to your specific floor assignment rather than the building as a whole. Until you have your confirmed placement and have verified your floor's status with OSU Residence Life, plan for the possibility of no AC — Columbus in late August is genuinely hot and humid, with temperatures regularly exceeding 85°F during the first week or two of the semester. Pack a tower fan as standard equipment for move-in regardless of what you expect your floor to have; even on air-conditioned floors, a fan helps with circulation and personal comfort preferences.

What is the community like at Raney House?

Raney House has the kind of community that forms quickly because the physical setup makes it almost unavoidable — corridor-style floors with communal bathrooms mean you see the same people multiple times a day from the first week, whether you are actively trying to meet them or not. Most residents find their initial social circle on their floor, and that proximity tends to make the transition to college life easier than it is in larger or more dispersed buildings. The seven-story scale is large enough to keep things lively but small enough that a floor still has its own identity. By the end of the first month, most Raney residents know the majority of their floor well enough to call them by name.

Can I bring my own mini-fridge to Raney House?

No. Ohio State provides a combination fridge, freezer, and microwave unit in every Raney House room as part of the standard furnishings, and personal mini-fridges and personal microwaves are not permitted in any OSU residence hall. This prohibition catches a lot of families off guard — it is the most common item confiscated or turned back on move-in day. The provided combo unit is shared between both roommates, so a brief conversation with your roommate before move-in about how you plan to divide fridge and freezer space is worth having early. Do not buy a mini-fridge over the summer; there is no exception process, and you will not be permitted to keep it in the room.

What should I bring that OSU doesn't provide at Raney House?

Ohio State covers the furniture and the combo fridge-freezer-microwave unit, but everything you need to sleep, wash, and work comfortably is your responsibility to bring. That list includes XL twin bedding (the mattress is 80 by 36 inches — standard twin sheets will not fit) and a pillow, bath towels and a washcloth, a shower caddy and flip-flops for the communal bathrooms, a desk lamp, hangers, and an area rug if you want one for the hard floor. A tower fan also belongs on that list — AC is not guaranteed on every Raney floor, and August in Columbus is reliably hot and humid. Even if your floor has AC, a fan is useful for personal air circulation, so it is never a wasted item.

Is Raney House a good hall to live in?

That depends on what you're optimizing for, but here's what's verified: Raney House has XL Twin · 80"×36" beds with Adjustable frame · clearance varies of under-bed storage, and is only partially air conditioned. Ohio State provides Bed frame & XL twin mattress, desk, chair, dresser, combination fridge/freezer/microwave unit, trash & recycling bin, overhead lighting in every room. Compare those specifics against your priorities — or see how Raney House stacks up against Ohio State's other halls above.