Several Institutions are investigating appropriate ways to meet the needs of those traditional aged (17 through 22 years) students who desire the experience of residential living. The purpose of this paper is to identify those elements of residential living that have proven beneficial in creating a meaningful college experience for students. The literature on the impact of residential living on students is reviewed. It is concluded that the variables of the goals and values of the institution and the needs and desires of the particular students are the most important determinants of the impact of residential programs on students. It is suggested that a variety of residential programs focusing on the variable of time and the needs of different student populations, i.e., minority students, have yet to be tested. (Author/JMF)