History may be repeating itself.

Back in 1966, the university announced that there were no plans to build additional residence halls, despite increasing enrollment numbers, according to Penn State libraries archives.

Two years later, dorms were reportedly filled to capacity, leaving more than 800 students displaced in recreation rooms and study lounges.

Since then, Penn State has built even more housing, with the addition of Eastview Terrace in 2004.

However, in the 2005-2006 school year, Penn State experienced a similar housing issue, when University Park campus saw a jump in freshman enrollment - an increase of 1,500 students - leaving more than 1,200 students without on-campus housing contracts.

Many students, expecting to receive housing contracts last January, rushed off-campus in search for a place to live.

Holly Dougherty, office manager at GN Associates, said a swarm of empty-handed students came to their office after being told they did not receive on-campus housing.

For the 2006-2007 school year, GN Associates is fully rented out, including individual spaces, which are usually left open until the beginning of the school year.

Currently, about 7,750 freshmen are living on-campus - about 750 more than usual, said Kathy Krinks, assistant director in the Office of Housing. About 7,000 freshmen live in standard double rooms and 750 freshmen live in supplemental, she added.

Today, the university still has no plans to implement additional housing on campus.

The reason for no more new dorms?

There is a trend of decreasing high school classes, Krinks said. She added that she heard the number of freshmen enrolled next year is expected to return to normal.

With apartment and house hunting season in full swing and more students on the prowl for housing, are local realtors seeing a greater demand?

GN Associates has started a waiting list for rentals for the 2007-2008 school year, and Dougherty said the list is longer compared to other years. She would not release the number of people on the waiting list.

However, Dougherty said she has seen more freshmen looking for apartments than in the past, adding that some freshmen have expressed that needed to look off campus in fear that they won't get housing.

Dougherty said she expects GN Associates to rent out quicker for the 2007-2008 school year than in years past.

However, Kris Holzwarth, property manager at Associated Realty Property Management, said as of last week there were more than seven hundred people on the waiting list, but that number is usually the same year to year.

Penn State's lottery system for housing, where students can request housing for next school year, will begin Nov. 30. Students will be notified if they received housing on Jan. 18.

Krinks said students wanting to live on campus should apply for housing, but should also look around off campus.

"It doesn't hurt anyone to start looking elsewhere," Krinks said.