Demystifiying the SU Housing Lottery
Well, it’s that time of year again. The sun is out, the birds are chirping, and it’s time to get a new roommate for the fall. If you’re one of the lucky underclassmen who found a soulmate in your current roommate and are planning on living together next year, good for you! You are truly #blessed. If you’re an upperclassman, it’s safe to say it’s off to Euclid or Comstock. Congratulations on making it to the big leagues.
Now for those who have to stay on campus, it’s time we start researching (and I don’t mean for ways out). If you’ve been steadily ignoring those emails from the Office of Housing, now might be the time to actually read them. With the housing lottery currently taking place, many SU students are confused or panicked about what to do for next year. But never fear, we at Jerk have you got covered on what to know for the housing lottery. Thanks to Ms. Eileen Simmons, Director of the Office of Housing, Meal Plans, and I.D. Card Services and her staff, we were able to answer some frequently asked questions some people may have had about the lottery.
It’s not as bad as you think it is. Unless you got a crappy number... then there’s always next year.
What exactly is the housing lottery?
“Basically, it’s a process for current SU students to pick their housing for the upcoming academic year,” Simmons says. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, at least it’s less scary than trying to find a roommate on Craigslist in NYC.
How are rooms divided amongst the student body?
Simmons says that rooms are selected based on the number of students that must fulfill their two-year housing requirement, which mainly refers to freshmen and sophomores. And if you have no idea what type of housing you want, here and here are two links to see what’s offered. For the South Campus housing options, students should have an idea of what street and number apartment they want to live in.
Is your lottery number that important?
Surprisingly enough, yes, it is. One of the emails the Office of Housing sends is the email with your lottery number, so if you haven’t already, check that and make sure to scroll all the way down. This number essentially determines your housing fate. Okay, it’s not that serious, but if your number is high, it can badly affect your chances of getting the type of housing you want. If you want a prized quad in Watson, cross your fingers for a low lottery number.
How does your potential roommate’s number affect yours?
Just like in High School Musical, “we’re all in this together!” You and your potential roommate’s number are combined to create an average, which will affect your housing chances.
Is it true that rising sophomores are going first in the lottery?
Simmons informed us that rising sophomores are not going first in the lottery — sorry Class of 2018. But the logic behind this question does make sense considering that this past year, a few sophomores were without rooms because of a housing mishap (it was eventually fixed). Since there are different housing options for upperclassmen, sophomores should have no problem with housing.
When will I know it’s my round?
It all depends on how many people you plan on rooming with. Each housing type is on different days, and it’s important that you and your future roommates are aware of the days. If not, then things could get a little awkward.
Photo by Adham Elsharkawi