Read this if you haven’t (and don’t want to) watch the info sessions!!

Housing can be stressful. I know. Between navigating housing groups to understanding just how the housing lottery works, it can be overwhelming, especially as a rising sophomore. Columbia provides info sessions to explain the process, but not everyone has the time to sit through 2 hours worth of videos. So, I’m going to try to break down the main points of the housing selection process for sophomores based on what I’ve gleaned from the webinars. Hope you find this useful! 

Room Selection Timeline

  • February 23 – March 6, 5 pm = General Declaration & Registration
    • Complete the statement of intent, no matter if you are moving off-campus, studying abroad, taking a leave of absence, or participating in Room Selection, or else you will lose your guaranteed housing status
    • Everyone in a group must each sign their own statement of intent 
    • Group leader will create and verify the housing group
      • Group leader will create a name and password for group members to use to join the housing group 
      • Remember to verify the group in order to proceed to the Registration Summary page and complete registration!
  • March 24 = Lottery Numbers & Appointment Times Posted 
  • March 27 – April 24 = Room Selection (typically mid-April for rising sophomores)
    • Group leader will select rooms during the appointment 
    • Everyone in a group must each sign their own occupancy agreement after selection to finalize your housing assignment

Room Selection Group 

  • A group can consist of 2-10 people 
  • One group = one lottery number and one appointment time! 
  • No gender restrictions 
  • Must be from the same or adjacent classes
    • Rising sophomores can be in a group with rising juniors, but not with rising seniors 
  • Choose your group size based on your building preferences (do you want a corridor double, a double within a suite, a 4-person apartment, an 8-person apartment, etc)
    • You can split across rooms, floors, and buildings

Point Values and Lottery Numbers 

  • Each rising senior has a point value of 40, each rising junior 30, and each rising sophomore 20 
  • Group point value is the average of the group members’ point values 
  • Point value determines your lottery number range
    • Rising senior group = 1-1000
    • Rising junior group = 2001-3000
    • Rising sophomore group = 4001-5000
    • Mixed point groups fall between these ranges 
  • Higher point value = “first pick” lottery number = earlier appointment time 

Typical Dorms for Sophomores 

  • Corridor-style = McBain (100% sophomores) 
  • Suite-style = Carlton Arms & 600 W. 113th St (Nuss) 
  • Find other residences on the housing website, filtering by typical residents, group size, and housing style 

Resources For Room Selection

  • Room Selection Portal Demo – available March 16
    • Demonstration of the room selection process and experience, allowing you to practice selecting rooms and making room assignments 
    • Group leaders and individuals can access 
  • List of Individuals & Groups + Their Appointment Times – available March 24
    • See how many groups / individuals come before you 
  • Room Selection Live Viewer – available March 26
    • See which rooms are still available for selection 

 Room Selection Appointment Time 

  • Only the group leader is able to access the selection portal and assign each group member to a room
    • The group leader can be reassigned at any time (choose someone who is available during the appointment time!)
  • Appointment times are unique to individuals / groups and have no time limit
    • This means that groups with earlier appointment times can still access the portal, so don’t be surprised if a room suddenly becomes unavailable for selection during your appointment time! 

Important Tips

  • Bigger group ≠ better lottery number!!! (please remember this!!)
    • The only way to bring up your lottery number is to have rising junior(s) in your group, as they have a higher point value 
    • Lottery numbers are otherwise randomly generated within your lottery number range 
  • All beds in an apartment or double must be filled in order to select into a space
    • Only with Carlton Arms and 600 W. 113th suites do you not have to fill the whole suite, but you must fill all beds within a double in the suite 
    • Apartment style halls require all beds within an apartment to be filled (ex: An 8-person apartment requires a group of at least 8 people to select into it)
  • Form even-numbered groups
    • Singles are scarce for sophomores, so you must prepare to select into doubles
    • Everyone in the group must be assigned a bed space or else everyone in the group will go on the Guaranteed Assignment List (yikes) 
  • “Inventory in the residence halls fluctuates depending on class sizes and registrations for housing. This means that some groups may not be able to immediately choose a room during room selection.” (what?!)
    • In this case, you’ll be put on the Guaranteed Assignment List and given your housing assignment by late July 
    • They’ll try to keep groups together and will take into consideration your building preferences, but nothing’s guaranteed

Here are the links to the info sessions for more information: 

Room Selection Information Session for Rising Sophomores 2026

Room Selection Group Strategy & Selection Info Session 2026  

Image via Bwog Archives