This page describes the exact steps you need to take in order to sign up for housing for the next academic year.  If you do not want housing next year, you should just ignore all of this, do nothing, and everything will be fine.  Otherwise, you should follow the directions carefully and make sure not to miss the deadlines.  While missing a deadline may not be the end of the world, it will severely impact the kind of housing you may get assigned to.  For the latest information on deadlines, you should check the Stanford Housing website's calendar.

Round 1: Entering the Draw/Lottery

1. Form a group of friends to draw with.  You can also draw by yourself if you want.
2. Rank the residences in the order of your preference, and distribute it amongst your group members.
3. Create a group name and a password.  Everybody should know these as well.
   
4. Log onto Axess and click on "R&DE application" button on the upper right.
   
5. Click on "Submit Application or Renew Contract" link, and fill out the presented form.  The form has basic contact info, as well as your ranking of the residences.  There are also fields on group retention.  You should discuss these with your groupmates as well.
   
6. Enter your group name and password in the appropriate fields.
7. Click submit.
   
8. Note: The reason every single person has to rank all the residences is because it allows you to "split" from your group.  In other words, if you do not get into any of your, let's say top 10 choices, you may not want to live with your group anymore, or you may want to split off with just one other friend.  By requiring each person to rank the residences, it allows you to rank differently from the rest of your group.  If you want to stay together regardless of where you are assigned, you need to make sure everybody ranks everything in the exact same order.
   

Round 2: Entering the Waiting List

1. Follow the same steps as for entering the draw, unless you have already done so.  In that case, you do not need to do anything.
2. If you have technical difficulties, contact the Stanford Housing office as soon as possible.
3. If you miss the waiting list deadline, you will have to physically go to the Stanford Housing office to get a paper form to fill out.
   

Round 3: Entering the Walk-in Round

1. Keep an eye on the Stanford Housing website for updates.
2. Attend the initial meeting.  The date, time and location will be either on the website, or will be emailed to you.
3. If you do not get assigned housing on the first day, come back the next day at the announced time
4. If you cannot make the meetings, you need to find somebody to represent you, and fill out a proxy form appropriately.