All eligible students MUST submit the Intent Form -- even if you're not planning to return to campus housing for next year.
Mandatory Submission
All eligible students MUST submit the Intent Form to confirm whether or not they will be returning to campus housing for the next academic year.
Opens: 1pm EST Wednesday, March 4, 2026
Closes: 1pm EST Wednesday, March 11, 2026
Students must log into the Housing Portal and click the "ROOM SELECTION" button during the dates listed above.
Intent Form Category:
Students will select a category (see below) for how they are participating in Room Selection OR why they are not returning to campus housing.
This requirement includes students with pre-Lottery placements (RA, CARDS, CU Greek, or CU SIC) and those planning to register for the Columbia Lottery.
The Housing Agreement: When submitting the Intent Form, students will sign the Housing Agreement to commit to living in campus housing (unless indicating they're not returning to campus housing).
Ineligible Students: Students not eligible for Room Selection (such as Transfer students or those living off-campus) do not submit this form; they may submit a housing application to be on the Non-Guaranteed Wait List.
New Students: New FY and Transfer students do not take part in this process. They will submit housing applications in late May (for the Fall) or December (for the Spring).
When submitting the form, students will select the category that matches their plans for the upcoming academic year:
Most students will select this category to participate in the Lottery to pick rooms for next year.
Students who prefer for the College to assign them to a room over the summer, rather than picking a room during the Lottery, may submit the Guaranteed List form.
Note: Students who previously participated in Room Selection with 400 points but are returning for another year must submit the Guaranteed List form; they may not take part in the Housing Lottery again.
Students not returning for the Fall must provide a reason (ex. moving off-campus, taking a leave of absence, transferring schools).
Fall Study Abroad: students planning to study abroad for the Fall should still participate in the Lottery (or another category) to secure a backup room in case plans change. When plans are finalized, students wil submit the Housing Cancellation Form.
Important! Students who indicate they are not returning (or fail to submit the Intent Form) will lose their guarantee of campus housing for the future. If they wish to apply for housing later, they will be on the Non-Guaranteed Wait List.
RAs & Pull-Ins: Students hired as RAs (and their requested pull-ins) must submit the Intent Form and sign the RA Pull-In Form sent upon hiring.
CARDS Accommodations: Students with disabilities/medical conditions should submit a Pre-Lottery Accommodation Request to CARDS. Students approved for accommodations must also submit the Accommodation Placement Acceptance Form (to accept the pre-Lottery room assignment).
Columbia Lottery: Only students with 400 points may register to join a group for the CU Lottery. Barnard students registered for the CU Lottery may not select a room during the BC Lottery. If unable to pick in the CU Lottery, they will submit the Barnard Guaranteed List form.
Greek & SICs: Students may apply to live in Columbia Greek Chapter houses or Special Interest Communities (SICs) as part of the Housing Exchange.
Columbia students who intend to live at Barnard (via a Barnard Lottery Group, RA Pull-In, or CARDS Pull-In) must submit the Barnard Room Selection Intent Form.
Step 1: Register for Columbia Room Selection and indicate participation in the Barnard process.
Step 2: Columbia Housing will send a list of registered students to Barnard to grant Portal access.
CU students will be added to the Barnard Portal on the morning of Wednesday, March 4, 2026. They cannot log in before this date.
Step 3: Submit the Barnard Intent Form during the dates at the top of the page.
Please see Housing Exchange for more information about participating in Barnard Room Selection.