Groups: Team Up!

Lottery Options for Groups

What your group can select depends on your group size and whether you have "Mixed Points" or Columbia students.

Entire Suites (4-6 Person Groups) 

Groups of 4 or more can select entire empty suites.

"Must Fill" Rule:  You must fill every bed in the suite. You cannot pick a suite that is larger than your group (e.g., 4 people cannot pick a 6-person suite).

Splitting Up: You can pick a suite that is smaller than your group and assign the remaining members to other available rooms (see below)

• Example: A 6-person group can pick a 4-person suite + 2 Singles (or a Double).

Combination of Rooms (2-6 Person Groups)

Standard groups (same point value, no Columbia students) have maximum flexibility.

Spread Out:  You can select any combination of available rooms.

• Studio Singles (110th St).

• Corridor-style Single and Double rooms (Elliott, Hewitt, Sulz Tower).

• Rooms in Partial Suites (Suites with pre-existing assignments, such as RAs, and a limited number of 2-, 3-, 7-, and 9-person suites).

Location:  These rooms do not have to be next to each other; they can be on different floors or even different buildings.

"Must Fill" Rule:  Groups must fill any rooms they select (i.e. 1 person cannot pick just half of a Double).

Mixed Point Groups & Groups with Columbia Students

Mixed Point Groups using a Priority Selection Time* and groups with Columbia students have limitations on where & how they can select.

• • 4-6 Person Groups:  may only pick an entire empty suite that matches the group size (ex. a 5-person group must pick a 5-person suite). Cannot pick partial suites or corridor-style rooms. 

  • 2-3 Person Groups: may only select rooms within the same partial suite. Cannot pick rooms in different suites or corridor-style housing.

Groups with Male CU Members:  Must have 4-6 members (cannot pick as a 2- or 3-person group). Can only select an entire empty suite (no partial suites or corridor-style rooms). 

The Cap:  If the Columbia Cap is reached, CU members must be dropped from the group for the Barnard students to proceed with selecting.

ℹ️  Housing Exchange Information

* Mixed Point Groups (without any CU members) that formed after the priority deadline and are using the last Selection Time within the group (not using a Priority Selection Time) can pick like standard Same Point groups.

Regrouping AFTER the Priority Deadline

Groups may reform (add or drop members) after Lottery Numbers are generated, but this affects the group's Selection Time.

The "Latest Time" Rule:  A group always collectively shares the last / latest Selection Time held by anyone in the group.

See Selection Times > "Regrouping AFTER the Priority Deadline" for more information (including for how Mixed Point Groups are affected).

Responsibilities of the Group Leader

The Group Leader is the ONLY person who can log in and select rooms when the Selection Time starts.

Before Selection:

• Create the group and share the Group Name & Passcode. 
  Pick something simple for the other to enter on the Portal!

• Understand every member's preferences (building, room type, etc).

• Know which group members would like to be paired together as roommates if Single rooms are not available.

• Create backup plans in case top choices are unavailable.

• If unavailable for the group''s Selection Time, they must designate a new Leader on the Portal before the Selection Time begins.

During Selection:

• The Leader selects rooms for all members.

• If a member wishes to pick for themselves (or join a different group), the member should be dropped from the group (or remove themselves from the group) on the Portal before the Selection Time starts.