Lottery Numbers & Selection Times

← Housing Lottery 

Lottery Numbers

The Housing Lottery runs in three distinct rounds, separated by Individual or Group Point Value. 

• 400 Points = Lottery Numbers 1000 – 1999

• 300+ Points = Lottery Numbers 2000 – 2999

• 200+ Points = Lottery Numbers 3000 – 3999

ℹ️ For info about Mixed Point Groups, visit GROUPS and scroll down. 

Students will be able to make grouping decisions before Lottery Numbers are generated based on which spaces are still available to pick after the prior Lottery.

Randomization:  Lottery Numbers will be generated after each Priority Deadline. Within each Point Value round, the Lottery Numbers are randomized and are not based on group size.

Notification:  Students will be emailed their Lottery Number after it is generated.

Selection Times

Each student is assigned a specific appointment date and time (sorted by Lottery Number) to log into the Housing Portal to pick a room. Groups will share a Selection Time.

Schedule:  Selection Times generally run from 9am – 5pm on the following dates, with a new time starting every 5 minutes.

• 400 Points = Selection Times will run Tuesday - Friday, March 24 - 27, 2026

• 300+ Points = Selection Times will run Tuesday & Wednesday, March 31 - April 1, and Monday & Tuesday, April 6 - 7, 2026

Mixed Point Groups with 300 & 400 Point members formed before the priority deadline will receive a Priority Selection Time for the start of this round.

• 200+ Points = Selection Times will run Monday - Thursday, April 13 - 16, 2026

Mixed Point Groups with any 200 Point members formed before the priority deadline will receive a Priority Selection Time for the start of this round.

Notification:  Students will be emailed their Selection Time after it is generated (and/or after regrouping).

When to Pick:  Students may select rooms any time after their Selection Time starts, as long as rooms remain available.  Students are encouraged to pick as soon as their time starts to avoid missing out on available options.

Regrouping AFTER Deadline (The "Latest Time" Rule)

If you add or drop members after the Priority Deadline, your Selection Time may change. 

• See the bottom of this page for how Selection Times are determined for Mixed Point Groups.

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

ADD a member (or form a new group):

• The group uses the last / latest time among the members

• For example,  a group with a Tuesday Selection Time adds a new member with a Wednesday Selection Time. The updated group must wait until the Wednesday Selection Time to select. 

DROP a member:

• The group will generally keep their original Selection Time. If a group formed after the priority deadline, their updated Selection Time will be the last / latest Selection Time time help by anyone in the group.

• If the member who dropped was not originally in a group, they will use their original Individual selection time

• If the member who dropped was in a group that formed before the priority deadline and received a Group Selection Time, they will use that group selection time as their new Individual Selection Time.

ℹ️  More information about Groups

Selection Times for Mixed Point Groups

When a mixed point group forms before the priority deadline, they receive two Selection Times:

1. Priority Selection Time: A better selection time for forming early. It is based on the group’s point average (e.g., a 350 average picks between 366 and 333 groups). This time is near the start of the round and will be used as long as the group does not make any changes to group members.

2. Backup Selection Time: A randomly assigned time within the standard range for individuals and same point groups. This would only be used if the group adds or drops members after the priority deadline.

Pro-Tip: If you are a Mixed Point Group, try to finalize your members before the Priority Deadline so you don't have to fall back on your later Backup Selection Time!

If the group composition changes after the Priority Deadline, the group loses their Priority Selection Time and will select later during the Point Lottery.

If a member DROPS:

• The remaining group uses their Backup Selection Time.

• The student who dropped also uses that same Backup Selection Time for their individual pick (or is factored into any new group they join).

If a member JOINS:

• The group picks at whichever time is last / latest among the original group’s Backup Selection Time and the new member’s individual Selection Time.

• Example: A group has a Tuesday Priority Selection Time and a Wednesday Backup Selection Time and adds a student with a Thursday Selection Time. The group must now wait until the Thursday Selection Time.