Housing Lottery Fall 2026-Spring 2027

Click here for registration form. 

Fall 2026 - Spring 2027

Rising Senior and Junior Housing Lottery Guide

Evelyn Contreras, House Administrator

A Note Before We Begin

Hi everyone,

Housing is a meaningful part of the college experience, and this process has been shaped with care and intention.

I’m Evelyn, your House Administrator. I manage housing for Leverett, and with hundreds of students and just one of me, it’s a big job. I strive to be as reasonable and flexible as possible throughout this process, while always being guided by fairness and consistency.

The goal of the housing lottery is to provide a process that is fair and transparent, while also accounting for the real constraints of our buildings and the wide range of living preferences among students.

Some of you are hoping for independence and quiet. Others are excited to live closely with friends. This lottery is intentionally designed to support both.

These guidelines exist to create living arrangements that function well day to day and to keep the process fair and sustainable for the whole community.

Please note that rooming policies may be adjusted to meet DAO accommodations or Title IX requirements, and some situations require privacy.

Any attempt to alter or interfere with the lottery process will result in removal from participation and disciplinary action.

Thank you for approaching this process with respect for one another and for helping make our shared living community work well for everyone.

— Evelyn Contreras, House Administrator

Lottery at a Glance (Read This First)

  • Who: Rising juniors (current sophomores) and rising seniors (current juniors)
  • Registration: April 1-April 8 via Residential Portal
  • Lottery Number Drawing: Thursday, April 9 and Friday, April 10, 5:00-7:30 PM in D-Hall
  • Can’t attend? Complete the Proxy Form https://harvard.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1N7NW0euRsSCh1A
  • Room Selection: Rooms will be selected online. Seniors will select on Tuesday, April 28. Juniors will select on Wednesday, April 29.
  • Group Size: 1-7 students
    • McKinlock: Group max 6
    • Towers: Group max 7
  • Miss your selection time? A room will be assigned to you after the junior selection period.

Floor Plans

How the Lottery Works (Step-by-Step)

Step 1: Register

All rising juniors and rising seniors must register to participate.

Everyone, whether entering alone or as a group, must register using a lottery name. Personal names may not be used in order to preserve participant privacy and the integrity of the lottery process. Registration opens on April 1 and closes on April 8.

Step 2: Housing Lottery Drawing

  • April 9 and April 10
  • 5:00-7:30 PM, Dining Hall
  • Each person draws one number sticker. If you can’t make it, assign a proxy by filling out the proxy form.
  • Number stickers are placed under the lottery name.
  • For groups, the lowest number becomes the group’s official lottery number.

Example: Alex (42), Sam (188), Jordan (301) → Group number = 42

Step 3: Receive Your Selection Time by April 15

You’ll receive an email with your assigned selection time and a link to the housing portal.

Step 4: Select a Room (Online)

Seniors: Tuesday, April 28
Juniors: Wednesday, April 29

At your assigned time, log into the portal and select from rooms still available. Earlier times mean more options; later times mean fewer.

Room selections are final.

Eligibility & Participation

You are eligible if you:

  • Are a rising senior or rising junior
  • Currently live in Leverett or are currently studying abroad and will return in the fall
  • Have not cancelled housing for the upcoming year
  • Have been approved for a housing transfer during the first round of interhouse transfer or as a medical transfer by April 1

Not eligible:

  • Students studying abroad in the fall (housing is assigned upon spring return)
  • Students who need approval to return

Class Year Rules

  • Selection Order:
    • Seniors select first (senior eligibility may be used only once)
    • Juniors select after seniors
  • Rising sophomores do not participate in the spring lottery

Using Senior Eligibility

  • If you are a junior living with seniors, you will still participate in next year’s lottery as a junior
  • If you have already used your senior eligibility in a previous lottery, you will participate as a junior

Leaves, Advanced Standing & RSA

  • Students on leave may participate with their original class year if eligible
  • Students with advanced standing in their final year may participate as seniors
  • Returning students must submit the Returning Student Application (RSA) by the College deadline

Policies & Integrity

Expectations around fairness, proxies, and off-process coordination.

Firm Deadlines - No Changes Allowed

Once the registration or room selection closes, no changes can be made.

You CANNOT:

  • Swap lottery numbers
  • Give your number to someone else
  • Change your group size after registration closes
  • Swap people in or out of your group after registration closes
  • Add rising sophomores to your group

Can’t Attend the Lottery or Room Selection? Assign a Proxy

This helps ensure your housing is selected if something unexpected happens. Click here for the Proxy Form.

Entering the Lottery: Solo or With a Group

Click here to register.

Entering Solo

  • You must create a unique lottery name (not your own name)
  • You select housing independently at your assigned time

Group Size

  • The group leader will manage the group registration and can share group details (name and access information) as needed
  • Groups may include 2-7 students
  • Maximum in McKinlock: 6 | Maximum in the Towers: 7

Forming a Group

  • Decide on a lottery name together before registering
  • Make sure everyone understands expectations and preferences

Important Group Rules

  • You may only be in one group
  • Group membership cannot change after registration closes

Group Responsibility

By forming a group, all members agree that:

  • Preferences have been discussed in advance
  • Any attending member may select on behalf of the group
  • The group will accept the housing selected during its turn
  • Clear communication is essential

Important Room Selection Rules

McKinlock

Single rooms are reserved for one-person groups.

  • 1 Person: One single room
  • 2 People: One double room or one two-person suite
  • 3 People: Three-person suite
  • 4 People: Two doubles or four-person suite
  • 5 People: Five-person suite
  • 6 People: Three double rooms or six-person suite
  • 7 People: Not allowed in McKinlock

F&G Towers

  • 1 Person: One single room
  • 2 People: One double room or two hallway singles
  • 3 People: One double + one single or three singles
  • 4 People: One double + two singles or four singles
  • 5 People: Two doubles + one single or quint suite or five singles
  • 6 People: One quint room + one single or six singles
  • 7 People: One quint room + one double or one double + two doubles + three singles or seven singles

Deadlines & Logistics

What if I don’t register by the deadline?

You will be assigned housing after the lottery.

Accessible Rooms

If I choose an accessible room, could I be moved later?
If an accommodation need arises, the College Housing Office coordinates medical transfers and determines placement.

Bathrooms & Cleaning

What’s the bathroom situation?

  • McKinlock: hallway shared bathrooms cleaned by custodial staff
  • Some McKinlock suites: private bathrooms cleaned by residents
  • Towers: suite bathrooms cleaned by residents

Why aren’t Tower bathrooms cleaned by custodial staff?
Tower bathrooms are classified as in-suite bathrooms. These are maintained by students living there. Cleaning supplies are available if needed in the bathroom across from the guard’s office (library building).

Choosing Rooms

Can I request a specific floor, view, or location?
Selection is based on availability at your lottery time.

Will I be able to see what was taken?
Yes, a live availability list will be shared.

Can I know who is ahead of me so I can plan around their decision?
You will see how many groups and which group sizes are ahead of you.

I don’t want to live near someone. Can you tell me what they picked?
No. Personal housing information is not shared. If concerns involve safety or harassment, Title IX can provide confidential support.

Q&A

Lottery Integrity

Can I trade or buy a lottery number?
Lottery numbers are not transferable. Attempts to influence or interfere with the lottery process may result in removal from the lottery, assignment of housing, and possible disciplinary review.

Privacy & Boundaries

Can you give me another student’s contact information to see a room?
No. Personal contact information is not shared.

Groups & Changes

What if someone leaves my group after we select?
All vacancies will be reassigned. We will be at capacity in the fall.

What happens if my 4-person group falls apart before selection?
You may select two doubles in McKinlock or two singles and a double in the towers or four singles in the towers.

Can our group split into singles after selection?
Your group may only select spaces that match group eligibility.

Can we hold a room for someone studying abroad or arriving later?
No. Students returning in the spring will be assigned housing in January.

Lottery Basics & Eligibility

I participated in last year’s lottery using senior eligibility while I was a junior. May I use senior eligibility again?
Senior lottery eligibility can only be used one time. Since it was used last year, you will participate in this year’s process as a junior.

I have accommodations. Can I pick early?
Unless you receive an email stating a specific room is required for your accommodation, you must enter the lottery like everyone else.

Why can’t a summer transfer join our group now?
Round 2 Transfers are approved in late July. Until then, placement is not guaranteed.

Room Details

My parents have concerns about my room. Who should they contact?
You. You selected the room.

What is the square footage?
Exact square-footage information is not available for individual rooms. Estimates may not accurately reflect usable living space, especially with room shapes, closets, and layouts varying.

Why is my Tower room a single if it used to be a partition double?
Partition doubles are two singles with a shared hallway, not one shared bedroom. To avoid confusion, they are now classified as singles. Some hallway doors remain due to limited storage space and sustainability efforts. Having a hallway door does not mean you have a roommate.

Can you tell me how much sunlight a room gets?
No. The sun moves. Seasons change. New England weather does whatever it wants.

Relationships

I met the love of my life. Can we live together?
You can, but I don’t recommend it. Room selections are final. If you break up mid-year, you will be roommates for the year.

Singles & Fairness

Why can’t I add a McKinlock single to a suite?
Because there are very few McKinlock singles, and they are reserved for students who want to live alone. Groups already benefit from having each member pull a lottery number. If groups could also include singles, solo students would be at a disadvantage. To keep things fair, McKinlock singles must be selected by individuals entering the lottery on their own.

Switching

Can someone switch with me after selection?
Room selections are final.

The Online Process

Why is room selection now online?
Based on feedback from last year, room selection has moved online. Managing live advising and updating room availability in real time as one person was challenging.

The online process allows you to see available rooms updated live. The selection form will only display rooms that remain available, though you should still review floor plans to understand layouts before selecting.