Selecting as a Group

Students may participate in Room Selection as part of a 2-10-person group, though it is encouraged that students form even-numbered groups to improve their chances of selecting a room during their appointment time. Each group must identify a Group Leader during Room Selection Registration in the Housing Portal.

Participating in Room Selection as Part of a Group

The Role of the Group Leader

Every group must assign a Group Leader. At the time of selection, the Group Leader will be responsible for making the actual housing selection for all members of the group. Any decision or action made by the Group Leader is binding to the group they represent. 

Prior to Selection, the Group Leader should understand each individual group member’s housing preferences as well as prepare alternate plans for the group if the group’s first choice is no longer available.

The Group Leader’s Responsibilities

  • The Group Leader will create the group during the registration period and provide all group members with the group name and password so that they can join.
  • The Group Leader must complete registration through the Statement of Intent to step.
  • The Group Leader must remind all group members to complete registration through the Statement of Intent step.
  • Once all members have joined the group in the Housing Portal and completed registration through the Statement of Intent step, the Group Leader must verify the group in the Housing Portal.
  • The Group Leader should understand each individual group member’s housing preferences as well as prepare alternate plans for the group in the event that the group’s first choice is no longer available.
  • The Group Leader should know which group members would like to be paired together if no singles are available at the time of selection.
  • The Group Leader should confirm that they are available during the group’s appointment time. If they have a conflict, they should select a different member of the group to become Group Leader and manage the selection process. 
  • The Group Leader will select the rooms for themselves and all group members during the group’s appointment time.  
  • The Group Leader may log in before their appointment date/time, but selection will not be available until their appointment time begins. Selection will be available from their scheduled appointment time through the end of Room Selection.
  • Group Leaders can change group room assignments during the appointment time as long as it is done before they confirm the rooms. Once confirmed, no changes can be made.
  • The Group Leaders must sign their own Occupancy Agreement.
  • The Group Leader should remind their group members to sign their own Occupancy Agreements.

Steps for Forming and Selecting as a Group

Every group must assign a Group Leader.

Note:

  • Certain buildings are available only to rising sophomores during selection and are therefore not visible in the Portal to other classes. For this reason, mixed point groups of rising sophomores and rising juniors should designate a rising sophomore as the group leader so they can assign sophomore group members into those buildings.
  • Barnard students cannot be group leaders in Columbia Housing Room Selection and can only participate with an all-rising senior group.
  1. The Group Leader will create a unique group name and password during their registration process and then share the information with all group members.  
    • Group names are public to Housing staff and other students participating in Room Selection. Please be respectful when selecting a group name.
    • Avoid using special characters in your group name. Special characters may not be recognized by the Portal which can cause issues when individuals attempt to find the group.
       
  2. Individual group members will enter the group name and password at the Group Formation step of registration to join the group. 
     
  3. Once all group members have joined the group, the Group Leader must log back in to verify the group. The group leader should NOT verify the group until all group members have added themselves to the group. Group verification is required for a group to be assigned an appointment time. 
     
  4. After the Group Leader has verified the group, all group members must log back into the Housing Portal to complete their individual registration through the Statement of Intent step. Room Selection registration is not complete until the Statement of Intent step has been signed. If you do not register for Room Selection, you will not be eligible to participate in Room Selection and your housing status will be changed to non-guaranteed. 

Students can only be part of one group at a time. If a student wants to change groups, they will need to log into the Housing Portal and leave the first group in order to join the new group before the end of registration. If group membership changes after verification, the Group Leader will need to re-verify the group.

Selecting Into Suites or Apartments

To pick into a suite or apartment, the group must have at least as many members as the suite or apartment has spaces. The spaces must be filled so that there are no vacancies. For instance:

  • A group of 2 cannot select into a 4-person suite.
  • A group of 6 can select into a 4-person suite, and the remaining 2 group members will need to be assigned to rooms outside the suite.

Selecting Across Multiple Floors or Buildings

Groups can select into spaces in the same building or in different buildings depending on the group’s needs and the availability of rooms during their appointment time

Examples of Group Selection

Example 1:

A group of 10 has the flexibility to choose any combination of rooms and/or suites across all buildings that accommodates every individual -- but members must still fill all suites or doubles.

  • Option 1: Two 5-person suites
  • Option 2: Five doubles
  • Option 3: One 4-person suite and three doubles
  • Option 4: Ten corridor-style singles

Availability of options will vary depending on your appointment time and inventory of rooms.

Example 2:

A group of 6 can select the following options: 

  • A 6-person suite   

  • A 5-person suite, plus a single in corridor style building 

  • A 4-person suite plus a double room/ or 4-person suite plus 2 singles in corridor style building 

  • 3 doubles, or 2 doubles and 2 singles, or one double and 4 singles in corridor style building 

  • 6 singles in corridor style building in the same building or different buildings 

Availability of options will vary depending on your appointment time and inventory of rooms.

The Group Leader is the only member of the group who will have access to online selection during the group's appointment time. They will be responsible for assigning each group member to a room.

Review the steps for selecting your room.

Group FAQs

During Registration:

  • Register for Room Selection
  • Join the group in the Housing Portal during the registration period using the group name and password created by the Group Leader
  • Complete your application through the Statement of Intent after your Group Leader has verified their group. The Statement of Intent must be completed before the end of registration.
  • If you leave your group, notify your Group Leader because they will need to re-verify the group.

Before Selection:

  • Communicate your building and roommate preferences to your Group Leader. It may be helpful to create a list of your preferences to share with your Group Leader.  

After Selection

  • Log in to the Housing Portal to sign your Occupancy Agreement

The Group Leader can appoint another member to Group Leader before the appointment time. The new Group Leader will be responsible for managing selection during the group’s appointment time.

Students can only be a member of one group at a time. You cannot join multiple groups.

Individual Group Members

Students may leave or change groups during registration. Please notify your Group Leader when you leave your group.

Group Leaders

Group Leaders must designate a new leader before the system will allow them to leave their current group.

Changes in group leadership are binding.

Yes, as long as students are from adjacent classes (i.e., rising sophomores-rising juniors and rising juniors-rising seniors). Rising sophomores cannot form groups with rising seniors.