Prepare for Room Selection

On January 23, students received their first email about AY 23-24 Room Selection.

January 23, 2023

What is Room Selection? Start Here.

Room Selection is the annual process during which eligible residential students choose their room for the following academic year. All steps of the Room Selection process are completed online via the Housing Portal.

How Room Selection Works

  • Register for Room Selection as an individual or as part of a 2-10-person group. All students must register, even if you plan to live off-campus, study abroad, or are part of a specialty population.
  • Selection order is determined by point values and lottery numbers.
    • Point values are based on your class standing. Rising sophomores are assigned a point value of 20; rising juniors a point value of 30; and rising seniors a point value of 40.
    • Lottery numbers determine the order students are assigned appointment times to select their room. Lottery numbers are based on point values, so that higher point values (i.e. rising seniors) receive a lower lottery number and an earlier appointment time.
  • Select your room during your assigned appointment time. You or your group leader will go online during your appointment time, review the available rooms, and pick into a space for next year.

Pro Tip for Rising Sophomores: Form an Even-Numbered Group

Rising sophomores are encouraged to form even-numbered groups for Room Selection to fill double rooms. Learn more about the process for rising sophomores on our website.

Mark Your Calendar: Info Sessions

Registration is required. 

See more Room Selection dates and deadlines on our calendar.

What's New for AY 23-24

  • Additional singles in Hartley Hall will be allocated to sophomore housing, available exclusively to rising sophomores during Room Selection. (In exchange, Furnald singles will be offline for Room Selection and allocated to additional first-year housing.)
  • ADP is no longer part of the Columbia Housing portfolio. If you choose to live in ADP, your housing status will be changed to non-guaranteed and you will no longer be eligible to participate in Room Selection.
  • Point values were adjusted by 10 points so that rising juniors and seniors enter Room Selection with point values of 30 and 40 (previously point values were assigned at 20 and 30).
  • Floors 1-3 of River will be offline for Room Selection as they are used for Special Interest Communities.
  • More data from last year’s Room Selection: based on feedback from students, we’ve expanded the data on each building page so you can see how students selected into that residence hall. Look for the “Room Selection Data” section on every building page to learn more.

Helpful Resources