The Rising Sophomore Housing Lottery

The Rising Sophomore Housing Lottery

If you are an eligible first-year student (rising sophomore), you are assigned to your House community during the Rising Sophomore Housing Lottery in the spring.

By entering the lottery you are not guaranteed any particular House choice. House assignments are allocated by a lottery tool at random.

• Registering as a blocking group ensures that the members of your group are assigned to the same House.
  
  
• Limited accommodations are made to meet State and Federal laws and policies of the College:
  
  
  • Medical: You must register with the Disability Access Office (DAO) if you have a housing need due to a disability. Use the DAO accommodation registration
    process and include any supporting documentation. 
    
    
  • Title IX: You can request housing flexibility from The Title IX Office to improve physical and psychological safety on-campus housing for students impacted by sexual harassment or other sexual misconduct.
    
    
  • Gender Identity: All Houses offer gender-inclusive housing. You can or request this option from your House Administrator.

Rising Sophomore Lottery Eligibility

All first-year students who have completed the fall term must enter the lottery, including:

• Students on leave or those planning to take a leave of absence.  
• Students planning to move off-campus.
• Students who intend to block as a group of one.

Exception: First-year students who do not complete the fall term do not take part in the lottery. They return to the Harvard Yard.

The Application Cycle (Spring 2024)

Applying as Groups (Blocking)

You can register for the lottery as a “blocking group” with up to eight students. Blocking ensures that the members of your group are assigned to the same House.

1. Choose a Group Leader: Blocking Group Leaders set a group name and password for the group. They also receives your group’s housing assignment on Housing Day.
   
   
2. Select a Group Name: Be creative and thoughtful about your group name. Blocking group names are shared with the Alumni Office for their record-keeping.  
   
   Each House will run a separate process to assign sophomores to rooms in August.

Terms and Conditions

• Your blocking group size does not influence your House placement.
  Don’t try to create a blocking group of a specific size. Every year we see many groups of 1 or 2 and many groups of 7 or 8. Do what works for you and your group.
  
  
• You might not share the same suite with all students in your blocking group. 
  Suites in the Houses are first selected by Seniors and Juniors in the House lottery. Your House Administrator will assign you to spaces available after the Senior and Junior lotteries.
  
  
• First-year students who do not complete the fall term do not take part in the lottery.
  They return to the Harvard Yard.
  
  
• Eligible first-years who do not enter the lottery will be automatically registered as a blocking group of one.

Upcoming Deadlines