By Madeleine Girad, Contributing Writer
The time has yet again come to put down your deposit to secure your spot in the housing lottery. But for many freshmen, this process could be confusing. To place your deposit, go to www.sbu.edu/roomdeposit. Here, students can pay the $200 to secure their spot in the lottery, but don’t worry, you will not be paying an extra $200. The amount you put down from your deposit will be deducted from your overall tuition bill for the Fall 2021 semester.
“Students who pay a housing deposit by Feb. 26 will receive a random lottery score,” said Robbie Chulick, the university’s director of residence life. “That random lottery score will be used in their housing application.”
This number will be students’ “place in line,” so to speak, and it will dictate the order in which students can pick their rooms. For upperclassmen looking to room in garden apartments or townhouses, the average number of those collectively given to the group that wishes to live there will also be the number used to determine their spot in line.
If a student is rooming with just one other person, the individual with the lower lottery score will choose for both of them.
Though most students choose to live with a roommate or suitemates, singles are also an option.
“All non-freshman students are eligible to apply for a single room in Devereux or Francis Hall during the housing application process,” Chulick said. “So, if you do not want a roommate, that is what I would recommend.”
When picking a roommate, students should consider many things. You do not have to be best friends with your roommate. Pick someone who you can tolerate living with and who you know will respect your space and your boundaries. Consider how much time you spend in your room and what your preferences are for a sleeping schedule.
Residence Life will be hosting six interest meetings in late February and early March to help connect potential roommates as well.
“I would also say if you do not know of someone you want to live with for the next year, don’t panic. You have time. The housing applications for most areas on campus do not open up until the end of March so you have plenty of time to try and find someone,” said Chulick.
The application times are as follows: six person townhouses open March 12-17 with the selection date being March 22. Four person townhouses open March 19-24 with the selection date being March 29. Garden Apartments open March 26-31 with the selection date being April 5. These options are only available to juniors and seniors.
Shay suites are open form April 1-7 with the selection date being April 12. Single rooms in Devereux and Francis Halls are open form April 9-14 with the selection date being on April 19.
Double rooms in Devereux and Doyle Halls open 16-22 and the selection date is on April 26. All applications can be found in the Residence Life Applications tab under Student Services at my.sbu.edu.
If students do not pay their deposit, they will not be eligible for a lottery number and will forfeit the ability to choose a roommate and living area.
