Room Selection Phases-Housing and Dining Services - Room Selection - Carnegie Mellon University

Room Selection Phases - At a Glance

Room and Meal Plan Selection is the process through which current residents select their housing accommodations and dining plan for the next academic year.  Room Selection is comprised of a number of different phases through which students can reserve housing for the 2012-2013 academic year. 

First, you should verify that you are eligible to participate in Room Selection. 

Second, you should review your Room Selection options. Remember – each eligible resident may participate in only ONE phase of Room Selection.  Once you select a room assignment during any phase of the process, you are removed from participating in any later phases of Room Selection. 

The phases of Room Selection are:

  • Retain your Current Room
  • Room with a Resident who Retained
  • General Room Selection
  • RA/CA Housing
  • Special Interest Housing
  • Block Housing
  • Gender Neutral Housing
  • Open Assignments

The majority of residents generally participate in one of three phases: Retain your Current Room, Room with a Resident who Retained, or General Room Selection.  However, all residents are encouraged to consider all of the options available to them. 

If you decide that you're ultimately not happy with the Fall 2012 assignment that you received, you can fill out a Room Selection Room Change wait-list form.  Room changes for the Fall 2012 semester can only be made through the Room Change wait-list process and are made based on availability.

Room Selection Numbers

Room Selection Numbers (formerly known as "lottery" or "room draw" numbers) will only be distributed to those residents who Elect to Participate and plan to participate in General Room Selection.  Any resident who is eligible for Room Selection that hasn't already selected an assignment (through the retention, pull-in, block housing, or RA/CA selection processes) can complete the Elect the Participate step the week before General Room Selection.  At this time, residents will be asked to sign their Housing License Agreements and will request a Room Selection number, which will be sent out on March 30, 2012. 

Residents who have already selected an assignment for the fall semester will not be able to Elect to Participate.

Preparing for Room Selection

Because of the wide variety of options for you to consider, it is important that you review each of these options carefully and select the best option for you.
To prepare for room selection, you should do the following things:
  • Have discussions with your current roommate, potential new roommates, and RA and CA staff
  • Decide which phase of Room Selection you should participate in; be familiar with all dates and deadlines applicable to your selected phase to be sure that you don't miss out on any opportunities
  • Review your buildings options