Lottery / Room Selection FAQ

Prior to submitting the 2012-2013 HLS On-Campus Housing Application or participating in room selection, please read the following.

Am I elligible for HLS on campus housing?
How can I be included in the lottery?
What is the lottery and room selection process for the HLS apartments?
If I want to live near a friend, can I create a group?
What if I want to cancel my room?
A few notes about Harvard University Housing.
When will I find out what my HLS on campus lottery number is?
How do I know whether my number gives me a chance to select a room?
When and how will I select my room?
When will I receive confirmation of the room I received?
How does the waitlist work?
What are my chances of getting off the waitlist?
Hoes does the waitlist lottery and room selection process work?

 Am I eligible for HLS On-Campus Housing?

All students who will be fully enrolled at HLS are eligible to apply for HLS On-Campus Housing. Unfortunately, spouses, boyfriends and girlfriends (unless they are also an HLS student), in addition to children and pets, are not eligible. Rooms in the HLS residence halls are single occupancy.

Admitted J.D. and LL.M. students do not need to submit a deposit to their respective Admissions Offices prior to submitting an application. 

Students can apply for next year's housing beginning in the Spring of the current year and all throughout the summer.   Students can also apply for and move into the dorms at any point during the current academic year if there are availabilities. 

 How can I be included in the lottery?

Submit the 2012-2013 HLS On-Campus Housing Application by the deadline to be included in the housing lottery.  Everyone who applies on time is given a random number.  Applicants who apply early in the application process are given no priority over those who apply later, as long as the application is received before the deadline. Those who apply after the deadline are put on the waitlist. 

• Returning Students - Submit between February 24, 2012 and March 18, 2012 at 5:00pm EST
• Incoming J.D. (1L) Students - Submit between April 2, 2012 and April 29, 2012 at 5:00pm EST
• Incoming LL.M., S.J.D., and Exchange Students - Submit between April 13, 2012 and April 26, 2012 at 5:00pm EST

What is the lottery and room selection process for the HLS Apartments?

The HLS Apartments are 3  wood frame houses, one block North of HLS campus. The houses have been converted into apartments for HLS students. Only returning students are eligible to participate in the lottery and room selection process for the HLS Apartments. Returning Students interested in living in the HLS Apartments should fill our the Housing Application. This is the same housing application that students fill out for the HLS dorms. Returning students only need to fill out this form once, whether they are interested in the dorm, the apartments, or both. 

There are two separate lottery and room selection processes for the apartments and the dorms. As stated previously, returning students only need to fill out the housing application once to participate in both or either of these. After the returning student housing application period closes on March 18, 2012, all returning students who applied will be sent an email asking if they want to participate in the HLS Apartments lottery and room selection. All students who email back to say they are interested will be included in the HLS Apartments room selection lottery. 

Returning students who have opted to participate in the HLS Apartments Lottery and Room Selection will then receive an email on March 19, 2012 with a link to the Group Tool function. Students will then have until March 22, 2012, to create their HLS Apartment groups. See FAQ "Can I create a group?" for more information about the Group Tool process. Students creating groups for the HLS Apartments can have as many as 7 people and as few as 2 in a group. 

Because we cannot move students from the apartments mid-year as we can with the dorms, we prefer rooms be taken by full groups rather than individuals randomly choosing to live together. Therefore, better lottery numbers will be given to full groups. This means that a group of 7 students who want to live in Baker Hall (which has 7 rooms) will get better apartment lottery numbers than a group of 6. Similarly, groups of 2 who want to live in a 2 bedroom apartment will have better lottery numbers than individuals. 

The room selection period for the HLS Apartments begins at 12:00 pm EST on March 26, 2012, and ends at 8:00 pm EST. 

Returning students may participate in both the HLS apartment lottery and the dorm lottery. Dorm lottery numbers are sent on April 2nd, and dorm room selection is on April 4th and 5th. A student who has selected an HLS apartment may participate in the dorm room selection, and then choose whichever room he prefers. 

Any apartments not chosen in the returning student HLS apartment room selection will be offered in the future room selection periods. 

HLS Apartment Lottery and Room Selection Dates

• Housing Application Period for Dorms and Apartments: February 24, 2012 - March 18, 2012
• Groups created using Group Tool: March 19, 2012 - March 22, 2012
• Apartment Lotto Numbers Emailed: March 23, 2012
• Apartment Room Selection: March 26, 2012
• Apartment Confirmations Sent: March 27, 2012

 If I want to live near a friend, can I create a group?

After the application deadline has passed, all returning and incoming JD applicants will be emailed a link to the Group Tool.  Applicants who are interested in selecting rooms near one another may enter into the lottery as a group of up to four students or as few as two for the dorm room selections. Returning students creating a group for the HLS apartment lottery may create a group of up to 7 people and as few as two. Applicants in groups will be assigned consecutive lottery numbers. In order to be considered a group, each applicant must enter the online Group Tool during the group selection period and confirm the members of the group. All members of the group must confirm their participation through the online form before the group will be successfully formed. Applicants will be notified of their group formation by email. The dates that the Group Tool is available are:

• Returning Students for HLS Apartments - Between March 19, 2012, 12:00 pm EST and March 22, 2012, 11:00 pm EST
• Returning Students for Dorms - Between March 27, 2012 12:00pm EST and March 29, 2012 4:00pm EST
• Incoming J.D. (1L) Students - Between May 3, 2012 12:00pm EST and May 4, 2012 4:00pm EST
• This tool has been cancelled for Incoming LL.M., S.J.D., and Exchange Students due to lack of participation.

 What if I want to cancel my room?

Participating in the lottery and room selection is not a binding contract.  Even after you sign your housing contract, you can still cancel your dorm room.  However, after a certain date, you will be subject to a penalty if you cancel your on-campus housing after turning in a signed housing contract. 

Cancellation before May 31st, 2012 - No Penalty Fee 
Cancellation between June 1, 2012 and June 30, 2012 - $500 Penalty Fee
Cancellation on or after  July 1, 2011 - you will be charged for the entire room fee unless and until it has been re-rented

Please note that you will never be charged a penalty fee if you do not turn in a signed contract.  However, failure to turn in a signed contract by your given deadline will result in the cancellation of your housing.  

Also note that the above cancellation policies do not apply to the HLS Apartment. Once you turn in a signed lease for an HLS Apartments, you cannot cancel it. Should you do so, you will be charged for the apartment until it is re-rented. 

 A few notes about Harvard University Housing.

Applying for HLS On-Campus Housing is not the same as applying for Harvard Real Estate Services/Harvard University Housing. While the HLS Dean of Students Office does answer questions and advises students about all available housing options, HLS does not own or operate Harvard University Housing. There is a separate application and apartment selection process for HUH which is available on their website.  Please note that it is acceptable to submit an application for both the HLS on-campus housing and HUH apartments. In neither case is the application binding.

HUH will be accepting housing applications for the upcoming academic year lottery (called the "View and Select" period) between March 1, 2012 and May 1, 2012. Students may apply for HUH apartments after May 1, but they will not be able to participate in the view and select lottery process. 

 When will I find out what my HLS on campus lottery number is?

Applicants who submit the application by the deadline will receive an email containing their lottery number on:

• HLS Apartment Lotto - March 23, 3012 by 5:00 pm EST
• Returning Students - April 2, 2012 by 5:00pm EST
• Incoming J.D. (1L, Transfer) Students -  May 7, 2012 by 5:00pm EST
• Incoming LL.M., S.J.D. and Exchange Students - April 30, 2012 by 5:00pm EST

 How do I know whether my number gives me a chance to select a room?

Do not stress out if you get a high lottery number. All students who apply on time have ultimately been made an offer of a room by mid-summer. The students who are guaranteed to participate in the official room selection are those with the following lottery numbers:

• Returning Students for Dorm Room Selection- numbers 1-174
• Incoming J.D. (1L, Transfer) Students - numbers 1-253
• Incoming LL.M., S.J.D. and Exchange Students - numbers 1-113

Applicants with the numbers indicated above will have the opportunity to select a room. Applicants who receive lottery numbers higher than those listed above will participate in the waitlist room selection.  The waitlist room selection dates are as follows:

• Returning Students - between May 29, 2012, 12:00 pm EST and May 30, 2012, 12:00 pm EST
• Incoming J.D. (1L, Transfer) Students -  between June 5, 2012 12:00 pm EST and June 6, 2012, 12:00 pm EST
• Incoming LL.M., S.J.D. and Exchange Students - between June 12, 2012 ,12:00 pm EST and June 13, 2012, 12:00 pm EST

 When and how will I select my room?

Room selection occurs according to the following schedule.

• Returning Student HLS Apartment Room Selection - March 26, 2012, 12:00 pm EST - 8:00 pm EST
• Returning Students Dorm Room Selection - numbers 1-88 on April 4, 2012 12:00pm - 8:00pm EST  and numbers 89-174 on  April 5, 2012 12:00pm - 8:00pm EST
• Incoming J.D. (1L, Transfer) Students - numbers 1-127 on May 8, 2012 12:00pm - 8:00pm EST  and numbers 128-253 on May 9, 2012 12:00pm - 8:00pm EST
• Incoming LL.M., S.J.D. and Exchange Students - numbers 1-113 between May 1, 2012 12:00pm EST and May 2, 2012 5:00pm EST

Students with appropriate lottery numbers will be able to login to the room selection system via the email sent to them the day before room selection begins. They will then choose from among the available rooms during their assigned time range. Detailed instructions can be found on the Room Selection page.

Please note that if you do not select a room during your appropriate room selection day, you will automatically be placed at the end of the waitlist.

The Waitlist Room Selection dates are as follows:

• Returning Students - between May 29, 2012, 12:00 pm EST and May 30, 2012, 12:00 pm EST
• Incoming J.D. (1L, Transfer) Students -  between June 5, 2012 12:00 pm EST and June 6, 2012, 12:00 pm EST
• Incoming LL.M., S.J.D. and Exchange Students - between June 12, 2012 ,12:00 pm EST and June 13, 2012, 12:00 pm EST

 When will I receive confirmation of the room I received?

• Returning Students for HLS Apartments - March 27, 2012 by 5:00 pm EST
• Returning Students for Dorms - April 9, 2012 by 5:00pm EST
• Incoming J.D. (1L, Transfer) Students - May 10, 2012 by 5:00pm EST
• Incoming LL.M., S.J.D. and Exchange Students - May 4, 2012 by 5:00pm EST

Waitlist Confirmations:

• Returning Students - May 31, 2012 by 5:00pm EST
• Incoming J.D. (1L, Transfer) Students - June 7, 2012 by 5:00pm EST
• Incoming LL.M., S.J.D. and Exchange Students - June 14, 2012 by 5:00pm EST

 How does the waitlist work?

Not all students who receive low/good lottery numbers actually end up participating in room selection. Should there be some applicants who do not select a room or who later cancel their rooms, we will give students on the wait list an opportunity to select those available rooms.  There will be rounds of waitlisted room selections for returning students, incoming JDs, and LLMs/incoming SJDS/exchange students.  Historically, all students who have applied on time were able to select a room during the waitlist room selection period. 

The Waitlist Room Selection dates are as follows:

• Returning Students - between May 29, 2012, 12:00 pm EST and May 30, 2012, 12:00 pm EST
• Incoming J.D. (1L, Transfer) Students -  between June 5, 2012 12:00 pm EST and June 6, 2012, 12:00 pm EST
• Incoming LL.M., S.J.D. and Exchange Students - between June 12, 2012 ,12:00 pm EST and June 13, 2012, 12:00 pm EST

 What are my chances of getting off of the waitlist?

Historically, an offer of on-campus housing has been made to every student who has applied for housing by the end of June.  Rooms on campus open up throughout the summer, with large blocks of cancellations occurring the last few days in May and the last few days in June.  Also, students on the waitlist often get very anxious and want to solidify their housing plans, and so they begin to quickly drop off of the waitlist.  These drop outs then allow the other students remaining on the waitlist to get closer and closer to the top of the list.   Historically, all students who were willing to be very patient were rewarded with an offer of on campus housing before the summer is over.  Past results are not a guarantee that this will repeat for 2012-2013, but waitlisted students should feel free to contact Hayley Brown as frequently as they like to understand their waitlist status and decipher their chances for on-campus housing and explore alternate housing options.

 How does the waitlist lottery and room selection process work?

There will be another round of room selection for waitlisted students.  This is for students who received a lottery number that was too high to participate in the first round of room selection, as well as for anyone else who did not apply on time, and so did not receive a lottery number. Students who received a lottery number will keep that same number. We do not restart the numbering process, so even though the returning student with lotto number 176 will keep that same number, he will actually be the 2nd to pick in the waitlist room selection process. Students who did not apply on time will receive a lottery numbers after all of those who did apply on time and according to the order in which they applied for housing. Waitlist room selection dates are:

• Returning Students - between May 29, 2012, 12:00 pm EST and May 30, 2012, 12:00 pm EST
• Incoming J.D. (1L, Transfer) Students -  between June 5, 2012 12:00 pm EST and June 6, 2012, 12:00 pm EST
• Incoming LL.M., S.J.D. and Exchange Students - between June 12, 2012 ,12:00 pm EST and June 13, 2012, 12:00 pm EST

Waitlisted students will only be offered the available rooms that students in their same program (LLM, Returning Student, or 1L) either turned down or never selected.  This means that rooms that were declined by incoming JD students will only be offered to waitlisted incoming JD students and declined LLM rooms will only be offered to waitlisted grad or exchange students.  

During the waitlist room selection process all available rooms will be offered to the students.  All waitlisted students will be allowed to participate in room selection.  It is important to note that, unlike with regular room selection, there could be more students than there will be available rooms in the selection process. For example, there may be 50 available rooms and 95 students participating in room selection.  This means that participating in the waitlisted room selection process is not a guarantee that you will get a room.  However, there are always students toward the top of the waitlist who do not end up selecting a room either because they are no longer interested in on campus housing or because they are not interested in any of the available rooms.  This is why we include everyone in the waitlist room selection.  

The normal rules apply to the waitlist room selection - a student can bump any other student with a worse lottery number.  The bumped student will then receive an email directing him to re-select a room. For students with high lottery numbers, I recommend waiting until later in the room selection process to choose a room.  Otherwise, you will most likely be bumped many times, which is a very frustrating experience.  

If you are ultimately unable to get a room during the waitlist room selection process, do not panic.  You will remain on the waitlist, and I will personally contact you with availabilities when your number comes up.  Students who received a room during the waitlist room selection process will have one week to turn in a signed contract.  If they do not turn in a signed contract, those rooms will be offered to the waitlisted students.  Also, all students who have turned in signed leases have until the end of June to cancel their housing for a $500 fee.  Historically, we have many cancellations during this time, and cancelled rooms then get offered to waitlisted students.  I recommend that students who strongly desire to live on campus wait at least until the beginning of July before looking for off campus housing.  

Still have questions?

Please contact Hayley Brown, the Student Housing Coordinator in the Dean of Students Office, at housing@law.harvard.edu  or at 617-496-6054. and she would be glad to explain anything you have questions about.

So, where can I find the application?

2012-2013 HLS On-Campus Housing Application

Please note that this is a secure web application and you will need to login using your username (before the @jd##.harvard.edu plus ".jd##" or before the @llm12.harvard.edu plus ".llm12") and your password (the same as your email password). Your password is the same password that you use to login to your HLS email account. If you have any difficulty with your username or password, please contact the HLS Student Help Desk at 617-495-9576.