The lottery is confusing to everyone (we're not even sure if all the people in ResLife completely understand it!), but we're going to break down for you the way it works so you'll know what to expect. Knowledge is power!
After the Application...
After the housing application cut-off (which is at 4 pm Friday March 4, 2005 for the '05-'06 school year), the office of Residential and Community Development takes all the names entered and makes lists out of them. There will be two lists for each grade, one for males and one for females. The super-computer over in their office then randomly generates a number for each person. The sophomore males that have applied for housing will be numbered 1-X, the sophomore females 1-X... and so on for each grade.
The Office of Residential Life has the number of beds pre-determined. In some, hopefully fair, method they determine how many beds they can offer sophomore males, sophomore females... and so on. Using this number, they go to the list and, literally, draw a line at the number of determined beds. For example, if they have 7 beds for sophomore males, after person number 7 they draw they "cut-off line".
The first cut-off will be posted at noon on Tuesday, March 15th in the T/W Link, Townhouses South Main Lounge, Eickhoff 114, and on the Office of Residential and Community Developeent website.
If You Made the Cut-Off
Congrats! You'll have a spot to live on campus next year! To secure your spot you have to go pick up a housing contract. To pick up your contract, you'll need your TCNJ ID. Go to the Townhouses South Office Wednesday, March 16th - Friday March 18th sometime between 9 am and 4 pm. IF YOU DO NOT PICK UP THIS CONTRACT YOU WILL FORFEIT YOUR HOUSING SPOT. You'll also lose your $100 housing deposit. This is also a "legally binding document", once you sign it you're committed to living on housing for the full year, unless you leave TCNJ. If you're planning on moving off campus, don't sign it.
If You Didn't Make the 1st Cut-Off
Each year, there are students who make the cut and then choose not to take housing because they won't be returning/decide to commute/want to live off campus. This prompts a second cut-off. What ResLife will do is count the number of people in a group, for example: sophomore males, that did not pick up their contracts. If 5 people didn't pick up contracts, they will draw another line 5 people lower on the original list. So, if the cut off was at person number 7 and 5 people didn't pick up contracts, lottery numbers 8-12 would now be offered housing.
The second cut will be posted Monday, March 21st, 2005. If you make the second cut, you must pick up your contract at the Townhouses South Office the next day (Tuesday, March 22nd, 2005) between 9am and 4 pm or you forfeit your housing.
If You Didn't Make the 2nd Cut-Off
Here, you'll have two choices: Remaining on a "waitlist" or getting your $100 deposit back and looking for housing.
Get your deposit back- If you didn't make any lottery cut-off you can request your deposit be credited to your TCNJ account. To do this, call them 609-771-2140.
Get on a waitlist-You can get put on a waitlist if: you didn't make either lottery cut-off, you're a 5th or 6th year student, or are moving onto campus from living off. To apply, there will be a form posted on the Residence Assignments Website starting on April 18th, 2005. Students on this list are not guaranteed a spot on campus, they will be offered vacancies as they become available.
$$$ for College