ERC Housing

<p>Do any current students know how the whole housing process works? I'm an incoming freshman and I'm debating between a single or double right now. When I get the housing app, do I get to prioritize my preferences? I heard that if I put down single and I won't be able to get it, I'll be set up with a triple instead.</p>

<p>Yes, you will get to prioritize your preferences. What they have done in the past (and they will explain this more at orientation if you go in June) is they say:
-If you put down a double, accept the fact that you MIGHT be sent to a double in Revelle. If you desperately want a double then mark it down and you’re pretty much guaranteed to get a double, but if you turned in your housing app too late and there is no more double space in ERC, you’ll be placed in Revelle housing.
-If you mark that you want a triple, you are almost guaranteed to be in ERC housing in a triple (although it’s not 100%). </p>

<p>They don’t specifically say anything about singles. I do know that my friend had that issue, she put down she wanted a single and got a triple instead. But I also know people who marked that they wanted singles and got put in doubles - I don’t think there is a sure system to it. The key factor is when you submitted your original housing application. The earlier, the better. Do you know what date you submitted? I would be able to help you a lot more with that info.</p>

<p>Hey ucsandiego915,</p>

<p>I’m not the original poster, but I have the exact same question. Personally, I turned in my app on April 4. I strongly prefer a single, but I’m fine with a double. I really don’t want either a) Revelle or b) a triple in either ERC or Revelle. </p>

<p>However, it sounds like people who turned it in “late” (not sure what that would be) had kind of an all-or-nothing scenario where they either got a single (unlikely) or got tossed to the other extreme (Revelle and/or triple). If we prioritize preferences, then why are the outcomes so extreme? It seems that said people should get put in a double or at least a triple in ERC, instead of being put in their last choice. Then again I guess those people are the really late applicants.</p>

<p>I imagine I turned my app in on the early-middle end, which doesn’t look good for my singles prospects. What do you think? </p>

<p>Thanks for the reply, it was really helpful.</p>

<p>^No prob! Yes, you’re correct that people who turned it in late got stuck in kind of a ****ty situation. The reason that the outcomes are so extreme is because obviously, everyone would LIKE a double more than a triple, and everyone would LIKE to be placed in ERC more than Revelle. I mean, that much is obvious. The fact of the matter is that ERC simply does not have enough housing for all of its freshmen students and definitely not enough doubles for everyone who wants one. I believe like 60% of housing in ERC has been converted to triples, 30% is doubles, with the remaining 10% singles. So it makes sense that they’re trying to entice people to choose triples by guaranteeing a spot IN ERC housing. Those who turn it in late kind of get stuck with whatever is left at the end.</p>

<p>April 4 isn’t the worst spot to be in. I would say “late” is after admit day, because everyone learns about housing that day and there is a huge rush of housing apps turned in then. So I mean, it’s good you did it before then. Obviously I can’t guarantee your chances, it’s certainly a gamble when choosing your ERC housing. Good luck though! :)</p>

<p>if i do remember correctly, i submitted the first week of april. is that considered early enough? and i definitely do not want to end up in revelle! i totally forgot about that haha. so would you suggest i sign up for a single and risk getting into a triple or if my submission date will allow me to get a double in ERC?</p>

<p>actually i just checked and i submitted my housing app on 3/29/10. so what are your suggestions? and i’m really having a hard time between a single/double still haha. if it came down to it, i would much rather prefer a triple in ERC than a double in revelle, though a single or double in ERC would be ideal. thanks for all the help ucsandiego915!</p>

<p>^In my personal opinion 3/29 is an early enough date to get you a double in ERC, and POSSIBLY/probably a single. No guarantees of course because I’m not sure if there are more people than normal this year, but in general (in the past) people who have submitted in March have a good chance at getting what they want. </p>

<p>Don’t get mad at me if it doesn’t work out though hahaha!</p>

<p>of course it won’t be your fault! haha. what kind of housing did you live in?</p>

<p>I submitted my application on the 2nd day it was available and I got a double in ERC (not surprising). I requested my roommate, and she submitted hers somewhere from the 24th-29th… I’m still not sure if she was eligible for a double on her own or if she just kind of got lucky because my date was so early. If that makes sense.</p>

<p>How much does ERC factor in personal needs? I keep reading/hearing that they assign rooms on a rolling basis. What about people who have special circumstances? Would someone who is more “eligible” for a single but who submitted the contract later be shunted into a double/triple just because someone else who merely wanted a single submitted their contract earlier? </p>

<p>Do you know anyone who got put in a single in ERC because they had legitimate reasons (and please explain what those reasons were)? Do you know anyone who had legitimate reason to get a single but didn’t, presumably because they submitted the contract late?</p>

<p>I don’t get why ERC has to do this rolling crap when other colleges use a “meritocratic” way of assignment… it’s irritating.</p>

<p>I mean, correct me if I’m wrong, but I’m pretty sure most of the colleges determine what type of room you get based on the date of your housing application… If you think about it, it’s the most fair way. </p>

<p>The only reason that will get you into a single is if you have a legitimate medical problem such as you attack people in your sleep or you have anxiety disorder and you can’t sleep in the same room as someone else. seriously. They won’t take excuses seriously that are like, I can’t study with someone else in the room (They’ll say, go to the library)…or, I have a boyfriend. Doesn’t count. You know? </p>

<p>And I don’t know anyone who submitted their contract super late and got into a single. Those rooms are rare and they go to people who submitted early.</p>

<p>I’m fairly certain that not every college assigns by rolling submissions. I think I read that Warren does it by priority and need, and that ERC was “one of” those schools that doesn’t so it can be assumed that there are several colleges that assign by personal need/priority.</p>

<p>You still haven’t answered my question. How much does ERC factor in special circumstances? So far, it sounds as though it’s almost categorically done by date submitted. I haven’t heard a single person in ERC say that their room assignment reflects need-based prioritizing. And yet I have heard people in other colleges say that they got a room because of X reason, NOT date submitted.</p>

<p>Umm… what do YOU think determines personal need/priority? I did answer your question - ERC will only factor it in unless you have a serious medical problem that requires you to have a single. It’s rare that this happens.</p>

<p>What is “need-based” to you? In truth, most people don’t NEED singles; they would LIKE them, but they’re not necessary. So what is that “X factor” that you think should deserve people a single? I’m really confused.</p>

<p>lol. Calm down. I’m asking you if you know of anyone getting a room for a legitimate reason that’s <em>not</em> as extreme as “I attack people in my sleep.” For example, someone who needs a humidifier for sinus problems would want to maintain a certain humidity level in the room that most people might find too steamy/muggy. Do you know of anyone getting a room for a more normal circumstance such as that? Because while I’ve heard of people in other colleges getting a room because of some medical reason, I have never heard an ERC resident say that. I’ve only heard of ERC people getting rooms because of when they signed up. It seems like they almost entirely don’t factor in special needs. I’m well aware that someone who attacks people in their sleep would get a single, but really. That’s not what I’m concerned about. </p>

<p>I anticipate your calm and informative reply. :)</p>

<p>My apologies - I didn’t mean to sound rude haha. Sometimes it just comes off that way online you know. I haven’t heard of that specific circumstance but I would say it’s worth a shot. You could list it on your application, it might work, and if worse comes to worse they would just say no. If you have a doctors note that says you have a sinus problem that would be REALLY good.</p>

<p>I submitted my housing app the day I got accepted (3/14, I think). Should that mean I’ll get a single?</p>

<p>Most likely, but no guarantees. I personally would be shocked if you didn’t get your first choice.</p>

<p>ucsandiego915,
Great, thank you for the advice. I’ll keep the doctor’s note thing in mind.</p>

<p>samedifference,
I think you’ll get a single. Pretty much everyone I’ve heard of who has a single in ERC turned in the app within a few days.</p>

<p>if i put down a double, is it possible that i will be redirected into a triple instead? i think i would much rather have that than a double in Revelle. the thing is if i put single now and i don’t get it, i’ll at least get a double/triple in ERC. i turned in my housing app on 3/29 and i put single on my housing contract for now. what should i do?</p>

<p>No, thats the idea of the whole thing. They want to convince people to mark “triple” as their first choice because of the sheer number of triples. So if you put “double”, you’ll DEFINITELY get a double but it could be in revelle (Just as a side note, I know a girl who did this and got a triple in revelle - but she submitted on the very last day, and she’s the only one I know.) On the other hand, if you put “triple,” you’ll almost certainly be in ERC but… you’ll also for sure be in a triple.
They could change the policy this year. but i doubt they will, cause the class size keeps increasing.</p>