<p>Do the newer West Campus dorms have traditional single and double rooms, or are they all suites? If we happened to get a good lottery number (unlikely, I know) but did not have a group of 5 to block with, what are our options...can we still try for a suite but not take all of the rooms within the suite? Are the West Campus houses somewhat social, and are some considered more social than others? Thanks!</p>
<p>Also, do you need to have your block decided before/when you sign up to be in the housing lottery, or can you sign up and then edit as necessary (add people, make changes, etc.)</p>
<p>As a parent, my knowledge of the housing lottery is somewhat limited, but until a Cornell student comes along, here goes:
1. Signing up for the housing lottery is done individually (even if you intend to block) and does NOT bind you to sign a housing contract. But if you don't sign up, you can't participate in the lottery.
2. You may block in a group of up to 5 people (including yourself). Not so coincidentally, a West Campus suite holds 5 people (S was in Becker). A suite includes 3 singles and one double. If you block as a group of 5, one of the rooms chosen must be a double.
3. If your block contains fewer than 5 people, you can block any combination of rooms (although there may be some limits - same floor, for example). There are also a number of single and double rooms not in a suite, off the main hallway. In S's case (he was the block leader), when his lottery time came, one of the single rooms in each of their desired suites was already taken, so one of their group of 5 took a single just outside the suite. Everything worked out fine, and they became good friends with the "stranger" in the suite.
4. If you block, your lottery position is determined by the person in your block holding the best number - that person can bring everyone else in the block in with him/her. When the lottery time comes, the block leader (usually with other members of the block watching) goes on-line to choose the suite/rooms from those available, to identify the other persons in the block, and to "sign" the contract - at that point, he/she is bound to the contract. The other people in the block then have a limited time to go on-line and personally "sign" their contract, otherwise their space is lost.</p>
<p>S has already returned to Cornell so I can't confirm the above details with him. You can find out more info on the Housing website. Good luck getting a good lottery number.</p>