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Room Draw FAQ
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Room Draw 2021-2022 Frequently Asked Questions

Residential Life

residential-life@macalester.edu | www.macalester.edu/residential-life


What is the room and board cost?

What are the 3 steps in the Room Draw process?

What are the deadlines for Room Draw?

Where can I find a checklist to guide me through the Room Draw process?

Which Residence Halls are available for Room Draw?

Can I view some of the rooms that will be in the Rising Sophomore Draw?

How does Residential Life assign vacancies?

Who can participate in Room Draw?

Who cannot participate in Room Draw?

If I am on a Leave of Absence (LOA), am I able to participate in Room Draw?

How do I get information about language and specialty housing options?

Can I reserve the space I am living in now for next year?

Can rising sophomores live with rising juniors and rising seniors next year?

If I plan to study abroad in fall 2021 may I participate in the Room Draw?

If I study abroad in spring 2022 may I participate in the Room Draw?

How can I be added to the 2021-2022 Housing Waitlist Form?

What if I can’t attend the Draw?

What if I decide to live off campus after I pick a room?

How can I contact Residential Life if I have questions about rooms, roommates or Room Draw?

What determines my year of eligibility for housing?

What is my chance of getting a single room?

What is the room and board cost?

Residence Hall room - $3,636 per semester; $7,272 per academic year

Language House room - $3,746.50 per semester; $7,493 per academic year

Grand Cambridge Apartment room - $4,137 per semester; $8,274 per academic year

Residence Hall Dining Plans A, B, or C - $3,135 per semester; $6,270 per academic year

What is Room Draw? How does it work?

Each spring semester, usually after spring break, students planning to return to Macalester the following academic year will select rooms using their Housing and Dining Self-Service portal (1600grand > My Housing and Dining > Housing and Dining Self-Service). Since rising juniors and rising seniors have the option to live off campus, selection is divided into draws for rising juniors and seniors, and draws for rising sophomores. All draws are first-come, first-served.

Students that want to live with one or more roommates must use their Housing and Dining Self-Service portal to match with each other before selecting the space. Matching begins at least a day before a draw and is open throughout each draw. Students may match with any gender. The number of roommates in a group must match the number of spaces in the room selected.

All current students also have the option of living in the specialty housing areas next year: Language houses, Arabic House, Eco House, Interfaith House, Veggie Co-op, Summit House, Cultural House and All Gender Community. Specialty Housing areas are filled before room draw. Students interested in living in a Language or Specialty House, should apply directly to the sponsoring department during the month of April.

What are the 3 steps in the Room Draw process?

Step 1: Complete and accept the Housing and Dining Agreement 2021-2022 (sample PDF).

Go to 1600grand.macalester.edu > My Housing and Dining > Housing and Dining Self Service. Select Applications from the side menu bar and then Housing and Dining Agreement 2021-2022. When I select a room I am committed to the terms of the Housing and Dining Agreement 2021-2022 and to pay the associated room and board costs.

Step 2: Match with roommates. Go to 1600grand.macalester.edu > My Housing and Dining > Housing and Dining Self Service. Select Room Selection and click Select Roommates. Matches must be mutual; each person must match with every person in the group.

Step 3: Select a room. Only the rooms or spaces that have the same number of roommates you matched with will appear. Only one person from the group selects the space and assigns each member of the group to a room within a suite. For doubles only one of the pair picks the double room for both parties.

Go to 1600grand.macalester.edu > My Housing and Dining > Housing and Dining Self Service. Select Room Selection from the left side bar and then click Select a Room/Suite. By selecting a room or space, I am committing to the terms of the Housing and Dining Agreement 2020-2021 and to pay the associated room and board costs. Caution: Groups (including pairs) may select only one room or suite during the draw. If more than one room or suite is selected the group will be removed from all spaces and the rooms or suites will be returned to the draw for any group to select.  

What are the deadlines for Room Draw?

Check out the Room Draw 2021-2022 website. Schedule for a complete list of each Room Draw and its corresponding deadlines for Apply, Match, and Select.

Where can I find a checklist to guide me through the Room Draw process?

Visit Room Draw Checklists and locate the best checklist that fits your situation.

Which Residence Halls are available for Room Draw?

Any of the Sophomore and Upper Class Halls can be selected during Room Draw.

Can I view some of the rooms that will be in the Rising Sophomore Draw?

Yes! You can watch the Virtual Room Tour video linked here.

How can I meet other students that want to pair up for a double or group up for a suite?

Some students have reached out seeking support and assistance in finding a roommate for the upcoming year. We have designed the Roommate Quest as a supportive tool to assist students in seeking potential roommates for the upcoming year. Please fill out this Roommate Quest Form, if you are looking for a roommate. You will receive access to see everyone’s responses and can contact other students who are looking for a roommate. Additionally, Residential Life will be offering opportunities for those seeking roommates to connect virtually through the Roommate Quest Mixer (information including zoom links below). These opportunities will be posted on our room draw website and shared via MacDaily posts as well.

- Wednesday, April 14 at 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm CST

- Friday, April 16 at 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm CST

- Wednesday, April 21 at 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm CST

What are the single-gender and all-gender room and roommate options in the draw? Where are the single gender and all gender bathrooms located?

Students may select rooms regardless of gender except in Kirk Section 1 and Bigelow first floor and basement.

Bigelow Basement - Rooms and bathroom are designated male. Some rooms held for new first-year students.

Bigelow Floor 1 -  Rooms and bathroom are designated female. Some rooms held for new first-year students

Bigelow Floor 2 and 3  Rooms are all gender.  Bathrooms are designated as either female or male.

Dupre Hall - Floor 2 - One all-gender bathroom, two female bathrooms, one male bathroom. The single rooms will be in the draw. Double and triple rooms are single gender and most are reserved for new first year students. .

Dupre Hall - Floor 3 and 4 - One all-gender bathroom, two female bathrooms, one male bathroom. Some single rooms on each floor will be in the draw. Double and triple rooms are single gender and reserved for new first year students.

Dupre Hall - Floor 5 - One all-gender bathroom, two female bathrooms, one male bathroom. Floor 5 All rooms held for new first-years.

Wallace Hall - Rooms are all gender.  Bathrooms on each floor are designated as either female or male

30 Macalester - Rooms are all gender. Bathrooms are designated as either female or male.  

George Draper Dayton Hall Suites and Grand Cambridge Apartments are all gender. Students may form mixed gender or single gender groups.  Bathrooms are located within each suite or apartment.

Kirk Hall Section 1  - Rooms and bathrooms are designated Female.

Kirk Hall Section 2, 5, 6,and 9 Rooms are all gender. Bathrooms are designated all gender.

Kirk Hall Section 3 and 7 - Rooms are all gender; bathrooms are designated as either female or male.

Kirk Hall section 4 is an intentional, all-gender community. Rooms and bathrooms are designated all gender. Members of the all-gender community are selected before room draw.  

Single occupancy bathrooms in the residence halls and campus houses are all gender.

Non-binary or transgender students access all-gender or single gender bathrooms as they feel appropriate.

Turck Hall - Held for new first-year students; Rooms are single gender and bathrooms are designated female only or male only.

Doty Hall - Held for new first-year students.

Doty Hall -  Floors 2, 4 and 5  Single Gender - rooms and bathrooms are designated female.

Doty Hall - Floor 3 Single Gender  - rooms and bathrooms are designated male.

Doty Hall - Floor 1 - Co-ed  - rooms are single gender; bathroom is all-gender.

How does Residential Life assign vacancies?

When it is necessary for Residential Life to assign spaces or to consolidate rooms, rooms become single gender.

New students are assigned to single gender rooms and single gender bathrooms except for students requesting to live on Doty first floor, the all-gender community for first-year students.  

A room change freeze begins after each draw and continues through the first two weeks of the fall semester. As stated in the Housing and Dining Agreement 2021-2022, the college retains the right to consolidate housing space through an assignment or reassignment process. Any vacancies that remain after the draw, including those in partially occupied doubles, triples, quads, suites, houses or apartments will be used to consolidate residents or to house wait listed, readmitted, and new transfer students during the summer months. We will notify students of new room or roommate assignments as they occur.

You must move into the room you pick at the draw. Exchanging spaces or moving into a room where you were not assigned constitutes room-draw fraud subject to fines and conduct violations.

Who can participate in Room Draw?

Who cannot participate in Room Draw?

If I am on a Leave of Absence (LOA), am I able to participate in Room Draw?

We have adjusted our room draw process for the next academic year 2021-2022 to take into account the challenges students, especially our students on leave may have experienced this year. In previous years, we had two rounds of room draw: round one for students who are currently enrolled, followed by round two for students who are on leave of absence (LOA) and registered for the upcoming fall semester. Given this unique year, we recognize what students have experienced is challenging and unprecedented, we will adjust our process and only have one round of room draw that allows for current and LOA students to participate at the same time. Any student who is currently on LOA and plans to return in fall 2021 will be able to participate from the start.

How do I get information about language and specialty housing options?

Visit Language or Specialty Houses for a complete listing of each house with links to more information and the application process for each house. Application deadlines vary, but most are due on or by April 18, 2021.

Can I reserve the space I am living in now for next year?

No, you cannot reserve the space you are living in now. Traditionally, we have called this Homesteading. Because of the changes in housing for next year, we will not allow for homesteading this year. If you are going to be living on campus next year, you must go through Room Draw.

Can rising sophomores live with rising juniors and rising seniors next year?

No, rising juniors and seniors cannot invite rising sophomores to live with them.

If I plan to study abroad in fall 2021 may I participate in the Room Draw?

Students who are planning to study away during Fall 2021 or returning from leave during Spring 2022 are not eligible for room draw to select a space for the fall semester. If you are interested in living on campus for Spring 2022, please complete the Spring 2022 Campus Housing Request form. Requesting for housing does not guarantee a space for Spring 2022, however, Residential Life will be in contact with students who complete this form late fall regarding your request and space availability. Additionally, Residential Life is offering you the opportunity to complete the 2021-2022 Housing Waitlist Form for Fall 2021 should you desire.  

If I study abroad in spring 2022 may I participate in the Room Draw?

Yes. Rising juniors and rising seniors studying abroad spring 2022 may participate in the Summit House Fall 2021 Draw; or the New Spaces Draw for Rising Juniors and Rising Seniors. The 2021-2022 housing and dining agreement will be cancelled for students studying away spring 2022.

Students currently on study away programs may participate in room draw the same as on campus students by logging into their Housing and Dining Self-Service> ApplyOnline and accepting the Housing and Dining Agreement.

How can I be added to the 2021-2022 Housing Waitlist Form?

Requesting for housing does not guarantee a space for Spring 2022, however, Residential Life will be in contact with students who complete this form late fall regarding your request and space availability. Additionally, Residential Life is offering you an opportunity to complete the 2021-2022 Housing Waitlist Form for fall 2021 should you desire.  

What if I can’t attend the Draw?

If it is impossible for you or anyone from your group to go online and pick a room during the draw, please contact Residential Life at residential-life@macalester.edu at least 2 days before the draw.

What if I decide to live off campus after I pick a room?

Picking a room at Room Draw or agreeing to live in specialty housing commits you to live on campus for the entire 2021-2022 academic year.

Rising sophomores are required to live on campus.

How can I contact Residential Life if I have questions about rooms, roommates or Room Draw?

Email  residential-life@macalester.edu. We will answer emails during ALL draw times. Additionally, check in with your RHD and we are happy to help talk through the process and your options!

What determines my year of eligibility for housing?

The term you arrived at Macalester would determine what Residential Life sees you as for Room Draw. For example: if you arrived at Macalester in Fall, 2019 you will be a rising Junior for Room Draw - even if you will be a rising Sophomore as a result of your academic credits.

What is my chance of getting a single room?

It is hard to say regarding the chance for a single room. During the actual room draw, you will see all the available single rooms across all halls. We strongly recommend you have multiple housing plans, in the event you could not successfully get a single room (for example, if more demands for single vs. the number of single rooms available). Please be sure to have another housing plan, such as a potential roommate in mind, so you can match and draw for a double room, for example.