As a junior going into my senior year I received a draw no. of 2868, but I ended up on the row in Durand. As a 5th year senior who is technically unguaranteed housing and received a 3128 in the draw, I ended up with what is basically a single in Toyon. I did it exactly using the tactics described in your article. Listing choices like Bob, Xanadu, 680...and choosing "don't assign me if these choices aren't available" on the application, then getting on the waitlist and receiving housing in the middle of July. I've gambled twice, and twice it has paid off. Then again, I did draw alone. I think the reason that a lot of people don't exploit the system is because the loophole that myself and many others use does not work if you draw in groups, which most people do. Think about it...would you rather live with your friends in Flomo, or alone in ZAP or Bob...? Okay, maybe you would still live in ZAP or Bob, and that's why the loophole exists.

Not only were Mike's comments spot on, but he wrote them with an elegance not often found in modern english writing. I most enjoyed how he used irony with such efficiency in order to convey both sides of the argument.

The same ol' story about wanting to live in Bob/Xanadu has been going on for so looooong...quit yer whining!
Lets take a look at the positive side of Stanford Housing
- 4 years guaranteed housing
- Preferred/unpreferred draw numbers
- Capital Improvement Project - Burbank for example is pretty darn nice compared to what is was just 10 years ago. Same goes for Wilbur, Branner, Toyon, FloMo, etc.
The worst case that can happen during the draw is if you get split from your group - and even that isn't a big deal. Just make the most of where you end up.

I think that the people who are willing to work that hard to get the housing that they want deserve it. If you don't care, don't bother. If it's important to you, then fight for it.

I'm worried that more people are going to start bitching about their housing assignments, making it impossible for me to get a single...