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Spring Upperclass Lottery

Spring Lottery Registration Form

The OSCA Spring Lottery is for any Oberlin College student who wishes to live and/or dine in a co-op in the coming Fall. Please read the following information in its entirety; it explains how to become a member of the OSCA community for the next academic year.

LOTTERY DEADLINES

Registration Deadline

MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2026 (11:59p)

You must enter by the deadline above to have a chance of getting into a co-op from this lottery. There will be no extension made to this deadline.

Deposit/Contract Deadline

Deposit Days begin: SATURDAY, APRIL 4, 2026

Deadline: MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2026 (NOON)

International registrants using snail mail must have a postmark no later than the deadline above. Students being placed for Spring should sign up on the Wait List during this period.

Special Interest Application Deadline

SUNDAY, MARCH 15, 2026 (11:59p)

You must apply to TWC or TWSJ by the deadline above to be placed into those co-ops for Fall from this lottery. Previous TWC members are exempt from the application requirement.

INTRODUCTION

Oberlin Student Cooperative Association (OSCA) has four housing & dining co-ops, one dining-only co-op and one grocery-style co-op; our co-ops include one dining safe-space and one program hall. In this lottery, you may choose both room & board and board-only options.

Safe-space and program hall applicants should read the section "Special interest Co-ops" below. You may be required to submit an additional application during this process.

Background

All members of OSCA are placed by lottery number without exception. Lottery numbers are assigned randomly in April for students returning to Oberlin College in the subsequent Fall. At all other times, lottery numbers are assigned sequentially from OSCA wait lists on a first-come, first-served basis. (Lottery numbers are higher when assigned from a wait list, and most students are placed into OSCA during the Spring Lottery.)

Notification

The Spring Upperclass Lottery will be held: THURSDAY, April 2, 2026

If you are assigned to a co-op during the lottery, you will be notified via your Oberlin College e-mail by: FRIDAY, April 3, 2026 (4:00p)

Questions ?

If you have any questions about co-op membership, contact the OSCA office (in the Tank apartment), 440-775-8108. Or, email the Membership Secretary at memsec@osca.coop

APPLYING TO SPECIAL INTEREST CO-OPS

OSCA has one dining safe-space and one program hall available. Membership in these co-ops is selected entirely by application. To be considered for placement into these Special Interest Co-ops during the Spring Lottery you must also submit a separate application by the deadline above.

Third World Co-op (TWC) dining

TWC is an intentional safer space primarily for people of color, low-income individuals and international students. Founded on the principles of the Third World Liberation Front, Third World members define their community values and agreements each semester by consensus of the current membership. Read more about TWC | Apply to TWC

Third World Social Justice (TWSJ) housing

TWSJ is a program hall in Harkness Co-op which seeks to promote a safer community for members of all backgrounds, and especially for members of color. The co-op also supports the efforts of identity-based student and activist organizations within the Oberlin community. TWSJ members dine in Third World Co-op. Read more about TWSJ | Apply to TWSJ

Special Interest Application Process

If you have been a member of TWC previously, you DO NOT need to fill out another application. Similarly, if you are currently a member of TWSJ at the time of this lottery, you DO NOT need to reapply.

IF YOU WANT TO LIVE IN TWSJ AND DINE IN TWC, ONLY THE TWSJ APPLICATION IS REQUIRED. Read more about special interest co-ops

APPLYING AS A CONSECUTIVE PAIR

Two students may enter the Spring Lottery as a pair; they will receive consecutive lottery numbers, which increases the chances of both persons getting into the same co-op. People applying as a consecutive pair are not expected to be roommates and neither are required to accept any joint options.

In order for your consecutive pair request to be honored, each member of the pair must have the same co-op preferences in the same priority, and you both must make a separate consecutive pair request.

NO MORE THAN TWO PEOPLE MAY ENTER THE LOTTERY AS A SINGLE PAIR GROUP.

ON-LEAVE OR ABROAD IN FALL ?

There is an extended process for students away from Oberlin during the coming Fall. If you plan to be away next Fall and want to be a member of OSCA in the subsequent Spring, take the following steps:

Enter the Spring Lottery by the deadline so that you are assigned a lottery number;
After the Spring Lottery, sign-up on next year's Wait List. You will keep your original lottery number if you sign-up by the contract/deposit deadline.

DO NOT PAY A DEPOSIT AS WE CANNOT GUARANTEE YOU PLACEMENT IN THE SUBSEQUENT SPRING.

SECURE YOUR FALL ASSIGNMENT

NOTE: If you confirm your placement in OSCA housing, you will be removed from Oberlin College's housing system and will not participate in the ResEd housing lottery.)

To secure your Fall placement you MUST COMPLETE YOUR MEMBERSHIP CONTRACT(s) for next year AND PAY YOUR $75 DEPOSIT by the Contract/Deposit deadline. The $75 deposit is mandatory; it will be deducted from your Fall bill. If you fail to pay your deposit or to complete your membership contract(s) by the deadline specified, you will lose your Fall co-op lottery assignment.

Online payment & contracts

You may complete your housing and/or dining agreement(s) online, and pay your deposit with a credit or debit card, at the OSCA website to secure your spot. The online option will be available during the entire deposit period.

In-person payment & contracts

If you prefer to complete a paper copy of the housing or dining contract, or wish to pay in-person, you can do so at the OSCA office. We accept cash, check or money orders (checks or money orders should be made payable to "OSCA"). The online option will be available during the entire deposit period. The OSCA Office is open each day between 10AM and 4PM, Mondays thru Thursdays.

Payment by mail

Contracts and payment submitted by mail must be postmarked no later than the Contract/Deposit deadline. You may mail your completed contract(s) and your check or money order to:

OSCA, PO Box 118, Oberlin, OH 44074

Students who are paying or submitting a contract by mail should reach out to the OSCA office (office@osca.coop).

CHANGING YOUR MIND

You must notify OSCA's Membership Secretary as soon as you can if you accept a space in a co-op during the Spring Lottery and later want to surrender your co-op assignment. To request a refund of your deposit, you must do so in writing; it may be emailed to office@osca.coop or sent by snail mail to the address above.

All deposits are non-refundable after August 1st.

GETTING INTO OSCA AFTER THE SPRING LOTTERY

If you enter the Spring Lottery but either do not get into your first-choice co-op (or at all!), and you still wish to become a member of OSCA, you must register on next year's Wait List by the Contract/Deposit deadline to keep your original lottery number. If you register on next year's Wait List after the deadline specified, you will be assigned a new (higher) lottery number. Lottery numbers assigned on the Wait List are done so in first-come, first-served order.