Undergraduate Houses will admit 173 men at mid-year graduation instead of the originally announced 75, Associate Dean Robert B. Watson '37 disclosed yesterday, as this term's House members signified overwhelming preference to retain the current loaded enrollments rather than "deconvert" back to 1946 levels.

The figure of 75 openings was quoted a month and a half ago when the Masters estimated that most of the House residents would choose to relieve crowded conditions by decreasing the population of the Houses in February, Watson explained.

"Where we expected almost everyone to vote to deconvert, only 20 to 30 supported this policy," he said. "It now is obvious that the students prefer to stay doubled up rather than reduce the number of men admitted at this time."

Rooms for Commuters

The decision will also mean that many forced commuters, as well as the men returning to College in February after leaves of absence will be able to get rooms in the Houses.

Room vacancies in the Houses, Yard, and outside dormitories will total 202, with the 106 returnees accommodated before anyone else, Watson said. The remaining places will go first to upperclass commuters with Freshmen from nearby areas receiving the last consideration. Shrinkages in the College registration after exams however may create vacancies for everyone.

600 Waiting for Houses

Although only 173 places in the Houses will be filled, a reshuffling will take place which will affect many more. After as many of the 600 now on House waiting lists are taken in, the commuters and those returning from leaves of absence will move into the vacated rooms in the Yard and outside dormitories.

Housemasters are now in the process of deciding who will fill the 173 openings in the Houses.