Nearly 50 upperclassmen have expressed interest in moving out of the residential houses and into the College's new affiliated housing next year, Harvard officials said yesterday.

Forty-eight sophomores and juniors turned in forms requesting more information about the rent-subsidized apartments in the Peabody Terrace, Botanical Gardens and 8-10 Mt. Auburn St complexes, said Housing Officer Lisa M. Colvin.

The College will send packets containing price information, floor plans and a formal application to these students next week, Colvin said.

These students' applications are non-binding and the formal applications will be due May 1, Colvin said.

"The response is good, and I think there may be more interest as people go into the house lotteries and see what's available there," said Assistant Dean for the House System Thomas A. Dingman '67.

Students from 10 of the 12 residential houses expressed interest in the new housing, which will in some cases cost less than living on-campus, Colvin said. Students from North and Adams appeared to be most interested in the apartments, as 16 students from North and nine from Adams House turned in the preliminary forms, Colvin said.

Many students said they were interested in affiliate housing because they wanted to try a new atmosphere.

"I'm interested in it because I think it will be a good opportunity to be on your own and still be affiliated with a house," said Joanne R. Dushay '89. "We wanted to leave Kirkland House and this seemed like the best thing."

Colvin said that many of the students who turned in the preliminary forms expressed interest in living with students from other houses or with transfer students, who are not guaranteed on-campus housing.

Only 30 places will be available next year for students moving out of the residential houses, and Dingman said they plan to put a cap on the number of students who can move out of any one house.

Under the new plan, if more than 30 people want to move into affiliate housing, preference will be given to rising seniors. About half of the applications received came from rising seniors, Colvin said. Rising sophomores are ineligible to apply.

If fewer than 30 students elect to live in affiliated housing option, the remaining places probably will be offered to entering transfer students, Colvin said.