Floating
Students who cannot find a blocking group should not feel alone. Several enter the housing lottery by themselves each year, and most end up happy with the outcome.
"I floated into Quincy last year," one sophomore comments. "It's been great in that it has give me flexibility to meet a bunch of new people. It has definitely forced me to take more initiative."
Daniel J. Libenson '92, a Massachusetts Hall proctor, advises students not to worry.
"I've been a proctor for a while now, and things always seem to work out. I've seen people float, and I've seen people successfully accept floaters into their blocking groups," he says.
But those afraid of floating should not hesitate to ask people with whom they are not as close to room with them.
First-years often fail to realize that it is difficult for everyone to make friendships as strong as those made in high school after only six months. Several are surprised to find out how many other students are in the same blocking predicament.
In addition, many regret not asking a particular person to room with them for fear of rejection--when years later they discover that the situation would have been ideal.
Students should "not to be ashamed of asking someone they do not know that well," says prefect Ann A. Waterman '98. "Everybody is tense about housing. A lot are in the same situation. Having someone approach you is a really nice thing."
Don't Stress
Blocking can be stressful, but it almost always works out for the best. Very few sophomores are unhappy with the turnout, and once adjusted to house life, blocking woes seem like an unnecessary problem.
"Honestly, putting together a blocking group was the most stressful event of freshman year," says Kovacevich. "It's all turned out really well, though."