<p>Specifically something like Eclectic… how does one apply? And how difficult/stringent is it to get in?</p>
<p>I don’t think it’s that hard. I mean, I’ve never met anyone who was out and out rejected by a program house. It’s mainly a matter of fit for everybody involved. In Eclectic’s case, it’s a matter of being really responsible for the care and upkeep of one of the most beloved landmarks on campus. If you can do that and don’t mind having a dance party in your living room every weekend – I think you’re in. :)</p>
<p>Program houses are available to sophomores and up; most people that live in program houses are therefore sophomores and juniors.</p>
<p>Eclectic is different from most of the other program houses because it’s a society-- they have their own process for selecting members which involves a really unique application with creative projects and stuff on it. Basically, if you go to their things and are the kind of person they want, you’re in, and you’ll probably figure out really quickly whether that’s something you want to be involved with. Also, I should just mention that there are a ton of members of the society that don’t live in the house. </p>
<p>Other program houses (non-societies/fraternities) have applications in the spring before General Room Selection. Those vary dramatically in competitiveness. This year, OutHouse (outdoors stuff), for example, had 40 applications for five spots. Others are far less difficult to get into, but in terms of being able to live in a program house, it is possible that you won’t get into any.</p>
<p>Also, there are some program houses that have less people apply than spots; this means that sometimes, if you lose out and don’t get good housing during General Room Selection, you might be placed in an underfilled program house. This is relatively rare, but it happens, and I’ve heard it to happen in Eclectic in past years.</p>
<p>Also, society houses (i.e. Eclectic, Alpha Delt) often take boarders - people who live in the house, but aren’t members of the society. It’s not as common, but it happens, too. The house members are in charge of selecting which people get spots, though, so keep that in mind.</p>