Students looking for an inside edge in this year’s Draw had to do so before Friday, when applications for priority status closed. Some houses on campus have a special priority system that, according to the Stanford Housing Web site, “allows students that are interested in a particular theme to have a better chance of drawing into the house.” Students are only allowed to obtain a maximum of eight special-priority classifications.

The need for a special-priority system arises from the unique circumstances created by theme houses. Theoretically, if such a system were not employed, houses could be filled with students who have very little to no interest in that residence’s particular theme.

To correct this problem, priority in a certain house generally takes precedence over the randomly assigned Draw number. Requirements for obtaining priority vary from house to house and can entail anything from cleaning up after a co-op meal to simply filling out an eating-club contract. But in general they involve some sort of exhibition of interest in a house’s theme.

The priority system is complicated by the fact that an entire draw group applying to a house must all have priority in order to be considered a priority group. Any “incomplete” groups have all members dropped from priority status. All students who complete the priority requirements should know that they have been granted a priority position in the housing Draw.

Residences that feature the priority system fall into six categories: academic theme, language theme, extracurricular theme, ethnic theme, co-op and special dining arrangement. To further obscure the matter, some houses offer two levels of priority. Higher levels of interest must be shown to reach first priority in these cases. Twenty-nine houses campus-wide feature the use of this two-level system.

This year, Synergy, a co-op on south campus, offered a multi-layered priority system. Applicants were asked to complete a house job — which involved anything from cooking, working in the residence garden — taking a 30-minute house tour and attending an optional “Synposium” day during which workshops on topics ranging from beer making to contact-improv dance were offered.

The processes at other houses are less involved.

“There is only first priority in Suites; all students do is come out to Suites and get an eating club manager to sign their priority form with their names and drawmates’ names on it,” said Leah Sawyer, eating club manager and authorized special priority representative for Suites. “This ensures that students realize what kind of a community Suites is, what the eating clubs are like, and that living in Suites entails that one must pay dues to their assigned eating club. Suites is a unique community, and the priority form ensures that students realize that. It is not a matter of competition; anyone who gets a signature has priority.”

Students said they think the process is fair enough, though some wished it were simpler. Many dislike the complex nature of the Draw overall and look for ways around it.

“I know nothing about priority,” confessed freshman Chris McCarty.

Others looked elsewhere to avoid the confusion of the housing lottery.

“I pledged a sorority partially so I wouldn’t have to deal with the draw,” said freshman Erika Amaya.

Complaints aside, Housing is not planning on any major changes this year. Draw numbers will be posted at residential offices on May 10 and on Axess on May 11.