Fall 2024 Lottery
Urban New York for Fall 2024 is made up of two lotteries: A general lottery open to all undergraduates in Columbia College (CC) and Columbia Engineering (SEAS), and a first-year lottery open to first-year students in CC and SEAS. Ineligible registrations will be removed.
For questions or more information, please email urbanny@columbia.edu.
Rules and Regulations
General Information
By entering the Urban NY lottery (whether a winner or wait-listed), you agree to the program rules and regulations.
The lotteries typically open at the beginning of each semester for approximately 10-15 days.
The fall First-Year Lottery is open to first-year, transfer, visiting and combined plan NEW students in Columbia College and School of Engineering ONLY.
The fall and spring General Lotteries are open to ALL undergraduate students in CC and SEAS.
The spring Senior Lottery is open to senior undergraduate students in CC and SEAS.
Students are only allowed to win one (1) Urban NY trip throughout their time at Columbia University. Winners are ineligible to register for or win further lotteries (e.g. If you win as a first-year student during the fall First-Year lottery, you are no longer eligible to register for any lotteries throughout your four years).
Winners who are unable to attend the Urban NY trip, irrespective of the reason, are not eligible to register for or win future lotteries.
Students placed on the wait-list for an event are still eligible to register for a lottery and win a trip in the future, regardless whether they attend the trip or not.
A student may only be a winner or a wait-listed registrant for one event.
Winners are not permitted to give their trip away, and trips are non-transferrable.
Register for the Lottery
Opening and closing dates are announced at the beginning of each semester.
Students can only register for an Urban NY lottery when the lottery is open.
The lottery results will be run after registration closes.
Once the lottery is closed, students are no longer able to enter or register. No exceptions!
During the registration process, students are given an opportunity to select events in order of preference.
During registration, students have the option to be placed on the wait-list for any event they desire, in order of preference, for a chance to attend the event. This option does not impact your chance of winning.
Lottery winners will receive an email from the trip leader to confirm their attendance and to inform them of trip details.
Those placed on the wait-list will also receive an email to notify them of the results and next steps.
Lottery Winners
Lottery winners will receive an email from the Urban NY Trip Leader to confirm their attendance and to inform them of their trip details.
Winners are no longer eligible to enter future lotteries. Winners are blocked from being able to register for future lotteries.
A student may only be a winner or on the wait-list for one event at a time.
Winners must be physically present at the meeting location within 10 minutes of the meeting time.
Winners who do not arrive within 10 minutes of the meeting time — even by one minute! — will forfeit their spot to wait-listed students or students waiting on standby. No exceptions!
The group will NOT wait for a trip winner if the winner does not show up on time.
All trip winners must travel to the location together as a group.
Winners Unable to Attend the Urban NY Trip...
irrespective of the reason, are not eligible to register or win future lotteries.
are not allowed to transfer their trip to anyone else or give their ticket away.
must notify their trip leader immediately to allow wait-listed students a chance to attend in their place.
should release their slot before 9:00 a.m. the business day before their scheduled event.
Wait-list
Students placed on the wait-list for an event will receive an email from the trip leader notifying them of their status.
If a spot on the trip is made available before the posted meeting time, the trip leader will contact all wait-listed members via email to notify them of any available ticket — the first person to respond will get the ticket.
The winner rules now apply to that wait-listed student.
Wait-list spots are given on a “first-come, first-served” basis — the first student to respond to the email will secure the ticket.
If a spot is made available near or at the posted meeting time, the assigned trip leader will release the spot on the trip to any wait-list member physically present in the order of arrival.
The trip leader will provide a sign-in sheet at the meeting location so students can sign-up in order of arrival.
Students who are on the wait-list, regardless of whether or not they attend the trip, are still eligible to enter and win future Urban NY lotteries.
Standby
If there are any open spots on the trip due to last minute cancellations and/or no-shows, trip leaders will release spots to any CC, SEAS, GS or BC students who are physically present at the meeting location via random draw.
Spots on the trip will be offered to those on standby only after those on the wait-list have been given the chance to secure a spot via the above process.
Standby students should arrive no more than 10 minutes before the designated meeting time. If spots are available, random selection from the Standby list will occur exactly 10 minutes after the designated meeting time.
Any CC, SEAS, GS and BC student can show up at the scheduled meeting time/place and notify the trip leader that they are there to obtain a spot on the trip via standby.
The trip leader will provide a sign-in sheet at the meeting time/location to ask for your name, school and class year. No-show spots will be awarded via random selection; please note that an earlier time of arrival will NOT increase chances of selection!
Past winners of any lottery are able to obtain a spot via standby.
Students cannot sign in on behalf of others nor can they save spots.
The Urban NY Program does not guarantee the availability of standby spots.
Transportation
MetroCards will be provided to students free of charge.
Unless otherwise stated, transportation will be via the NYC Public Transit system.
All winners and anyone attending the trip are required to meet at the meeting time and location and travel together as a group.
If you are registered with Disabilities Services and need transportation accommodations, please notify your trip leader or contact urbanny@columbia.edu.
Alcohol
Alcohol of any kind is not permitted during any of the Urban NY trips.
Many trips sell alcoholic beverages at the venues; however Urban NY student winners are not allowed to partake in or purchase any alcohol, regardless of being 21+.
Additional Considerations
Students may be required to provide proof of vaccination, a negative COVID test, or other measures as required by the event space. Trip Leaders will communicate with students attending the event about what is required.
All trips are subject to cancellation at any time. Students whose trips are canceled will be eligible for entry in future lotteries.