With only four days left to submit a housing contract request, some students are feeling apprehensive about their chances in the lottery that will decide their housing status for next year.

Kathy Krinks, assignment office manager, assures students that their housing situation is not as bleak as they may think.

"Lots of students think they'll be the person who 'loses.' They think, 'I'm afraid I'm not going to be the person who gets a contract,'" Krinks said. "However, 5,000 students expressed an interest in living on campus. We will have about 3,500 spots to offer. We should be able to offer the majority of them a contract. It's a very reasonable number," Krinks said.

Still, dormitory residents are fearful of being left without a place to live in the fall.

"How guaranteed are we, really?" Niki Thompson (freshman-engineering) said. Thompson has been gathering information from local realtors in the event that she does not receive a bid Jan. 20 when students are told about their contract status.

"I want an apartment as a back-up plan," she said.

Matt Staymates (freshman-engineering) is looking into another option. He has applied to be a program assistant in Pennypacker Hall, a special interest hall. Because he will be helping to organize special programs for Pennypacker residents next year, he is guaranteed housing.

In fact, all students living in special interest housing, including scholars housing in Atherton Hall and Simmons Hall, are guaranteed housing contracts as long as they return their contracts to the Office of Housing and Food Service Operations in Shields Building by today.

"I'd just keep my fingers crossed, and if I didn't get a room, I'd look for an apartment," Staymates suggested.

Jean Welling, staff assistant for the Office of Off-Campus Living, said that students not involved in special programs should begin investigating options and making preparations before housing bids are announced.

"They can begin making preparations by investigating what might be available to them," Welling said.

She suggests students read local newspaper ads and talk to apartment-renting friends about the reputations of their respective realtors.

Welling encouraged students to visit the off-campus living office's Web site (www.sa.psu.edu/OCL). Students can find messages posted by other students looking for roommates and people to sublet on the site.

"They'll also want to be thinking of what they'll be doing next year," Welling said.

Students who will be taking a semester off for an internship or graduating in December should talk with realtors that offer shorter leases.

Welling also recommended attending the housing fair that the off-campus living office will sponsor from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Jan. 26 and 27 in Alumni Hall. About 20 area realtors will attend the fair and will be able to provide important information for students interested in finding an apartment to suit their needs.

Students should not preoccupy themselves with housing dilemmas, Krinks said.

"Don't panic," she said. "Just because you don't get a contract doesn't mean that you won't get on-campus housing."

She assured applicants that a second round of contracts will be mailed after the number of students who decline a spot from the first round is submitted to the assignment office.

"We anticipate there will be a lot of movement," Krinks said.

For students who are considering an apartment, Welling strongly suggests waiting to sign an apartment application. Students who sign an apartment application will be held legally responsible for the lease and paying rent.

"If you're not certain what you want to do next year and are considering renting, do not sign an application. Once signed, it's a binding agreement," she said.

The final day to submit a housing contract request is Jan.14th at midnight.