For students seeking to enroll in a school, a lottery number plays a major role in the admissions process. Those with good numbers may have a better chance of being assigned to a preferred school. However, this doesn’t mean that they have a better shot at the top choice. The decision depends on the choices of other applicants.
While the DOE declined to provide details on how it chooses lottery numbers, it is clear that it relies on a system. In fact, it is the admission matching algorithm, or ARM, that is the main example of an automated decision system.
Lottery numbers are generated based on class level information from the Registrar’s Office. They are then compared left to right in increasing order. This means that students with low lottery numbers will be better suited for larger schools.
It’s also important to note that there are exceptions to the random selection process. Students who have good lottery numbers are generally assigned to a preferred school in separate lotteries. These are typically large, private schools.
Another option is to use a combination of both a random and a scientific approach. A mathematical technique, for instance, would take into account the fact that the number space is a certain percentage of the total number of possible combinations. If you’re interested in playing a lottery game, be sure to check out frequency charts for the last few draws.
Although there is no guarantee you’ll win, it’s still a lot of fun to play the lottery. Just be sure not to play more than you can afford to lose!