Yes, he does!
@SoofDad and @Maryversity I have been reading all of your posts about UMD and it has been so very helpful so THANK YOU very much for all of your insight and information!!
@SoofDad and @Maryversity my son submitted the housing form for UMD but has yet to accept his offer of admission. Do you know if he needs to accept his offer of admission for the housing to become valid? He hasn’t received any sort of confirmation of his housing application. We did print out that it had been submitted.
Thank you so much!!
@lbf - There will not be any confirmation. The housing form just helps them plan housing assignments. Most freshman are assigned to dorms based on whatever LLC they are in. Any one not in an LLC, or those who submit the forms late, get assigned to whatever is available.
For housing, do we have any choice over what dorm and how many roommates you can have? In the housing form, there doesn’t seem to be any section that asks.
@chardu000 - If two or more students want to be roommates, they must ALL send an email to Reslife requesting each other. If roommates are not requested, then random ones are assigned. I think there is a short list of questions on the housing form that is used to match people. Dorm assignments are based on your LLC, or are random, if you are not in an LLC.
Thanks for the info 
Once you set up your university ID do they email you a password? Or do you use the same password established to access the application portal? They aren’t very clear on this process!!
Thanks @Soofdad you are always so helpful!
@SoofDad any advice for dining plan options? A little confusing in that not sure what she needs - base, higher, etc. Thoughts? Not particularly concerned about price, but want her to have the right option without going under or overboard. Thank you.
@monjmom - The advice that we got when our D was a freshman (from both posters here and UMD Dining itself) was to pick the lowest cost plan, which we did. And it worked well for my D. However, this year the plans have changed. I still tend to think that the Base Plan will be adequate, but you may want also consider the Base Plus Plan. If you attend an Admitted Student Open House. you be able to get some good advice there. Also be aware that you can supplement the Dining Plan with a Terp Express account, which is like a re-loadable debit account tied to the Student ID card.
Here is the Terp Express link
Wow, the dining options are confusing. First, I had no idea there were so many! Second, it looks like the Terp Express is the most versatile in terms of where it can be used. And third, as far as the dining halls, am I reading it correctly that they can go in multiple times a day? Surely that cannot be right. As in, unlimited times per day?
@vandygrad87 On the Terrapin Express page it states that the plan is not a substitute for a meal plan. Any student living on campus has to sign up for one of UMD’s meal plans. And yes, the way I read it, there is no limit on visits to dining halls or on the food you get there. (There’s just no carry-out.)
They do mean “Anytime”. My D really liked the carry-out option that was available in previous years. Terp Express is probably best used as a substitute, or supplement, for Dining Dollars.
Ok thank you. So to clarify my understanding:
The basic dining plan is the anytime cafeteria plan. Upgrading that essentially allows for a discount on dining dollars since it applies there directly. However, dining dollars cannot be used with as much versatility as Terp Express. It looks like Terp Express is taken everywhere and Dining dollars just some places.
Correct?
Thank you!
Yes. Dining Dollars are only accepted for food purchases, but Terp Express can be used for other purchases. However, as you said, you can get those Dining Dollars at a discount. I’m considering bumping up one step from the Base plan to get the 10% discount. If D17 uses more than $200 I can supplement with Terp Express or gasp actual money!
One thing to remember, if they go off campus to eat at some of the places on Route 1, or into DC, they will need actual money, or a credit/debit card.
http://dining.umd.edu/plans/where-to-use-your-points/
While the dining plan has been “updated” since my son first enrolled as a freshman, the biggest difference I recall was that the dining plan funds (while offering a “discount”) could not be carried over to the next semester but Terrapin Express could and any balance at end of year could either be refunded or carried over (not sure why I think they were called Terp bucks at the time?).
http://dining.umd.edu/plans/terrapin-express/
So to summarize go with either Base or Base Plus, but not necessary to go any higher. And a couple hundred bucks per semester on Terp Express or can actually refill as necessary, correct? Plus with Terp Express it’s carried over from one semester to the next. Sound about right @maryversity, @SoofDad and @NerdMom88 Thank you for the advice!
@monjmom - That sounds right, but I would recommend just putting maybe $100 on Terp Express to start. You can add to it at any time.