Applying for Housing Now

Hi! I saw the earlier discussions about applying for housing ASAP, even if unsure of attending, so I am! But I’m worried about one thing. I want to find a roommate on my own, and I’m unsure if applying for housing and not sending in the roommate request soon after will automatically have them match me with a roommate. Will I still be able to request my own roommate, even if its months from when I submit my application?

@mcmelxo How do you apply for housing? Do you have to go through the process of accepting admission first or are you able to reserve housing without committing to the university?

No you don’t! The housing and dining link should be on your portal, and there is no required deposit so you can sign up now, even if you don’t attend (at least thats what I’ve gathered from other posts). You don’t have to accept your admission first, you can just notify them if you decide to attend and there should be no penalty!

So according to the website, Reslife, the residential program at UMD, will accept roommate requests starting 48 hours after you submit the application. However, both you and your roommate have to send them an email for it to be considered mutual. Even then, they reserve the right to not give it to you.

I really appreciate your answer but I do not see a link. After I log in and click on my decision I see Application for Freshman/Transfer Admission, Application for Reenrollment or Reenstatement, Application for Limited Enrollment and MD Transfer Advantage program. Nothing about housing ???

@3wolfclubs Thats really odd… if you were accepted, it should definitely be there. I’ll send you a picture of what it looks like.

@supergoofy3000 right. Thanks!

That would be great - thank you so much!

What dining plan are you guys choosing on the housing/dining form? Not sure which is best

@laughandlearn23 I think I will get the preferred. And then I can change it based off of how much of the dining dollars and guest passes I use. You can probably change each year, or even semester to semester.

Just to make sure - if we apply for housing we don’t have to pay anything if we don’t attend UMD right?

@graceann, that is correct. Good luck to all of you. Also, you can request a roomate later in the process, if you’d like.

I’m slightly confused because I just saw this on the website:
The University’s housing and meals agreement is legally binding upon its receipt by the Department of Resident Life. No student should submit the housing and meals agreement without being prepared to accept and pay for housing and meal services or without having read its terms and conditions.

@ClassOf2020x - Here is the link to the info about cancellation requirements

http://reslife.umd.edu/termsandconditions/newstudent/2015-2016/

Basically, you have to notify Reslife by July 1 if you are not attending and have submitted the Housing/Dining form.

Is there any bonus to applying for housing early? @SoofDad

@ClassOf2020x - Dorm/Room assignments are made in the order that the hoising forms are received. Many dorm assignments are determined LLCs, but not the rooms. Triples and quads go to those who submit later.

So if my DD was accepted to college park scholars, and she has submitted her info for that, am I correct in understanding that she should also submit her housing request now as well?

@mom2elle, YES – there’s no downside – you have plenty of time between May 1 & July 1 to let them know if she decides to attend elsewhere.

http://reslife.umd.edu/termsandconditions/newstudent/2015-2016/

“Release from this Agreement will be approved [with no release fees] when a new resident’s signed notice of cancellation is received by Resident Life on or before July 1, 2015…”

We looked all around on the Portal and could not find a link for housing. Daughter was accepted Honors and we want to get the housing request in. Looked everywhere possible. Any info on where it specifically is to be found would be appreciated. Will call the University tomorrow but figured I would ask here as well. Thanks in advance.

The housing link is on the same page as the acceptance–many people saw it the day before decisions were released. Scroll down, after LEP and transfer paragraphs, and you should see it.