<p>Could someone maybe briefly describe the dorms for freshman. Maybe like say what the really social dorm is or the really nice or quit is. Any responses are greatly appreciated.</p>
<p>Search the Maryland forum for “freshman dorms” and you’ll find a lot of info from previous years. Other than the living/learning programs that have specific dorms, most freshman live in one of the high-rise dorms, and rarely get any choice for the specific location. UMD is NOT known for luxurious dorms, but the whole dorm life in the 1st/2nd years of school is part of the whole college experience.</p>
<p>So there is no way to request which high rise? I’m one of those people that actually want to live in a high rise so doesn’t bother me. Thank you though @astrophysicsmom.</p>
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<p>Had some good times, but 2 years is enough! Commons this fall!! :)</p>
<p>It’s like a rite of passage, right?!!! Both D’s moved into apts in the Language House after 1 year in the “traditional” dorms. It couldn’t have happened soon enough for them. They both agreed that they were glad they had the experience, but it got old quick.</p>
<p>Lakeshow, you’ll most likely end up in one of the non-A/C dorms. I don’t know that the housing office entertains requests, but you could always call them and ask.</p>
<p>Astrophysicsmom: do you know if getting into Language House is competitive? I saw that there’s an application process and while I think I would stand a good chance, I really want to move into Arabic House my sophomore year but I just don’t know how easy it is. Is it basically just that you’re interested or are they looking for certain things? Or does it depend on how many spaces they have open for a particular semester?</p>
<p>You must interview (in the language you’re applying for) and as long as you pass that, then you interview with the director–who is looking for people who are willing and able to be an active part of the language house community, speak in the language about 80% of the time they are in their apartment, and one of the things the director tracks (and is very proud of) is the overall GPA of the Language House…which, from your other posts, I don’t think will be a problem! 
You also must be enrolled in at least one course in your language each semester you live there. (and in the 4 years I’ve had a kid living there, there have been several people who have been asked to leave who aren’t holding up their end of the agreement.) If you are actively engaged in activities (i.e. chairman of one of the many clubs or groups there), you can potentially live there until you graduate.</p>
<p>The largest groups are always Spanish and French, (and are also probably the most competitive). I know the Arabic cluster has been growing in size, but I’ll ask D2 about how competitive it is–we’ll be up there this next week, so I’ll let you know after we get back.</p>
<p>You are right about it being dependent upon how many spaces are available–as you can imagine, there are a lot of people who study abroad, so the dynamics change. Also, the apartments are male/female. If there aren’t enough, apartments can be mixed—when D1 was in the German cluster, there was usually always a German girls apartment, and the German guys usually lived with guys from a different cluster (since there were not enough to fill an entire apartment).</p>
<p>Here’s D’s reply regarding Arabic cluster:</p>
<p>Depends on the semester; for this coming year, they’re probably going to have 4 or so openings, I’d guess. It’s less competitive than Spanish, for example, but moreso than some of the other languages. </p>
<p>From me: If you have strong speaking skills, are enthusiastic in the interview (and get some good recommendations from Arabic professors your first year), you’ll have a good shot.</p>
<p>Thanks so much! I really hope I’ll be able to get a spot my sophomore year; it sounds like such a great opportunity :)</p>