<p>My son never got an email. I don’t think they’ve sent any yet. We didn’t continue from an email. The person I spoke with on the phone told me the URL. But that doesn’t seem to be working today from what you are saying. Call them.</p>
<p>If you got a place in line by about noon yesterday that is pretty good. You’ll get to do the application eventually. It doesn’t matter when so long as you trust that your place in line is what the message says. But call them and see what they say.</p>
<p>Here’s a communication that I just received from U of MN Housing:</p>
<p>“Your daughter will be receiving an email from us to her U of M email during business hours today. That email will contain a link to access her application, as well as further instructions. The website has experienced an extremely high amount of traffic in the last day or so, and that’s what is causing a lot of the issues you are experiencing. We appreciate your patience throughout this process.”</p>
<p>Hope that’s helpful!</p>
<p>Also, I was just able to return to application and complete it. The website must be back up and running.</p>
<p>Good luck everyone!</p>
<p>Is the housing thing a place holder or are all these posts about accepted offers? </p>
<p>Actual housing assignments will be given in June-July according to the application. This is an application in which you record your preferences for housing and also get a place in line based on the time you start the application. First come, first assigned.Within the app itself there is a hierarchy of considerations. LLC takes precedence over roommate request, for example. But assignments are made in the order that students registered their housing applications, including the date and time of day I was told. So yesterday, and it seems today, when the system was not working well, they were giving places in line and telling students to come back and finish the app at some later time. There is a $25 non-refundable fee to do the housing app.</p>
<p>So can you apply even if you haven’t accepted yet? Is this how it works (noob)</p>
<p>I asked them that question when I called, as my S has friends not yet admitted and they told me yes you can apply for housing prior to being admitted. You need your login info, the internet ID and PW you use to check your tracker. If you don’t have that you need to call and get your ID to be able to do the application. </p>
<p>It’s a good question.</p>
<p>Thanks heaps. I really am not that dense but I had no idea we would be scrabbling over housing in November LOL. </p>
<p>Better to scrabble now than later. Expanded housing does NOT sound like a good option, IMHO.</p>
<p>Well it depends on if you have a particular popular dorm in mind or not. Or a special room type. </p>
<p>If you are planning to be in honors and stay in the honors LLC in Middlebrook in a regular double room, then there is no reason to scrabble. I think your spot there is guaranteed if you get into honors.</p>
<p>In general as a freshman you are guaranteed a room, but not necessarily in the dorm you request. And there are a couple of 2nd year LLCs whose size is limited so there may be some competition for those rooms, not sure.</p>
<p>We learned on a recent visit from talking to many current students, that the new dorm by DInkytown, 17th, is excellent and has better food than Middlebrook even. You can eat in any of the dining halls, not just the one you live in, but anyway, that is supposed to be a pretty nice facility. We didn’t tour it though, just Middlebrook. </p>
<p>Two years ago when my D was applying, I didn’t worry too much about UMN housing as 17th was not finished yet and Middlebrook honors was her clear 1st choice, so no issue. We applied at some point to have a spot anyway.</p>
<p>However at TAMU, we didn’t notice that the housing goes fast. Her honors application was rejected because she had not applied for housing by the deadline(Jan?) and housing was full and being in honors requires staying in the honors dorm. There is a huge fee to apply for housing there, like $250. Most of which is refundable. </p>
<p>But anyway, it’s good to pay attention to the housing situation at your schools and apply early paying whatever they charge if the school is high on the list and housing is an issue. I think at Bama you have to pay a very large non-refundable fee to apply for housing. It’s not high on the list, so I’m ignoring that one.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone for the help! I was able to log on and complete my application (finally) I paid the $25 but do you know the expected time to get a housing guarantee where you will have to pay the $200? Will it be closer to summer?</p>
<p>My D is opting for West Bank Arts LLC which is currently in Middlebrook. She did not tour inside but has been to the area and really likes that it’s more quiet and has the honors and arts LLC’s there (also international students LLC? Can’t remember). She is not worried at all about being away from the “popular” dorms LOL. She’s a bit of a nerd and likes her room for study, sleep and quiet relaxation. In the event she is invited to honors (probably won’t be) then all the better that she chose Middlebrook because then she’ll have a choice of two LLC’s there.</p>
<p>@Celesteroberts can you please advise on the best meal plan? Any reason to choose the unlimited meals? We just chose the basic one - 11 meals plus $100 flex but my daughter might want to upgrade to 14 meals - we are not sure yet. Choices, choices . . . </p>
<p>@hambam13 the housing guarantee payment of $200 is due May 15, 2015 so I’m guessing the guarantee is offered before then? </p>
<p>I think you will get a housing guarantee sometime after you are admitted and do housing app and pay the enrollment fee. I don’t know how long after, but it says in the application that the deadline to pay the $200 is May 15. I don’t think many people pay their enrollment fee already this early when you don’t need to and it doesn’t advantage you in any way. </p>
<p>Oops - D did NOT sign up for 11 meals she signed up for 14 plus $100 FlexDine. Any reason to upgrade to $250? Can you add $$'s on your FlexDine card if you need to? Any reason to go for the unlimited meals plan?</p>
<p>@mamelot, the meal plan depends so much on the individual. Eating habits, appetite, whether they have time and inclination to get to dining hall before morning classes or prefer to stock breakfast food in the dorm room. Some kids get so tired of dining hall food they just want flex dollars and nothing else or eat out all the time off campus. Or don’t have free time during the hours that dining halls have the most food set out.Or get hungry mostly late at night when halls are closed. Some kids eat lots of small meals. So many variables. Hard to advise. I wonder if you can change plans in mid-semester like some schools. Then you can try out a plan and change if it doesn’t seem the right one. </p>
<p>@celesteroberts under the FAQ it says that Students can change their meal plan within the first two weeks of fall semester. Sounds like they are set after that? Too bad they don’t go 100% flexDine because that would be the best way to suit all needs. I’ve only seen one or two colleges offering that level of flexibility and they were specifically art schools.</p>
<p>@celesteroberts I actually found more info buried within the Dining Policy: </p>
<p>Residential Meal Plan Change Requests
Residents of the traditional* Residence Halls may request a change to their Fall Semester 2014 Residential meal plans by going to <a href=“Web Login Service - Stale Request”>www.housing.umn.edu/mealplanchange</a> between April 16, 2014 and August 4, 2014. If they are unable to submit a meal plan change request during that time period they may also submit a change request during the first two weeks of Fall 2014 classes (August 30, 2014 through September 12, 2014). Please be aware that change requests placed during the first two weeks of classes take immediate effect, but it may take up to one week for any finacial adjustments to be posted to the student account. Additionally, later submissions during the change period replace earlier submissions.</p>
<p>Instructions for changing Spring 2015 meal plans will be emailed (from the Housing Office) in late October or early November. Please be aware that this email will also contain other Housing related information. Failure to read the email does not exempt students from the Spring 2015 Meal Plan Change process or its deadlines.</p>