<p>Commons is the best privately owned on campus dorms available. They are slightly cheaper than university owned on campus buildings like elkton, la plata, ellicott etc and have more space and a full kitchen. Commons 7 is the newest commons building built, just finished to be available for occupancy next semester. This place is really clean, new and a certified green building for energy saving. I have an open spot in this building for any male student living on campus currently. If you hated your roomate this semester or knows someone who would like to live there, email me at <a href=“mailto:jtessler@umd.edu”>jtessler@umd.edu</a> and Ill see if we can work something out. Its very hard to get in so this is a good opportunity to easily get into the best housing on campus. Email me if you are interested! thanks.
-Jason</p>
<p>I believe the lottery for next yr (10-11) Commons opens up on the 19th.</p>
<p>Just a side question… I know that only one residence hall is actually air conditioned. Are there plans to implement more air-cond. units? </p>
<p>Also, are there any single-sex (male) floors or halls? How difficult is it to get “single” dorm? From what I know from friends @ UMD is that there needs to be an legitimate reason to request these rooms…</p>
<p>Having been to UMD almost every year of my life (father is alumni), I know that there is a big community feel, and is something that I would like to experience in my first year (if I hopefully get in!). Though the idea of communal bathrooms shakes me…</p>
<p>As far as the highrises go, both La Plata Hall (mostly sophomores, although some freshmen do get placed there) and Cumberland Hall (mainly for students in Scholars, although some non-Scholars do get placed there) are air conditioned. There have been mentions of plans to expand air conditioning to more dorms, but nothing concrete, so I wouldn’t hold my breath for it. (It’s honestly not that bad… I live in a dorm without AC, and sure, the first few weeks were a tad warm, but fans help and it’s not a big deal. Plus, the lounges have air conditioning, so that’s always a cool alternative. 
They really only put people specifically in the air conditioned dorms (from what I’ve heard) for documented medical reasons.</p>
<p>Most of the floors are split, half guys and half girls (generally with a lounge or at least a few doors separating the two). I’m not sure if there are actually any all-male floors. As far as getting a single, I do know freshmen who are living in singles, and just happened to get placed there, but the vast majority of singles go to sophomores who chose to remain in the highrises. (Chances are, you won’t get a single).</p>
<p>UMD is a great campus, and the community is amazing. As far as the bathrooms… you get used to them.</p>
<p>Thanks a lot for your info.!</p>
<p>north campus dorms are definitely undersized … but you can still make it fun as long as you have good people around you</p>
<p>and as far as picking roommates goes all i gota say is dont buy into the whole “DONT ROOM WITH A FRIEND, YOU WILL FALL APART” that people on this forum always mention … everytime someone says something about how there gona be rooming with a friend somebody always has to just say DONT DO IT "college is a time to meet new people blah blah you will probably fall apart and not be friends anymore thats bullsh it, i mean yeah its good to meet new people so maybe dont room with your best best friend but at least try to find an aquaintance or someone you kind of know … a lot of my friends on campus didnt request roommates and hate their roommate situation right now because they just dont get along at all or there roomates are just tools. and rooming with some1 you know you can get along with actually allows you to meet more people because the 2 of you will be chillin and going out to parties together etc etc -> introduce each other to other friends you get the deal</p>
<p>im not saying that you HAVE to room with someone you know because i know plenty of people who got random room assignments and get along just fine … all im sayin is dont believe the hype about rooming with a friend is like the worst thing you can do</p>
<p>i met my roommate through TerpNet [the freshman networking site for accepted students] and we at least had some idea of each other after talking a bit on the site then talking through facebook and finding out we had the same interests [athletics, partying, same kinda style etc etc.]</p>