How difficult is it to get one of the new dorms on the north campus as a freshman? If I pay my acceptance fee in January will I have a good chance at getting a new dorm?
Did you apply early-action?
If you did, and you pay your acceptance fee as soon as you are able to, you will be one of the first people to get a housing contract once they begin to roll them out. They send those out based on when you paid your acceptance fee.
Complete your housing contract ASAP (I’m talking at least a few hours after you get it), and you should be competitive for your top dorm choice.
My son is a freshman in a north campus dorm. He was accepted in mid December and paid his security deposit before the end of December. And we sent In his housing contract within a few days of receiving it. So yes it is possible but is likely very dependent upon an acceptance decision in the earlier side.
My acceptance fee was paid in late March and the housing contract was turned in as soon as I got it, early April I think, and I got into one of the new ones. It doesn’t seem like many people here turned it in much after that though, so I’m guessing I was one of the last ones to get a spot. You should be fine.
Dorm assignments are literally a roll of the dice unless you are in a program that dictates where you live. But a LOT of kids want to live on South campus because of proximity to classes, etc., so while north campus is beautiful and new, some don’t like the “commute”. The best you can do is turn your housing contract in as soon as you can and hope for the best - don’t sweat it though, you won’t get your assignment until it seems like it’s time to move in! 
Some (most?) classes are actually on North Campus, especially for engineering and business.
This is true, once you are working within your major. However, by that time, you will likely not live on campus. GEC classes are scattered about. My DD has classes so far up Neil that she takes a bus from North campus to get to class. And then others are on North. The first couple of years, most likely your classes will run the gamut on location. After you move off campus, they will mostly be in one location (especially for architecture, engineering, nursing, etc., where they are concentrated to one area). My major had a lot of classes around the oval, but wasn’t centered in one particular area of campus - actually some of my classes were in Fisher buildings.
Preference for dorms will depend on the student. Classes can be scattered first year but not always. I know several kids who had classes concentrated on north campus as freshmen. Some students like the new dorms on north campus. Some students like south campus because it has more green space.
My freshman son requested north campus as his first priority and he received it. We were hoping he wouldn’t be assigned to the Towers as we knew from his overnight there during orientation that those were very run-down and dark. He got assigned to a new north campus dorm (Raney House) but made a good friend in the Towers. He suggested to us that from a social point of view he would have preferred to be in the Towers because the suite style living there seemed to result in a tighter bond between the residents. So my takeaway is that it’s really hard to tell as a freshman what will be the “best” dorm for you so do your best to pick something and then make the best out of that situation once you are there. You only have to live there one year and you can choose a different area of campus or dorm for your second year residence.
It’s really funny when you talk to someone working in housing - some request dorms that others shun. It’s really a matter of what fits your personality and needs better. Newer isn’t always better. For instance, one hall that most seem to dislike because it lacks A/C is one that many come to prefer because the rooms are HUGE. And some look down on Morrill and Lincoln because they are “far” from central campus, but they have the best C-store and a dining hall that doesn’t have long waits and space issues. And it’s also quiet, but on game day, it’s one of the most fun locations (not to mention the RPAC is right there!).
IMO - it is probably more going to depend on WHO you live with as opposed to where when it comes down to it!
It’s interesting to me that everyone wants the new North Dorms. South has two of the best dorms in Park-Stradley and Smith-Steeb. They are right next to the union and not far from classses. The bus system is so efficient if you do end up having far classes. If you request the new dorms on north and don’t get it you most likely will be placed in a quad in Drackett or Taylor. If it were me I would put a choice for the new North but I would also highly rank Park-Stradley or Smith-Steeb as they are recently renovated and quite nice. Sophomores will get to choose their rooms before freshman are placed so the newer dorms may fill up fast.
@bhs1978 don’t tell other people this I’m trying to get into one of those two south dorms. I’m joking haha but I think people want slightly more privacy.
You guys should wait for the new contracts to come out before placing too much weight on things. With the way the numbers may shake out, there may be limited options to choose from anyway. Maybe waiting to see how the chips fall and worrying about it later is the key. After all, just being on campus at all is a prize in itself. Who cares where you sleep?
My son is a freshman and ended up in Norton House. North campus and one of the older dorms. He couldn’t be happier. He met some great kids who are now great friends of his. You never know how it shakes out.