<p>I have been accepted to the University of Maryland for Fall 2010, I was not invited to any programs, but the person I want to room with is in scholars, and wants me to room with them. </p>
<p>Would it be awkward living in the scholars dorm when everyone is in it but me?
Plus will I feel like an outcast living there since I am not in the Scholars program?</p>
<p>No, you won’t feel like an outcast, and no, it won’t be awkward, assuming you DO get placed with him/her - scholars receive priority for their placements, so you may request to room with him/her but not be placed there. However, every year there are a number of non-special program people in the special program dorms, and they gel right in.</p>
<p>HOWEVER, if this is a friend you are considering rooming with, my recommendation would be to not room with him/her. Not because I prescribe to the “you’ll grow to hate each other” or “you’ll be tied down and won’t be able to branch out” or any of THAT nonsense. BUT, I do think it’s cool to room with a stranger, and on a different floor, if only because then you will meet one group of friends, he/she will meet another, and then you may have 2x the amount of friends :)</p>
<p>While I do not attend College Park, many of my high school friends do, and a couple of them were in the same boat as you. One of my friends is rooming with another friend who is in Scholars in Cambridge, and they both seem to be adjusting well and branching out. Similarly, a third friend of mine is rooming with a fourth friend who is in Gemstone in Ellicott, and they are also doing well. Then again, all four of them are friendly and social, so rooming with each other hasn’t inhibited their social life. So while it depends on the person, it’s not always necessarily a bad thing to room with your friends if you know that you can live together without wanting to kill each other.</p>
<p>It is a crap shoot on many levels, first if there is room in the dorms. Scholars take priority, and as anyone can tell you if UMDCP has a bumper yr of acceptances than the dorm may fill up, if not there maybe room.</p>
<p>Next, I do agree with umcp, but for all 3 reasons they mentioned. I have seen many of a kid go in with excitement because they are friends with them and quickly start hating each other for multiple reasons…3rd wheel, they’re messy - you’re a neat freak, and just personality quirks. I also believe that college is your testing ground while you still have a safety net of spreading your wings. People choose to room with a friend/acquaintance because of fear and not true desire. College is a time to experience new things…you will be the majority of not knowing anyone on the floor, everyone is in the same boat, and those first few days of making new friends is the fun part of freshman yr. Keeping a safety net might hurt you.</p>
<p>Finally, I also do go back to the fact that Scholars will have seminars weekly and many of the kids believe it or not will be in classes with each other. DS’s 4 friends that he dorms with as a soph had no less than 4 of their 5 classes together for fall freshman, they had no less than 4 of their 5 same classes (different times) as spring freshman. Now they only have a few because scholars is a 2 yr program. It creates a bond instantly because on a campus of 10’s of thousands it makes the transition easier.</p>
<p>It can work, but if you are anything like our DD, I would oppose it adamantly. She and her friends are very social, but more than anything these girls get on each others nerves after having a weekend together…dorming together is a whole lot different. For our DS I would have supported because the guys never had that issue. It really comes down to you being honest about your friendship and personalities…15 weeks is a long time when it comes to living with someone 7 days a week in a room that is 12 by 12!</p>
<p>Well this person is not a friend I personally know yet, we met on the site terpnet, and we think we would get along.</p>
<p>Then I have to say you are both doing it out of fear IMHO. Freshman yr is very scary, and not knowing your roommate makes it even more stressful, the internet has made a path to create these friendships, but in the end you must ask yourself this question:</p>
<p>Am I requesting this as a safety net or because I want to live with them?</p>
<p>As a parent this is what I would suggest:</p>
<p>Request the same dorm, but not each other</p>
<p>This will allow you a quick friendship on move in day, and at the same time a refuge in case you don’t care for your roommates. </p>
<p>You met on terpnet…do they like to stay up until 1 am? Do they have HS friends, siblings or a boyfriend that will spend weekends in the 12 x 12 dorm? Do they plan to go home every weekend leaving you alone? Do they have strong ties to political/personal issues (Republican/Democrat, Gay rights, Pro-life/Choice, Jewish/Muslim/Catholic). That might seem trivial, but if you are staunch on one that could make living together an issue.</p>
<p>remember the room is small… most bedrooms at home are the same size as what you have by yourself, now add in another sibling and no parent to say KNOCK IT OFF, yet you have to live with them from August to May!</p>
<p>In the end it is a crap shoot, think about the pro’s and cons before you make a decision…learn more about them personally before you jump because it seems safe</p>
<p>You know, there is always a lot of talk around CC about bad roommate experiences. And it’s natural in the face of myriad strange new experiences that come with freshman year at college to try to control something if you can.</p>
<p>DS took his chances, filled out his survey form and paid his money and ended up with a completely unknown roommate. I have to say I don’t think they could have asked for a better match…they are so compatible they are better than siblings living together.</p>
<p>I agree with Pima^…just get a random roommate and stay friends with the person you met in teh interwebs…that way you could have two friends…or at least a place to hang out if the roommate thing goes south. ;)</p>