<p>I'm not sure I understand how freshmen and sophomores live in dorms at SMU? I know that SMU is building new Residential Colleges. Are they just for sophomores? Will ALL sophomores live in the Residential Colleges? I also read that roommates are random. Is that true?</p>
<p>Alright so there are some big changes coming to our residence hall system. </p>
<p>I am assuming that you are a senior, and - if that is the case - you will experience one year on our existing residence hall system and one year on our residential commons model. As is, you can choose your residence hall, choose if you want to live in an all first-year hall or a hall that is mixed between grade levels, and choose to live in a themed community (honors, fine arts, engineering, service, etc). That will go one for one more year. You all will be able to choose roommates, your hall, etc, and the only change for you over the past is that you must live on for another year. </p>
<p>The big switch comes in the fall of 2014 when we will move to a Residential Commons model where each residence hall will be half first-years and half sophomores, each will have a faculty-in-residence, and each will have a classroom. All of our residence halls - existing and the new builds - will be on the res commons model and all our existing housing stock is getting a renovation to match the new Southeast Quad. Additionally, after 2014 everyone will live in one residence hall for two years. </p>
<p>Class of 2017 will get to set the tone and policies for the next fifty years which is a really cool opportunity. You will still get to choose your roommate in the new system, but entering first years (after this year) will not be able to choose a residence hall. </p>
<p>Here’s a website with a cool video - [The</a> New Residential Commons at SMU - - SMU](<a href=“http://www.smu.edu/residentialcommons]The”>Residential Commons - SMU Residence Life & Student Housing (RLSH))</p>
<p>Definitely check out the housing website - there’s tons of good information there that helps explain the transition as well as why we think it will benefit the overall campus experience for all of our students. It’s going to be amazing! Get excited!</p>