<p>I'm so confused it's ridiculous! So, for the meal plans, can someone explain them to me because I looked in the other thread and they were not thoroughly explained. What are the main dining halls, is the food good, and are these points separate from the terp bucks? </p>
<p>For the dorms, it's not in south campus for freshmen right? Where do we live (non-honors/scholars)? How are the dorms---? How are they chosen and when do we find out our roommates?</p>
<p>Is Maryland a party/sports school?</p>
<p>Soo many questions....please HELP with answering ANY of my questions thanks!</p>
<ol>
<li>There are two main dining halls: one on south campus and one on north campus</li>
<li>The food is your basic sandwiches/fries/chicken/salads...Inside you have a sandwich place, a grill place (serves grilled cheese, quesadilla, cheesesteak, etc.), an ice cream/dessert place, a vegetarian place, a salad bar, and then the other areas have alternating food dishes...one day they may serve stir-fry, the next a chicken dish. It sounds like you wouldn't get sick of the food...but trust me you will...nowadays i eat sandwiches everyday. But compared to other schools...md probably does have better food...not the best food...but decent</li>
<li>Points are for dining halls. Every few weeks...there is a focus date...for example, md may say: by april 1st you have to have $500 on your dining point balance...if you are above $500 on april 1st...md will take the money away. That is why...around focus dates...you'll see students scrambling around the dining hall and buying food in bulk...like cereal and cookies. Terp bucks on the other hand can't be used in the dining halls. There are few places that you can use terp bucks. The main places that you can use it are union shop/in-con/common shop....these are basically convenience stores like 7-11. You can get chips or toothpaste there...although they are generally overpriced. </li>
<li>Generally, upperclassmen live on south campus...and sophomores/freshman live on north campus. But right now the housing at md sucks...so the majority of juniors and all seniors live off-campus in apartments (b/c they have no where else to live since there is not enough housing for them). Freshman and sophomores are scattered throughout north and south campus (although there are more freshman living on north campus). So really...you could end up anywhere.</li>
<li>The dorms are ok. They have ur basic desk/closet/chair/dresser/window/bed. The dorms on north campus aren't as nice as the ones on south campus...but you get used to it...the dorms are never really an issue...although some don't have a/c which can be annoying...but you get used to it.</li>
<li>Dorms/roommates are really random...you could end up with your future best friend or your worst enemy...but thats life and thats what its like at any college. </li>
<li>You will find out your roommate...via online...in mid-August.</li>
<li>Yes maryland is definitely a party and sports school...those are the two things that md students pride themselves most in. You will see your share of rowdy/drunk kids on a game night or every thursday/friday night. But that doesn't mean you have to party or be into sports to come to md...itd be helpful...but there are plenty of ppl who aren't into that scene. Thats why its important to join clubs and stuff...cause those ppl generally have the same interests/ideals as you...so if u don't party...u can not party together...</li>
</ol>
<p>OMG. thank you so much! that was very thorough and interesting to read! now i'm really excited to go to maryland! but one more clarification question-so, for the dining points, used in the dining halls, are they limited or unlimited. i got the most popular plan. the one with the shortest name (im blanking out on the name of it) but its mid-priced of the 3.</p>
<p>hopefully i'll get a south campus dorm. they are newer/cleaner/prettier/nicer LOL rite? so if i run out of terp bucks, then can i refill my account during themiddle of a semester? ok. i think you've answered all my questions almost. thankssss so much.</p>
<p>the dining points are limited in that you only have a certain number of them and that you can only use them in the dining halls. the mid-priced plan is fine to start off with. your terp bucks you can use in the dining halls or the convenience stores. you can't refill your terp bucks, but you can put more money on your card with terrapin express which can be used everywhere terp bucks can (dining halls+convenience stores) and more.</p>
<p>the general breakdown:
-dining points: DINING HALLS
-terp bucks: DINING HALLS + CONVENIENCE STORES
-terrapin express (not included w/ meal plan, you add it yourself): DINING HALLS + CONVENIENCE STORES + FOOD COURT</p>
<p>South campus dorms overall are no newer/cleaner/prettier/nice than north campus dorms. The living/learning dorms, namely Queen Anne's and Anne Arundel (Honors) and Somerset (Civicus) are newly renovated and very nice. The others are pretty much the same as north campus.</p>
<p>We went to the open house day for admitted students and were given an informal tour of Wicomico by my son's friends. Wicomico has not been renovated, and so is not particularly nice. However, it is similar to dorms we've seen at other schools. It is not air conditioned and the rooms are small. If you ask the students, they will tell you they don't mind the state of the dorm. They love their hallmates and would not have wanted to miss the experience of living with them.</p>
<p>I saw both the regular dorm on the tour and the honors dorm at Arundel Hall. The honors dorm was fantastic. I mean really nice with carpeting, nice lobby, high ceilings in the rooms, a study alcove on the floor and nicely painted. The regular dorm did not have carpeting. There was a lot of diversity at Maryland.
I think Maryland can be a nice choice if you feel a fit with the academic program you want.</p>