Anyone wanna try to give me guess of what percent of incoming freshman do random roomate vs pre-picked roomates? It’d be really helpful.
I’d say the amount doing random roommates is only slightly higher than those doing pre-picked. I’ve seen a lot of people posting in “roommate finder” groups on Facebook, so I’m guessing most people are trying to sort out potential roommates early. Also, UMD is the state flagship so a lot of kids from Maryland tend to room with people they’ve known from high school.
If you’re worried about being randomly placed - don’t stress too much! My sister met her current best friend through the proverbial roommate lottery, she’s says it’s part of the “holistic college experience”. And the questions on the housing agreement assure that you’ll find someone who shares your habits - at the very least.
Also, if you’re looking for a roommate try going on the various Facebook groups - there’s pages for Scholars, Honors, Freshman Connection, and just regular admits.
Also keep in mind that a good amount of people tend to stay in off-campus housing like the View and Varsity with roommates they chose as well, though not so much in freshman year.