What kind of personalities do the dorms have?
Is it better to go random for roommates?
No reason to go random. At the very least find someone on fb or groupme to room with, so you know that at least they’ll be someone you can check out beforehand.
Don’t fret about going random if you don’t find anyone on Facebook that you’re dying to live with. Sometimes random roommates end up loving each other, and sometimes people who found each other through Facebook end up disliking each other as roommates. It’s really a case by case basis but is not worth worrying over too much.
Freshman dorm characteristics:
Wall is very quiet compared to other dorms, but still has its loud moments. Rooms are very spacious and the bathroom setup is nice. Also has lots of study spaces and newer kitchens than most.
JL is also nice when it comes to space, but some complain about having limited interaction with others in that dorm. It really depends on who your RA is and who you are as a person (whether you enjoy meeting new people or not).
Butler is a little run down, but the community within that building is awesome. RAs in that building really seem to care, and have for the past few years (due to the RD that picks them).
Monroe is loud but great for socialization. Again, sometimes the RA can make or break the floor’s community. Just depends.
Sharp is also loud but is loved by many. Community is great on those floors/that building. Definitely more of a social dorm with smaller rooms.
Paterson is between a social dorm (Monroe, Sharp, Butler) and Wall. Mixed in with other years, it seems like a good dorm for freshmen. The rooms are average size and it is pretty clean.
Warren… Don’t know much about it, get a similar vibe from it that I do Paterson. Big rooms, though, and an interesting lobby with a pool table.
Greenbaum is the newest and is set up in an interesting way. Only disadvantage is that it is so far from Bruff. Other than that, average noise levels and cool study spaces as well as a very nice kitchen.
These descriptions and traits of the people in these dorms may change in the next few semesters, though, due to the incorporation of new RLCs. Ultimately, each dorm is what the student makes of it and they need to keep in mind that no one dorm is perfect. Weigh the costs, the programs (RLCs) offered in each dorm, and the level of noise most importantly when considering which dorm to live in and also be aware that your first choice is not always available!!! Consider your second preferences in the same way you did your first.
Hope this helps! Take time to enjoy your summer before the hard work starts next year 
Be aware that last year many rooms in Wall were turned into triples due to the large size of the freshman class
I’m afraid #3 post will happen again since they didnt’ move anyone off the wait list this year
My daughter was in a Wall triple this year and it was not an issue. They bought additional furniture for those rooms to fit (although the rooms are very large) and she had a great year and got along great with both roommates.
I was a freshman in Paterson this year and it was great. It is positioned really well because it’s between sharp and Wall on Bruff quad. In Paterson there is a general sense of changemaking (It’s the Changemaker RLC) meaning that the students living there are looking for ways to plug in on campus and create positive change. The Changemaker RLC in Paterson is also connected to the Taylor Center on campus which means you would be connected to them as a center for changemaking, design thinking, and the social innovation & social entrepreneurship minor.