Hello everyone–does anyone know how easy or difficult it might be for my son get a single in the dorms for his sophomore year? He’s currently a freshman in the Cambridge community in one of the Scholars programs. He had been thinking that a single might be an option for him next year, but he recently heard that they can be very difficult to get. Can anyone shed some light on this? What is the process to apply for a single? Many, many thanks!
University of Maryland-difficulty and process for a current freshman to get a single dorm next year?
Very difficult to get a single since there are not many available in the residence halls. My daughter applied for one last year as a sophomore (better priority number than freshman) but still got a double. There were some people in singles in undesirable dorms that wanted to switch after room assignment, so if your son gets into one of the better dorms, maybe he has a chance to switch.
One way to insure getting a single is to apply to be a RA. There are responsibilities that go with that position, but the compensation is free (private) room and board. Applications open in the fall, and, if accepted, there’s a course you have to take in the spring. The position would commence the following year. http://reslife.umd.edu/employment/ra/
My d, who is at a different school, has a friend with medical issues, and she was able to get a single room through the center for students with disabilities. I would imagine that would be handled similarly at Maryland.
Finally, the only other way to guarantee getting a “single” is to live in South Campus Commons (SCC/aka Commons). There is a shared bathroom, living room and kitchen, but each bedroom in the unit is single. There is definitely high demand to live in SCC, preference is given to upperclassmen, and unlike dorms which you only pay for by semester, there is full year lease involved. However, if your son knows people living there, they can “pull him in” to an opening in their apartment which bypasses the wait. Unfortunately, I believe he has already missed that opportunity to be pulled in for next year, as it occurs with lease renewal in January. http://southcampuscommons.com/current-residents/leasing/
The only way to guarantee getting in to SCC is to be admitted to the Hinman CEO program, which is an upperclass learning community for entrepreneurship, and the assigned housing for that program is in SCC.
Other than that, other options on campus are a lottery with big demand. If he is willing to move off-campus, then he gives up his standing to live on campus for other years. However, there are apartments on Route 1 that have a similar set up to SCC in that the bedroom is private, but the rest of the apartment is shared living space.
My son got a single in Easton Hall during his sophomore year. He had a better/lower priority number than most rising sophomores. When he chose his dorm and room options, he only chose singles. For his junior year, his priority was a certain dorm, so he chose double rooms in those dorms first, then singles in lesser dorms. He got put in a double with a random roommate, and he hates it. It’s luck of the draw based on your priority number and how soon after the room selection begins, your son goes online and chooses dorm/room options for himself.
Thank you everyone for your replies—it’s very helpful to hear your thoughts/experiences. I will have to trust that things will all work out…