From website under housing: Note sentence with asterisks (my addition)
Step 4: I’m Approved for Housing. What’s Next?
Once you have applied for on-campus, you’re finished learning community assignment by your orientation date. Your room assignment and roommate/suitemate assignment will be available online during summer 2016. Assignment coordinators will make assignments following these guidelines:
•Applications are sorted into types: Associated Learning Community applications, Common Course selections and general learning community selections. ***** Then, within each type, applications are sorted by the date of each student’s application to the university.***** Associated Learning Community assignments are made first, then Common Course assignments, followed by general learning community assignments.
•Freshmen are assigned with other freshmen unless space is restricted. However, students participating in Associated Learning Communities may be assigned with upperclass students.
•University Housing does not guarantee to assign a specific roommate to share the room, but will attempt to honor specific requests whenever possible. In order to maximize your chances, students must mutually prefer one another and both students must have paid applications on file prior to May 1. The assignment will be based on the preferences listed on the application with the earliest submission date to the university.
•If the first learning community you (and your roommate, if applicable) list as preferred is “full” when we get to your “turn,” we will proceed to the next learning community listed. The process is continued until all assignments are made.
http://housing.sc.edu/apply.html
You can also call housing if you want to be clear about what this means.