How to Scope Out a College Roommate

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Dannise Matarlo

As seniors finalize their plans for the next four years, an obstacle occurs in the process of college decision making. Many seniors are being faced with the question, Who will be my roommate? There are many different ways for future freshman to decide who their roommate will be. Here are a few tips and tricks to help you find your future roommate

  1. First and foremost, be honest on the survey your college provides you for roommate compatibility. Lying on the college survey won’t get you anywhere and it definitely won’t get you a roommate you want or will be in a good living situation space with. Some people might want to say they are neat even though they are messy, but keep in mind that no one will see this survey, and no one will judge your results.
  2. USE FACEBOOK to network! If you want to omit the process of random selection and find your own roommate, use this social media site for connections. Most colleges have Facebook pages where you can post interesting info about yourself to attract a roommate who shares your interests.
  3. Add other social media sites to your profile you are active on so that future roommates and classmates can follow and get to know you from different levels– not just in the point of view of your facebook profile!
  4. Scroll through your college Facebook page and read almost everyone’s post. Look for common interests and habits.After making a list of prospective college roommates, message them about your interest in them as a roommate.
  5. When composing messages to prospective roommates, be very open and don’t demand too much from them. Start a conversation with the same interests you share with them. For example: You play soccer? I played soccer in high school too, I was a goalie! Be sure you keep your grammar really tidy and keep your emoji use minimal. It’s all about the first impressions!
  6. Most importantly be honest on every message or post you make! Lying won’t get you anywhere, and in fact it would most likely get a roommate you won’t like or that will have a false idea of you.
  7. Remember that you are looking for someone who you would live well with. It is not a life partner or a best friend, simply someone you trust won’t steal your clothes and will making living with them a pleasant experience.

Don’t be afraid to step out of your box and reach out when looking for a roommate. And don’t be too stressed out, because if you end up not finding a roommate, most colleges can generate a random roommate for you.

Photo credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/dborman2/3258371445/in/photolist-