4 Ways to Find a College Roommate
For some people, finding a roommate is easy. They already have friends who need rooms or have connections that will guarantee them someone to share their space. Others are not quite so lucky. When you don’t already have those pre-existing connections, finding a roommate can seem impossible. This is a common occurrence for people moving in from out of state or don’t already have a large social network. Finding a great roommate doesn’t have to be the end of the world if you just know where to look.
- Ask the people you know
You may not immediately know people that are looking for roommates and that’s okay. Sometimes finding the right roommate takes more than just assuming who is looking for a place. Try and get the word out to everyone you know in the area. This can include family members, friends, co-workers, and acquaintances. You might think that some people you reach out to have no interest in being a college roommate, but they might know someone who is looking for a roommate! Even friends that have already figured out where they’re living may have connections to people still on the hunt. Don’t count people out and just be open about what you’re looking for. You never know what can happen just by talking to people.
- Use social media
Social media is great for sharing memes and keeping up to date on the news, but did you know that it is also great for finding roommates? Similar to the last point of asking people you know, you may not want to send a hundred personal messages. That takes up a lot of time and you never know what results might come out of it.
A great way to reach a lot of people without having to put in a lot of work is to post on social media. It is especially helpful to use sites that let you interact mostly with people you know like Facebook. This can limit the number of strangers that can see your post and it is more likely that people will share it and comment if they have any leads. Although, this doesn’t mean that you can’t also make good use out of other platforms like Twitter and Instagram.
Additionally, platforms like Facebook also have dedicated groups that you can join to aid in your roommate search. These are usually college-specific and will like you directly to other students that are looking for roommates. This is a great tool for finding like-minded people without having to jump through tons of hoops to get to them.
- Go through systems on campus
If social media doesn’t sound like your kind of thing, try reaching out to more traditional systems for help. Many schools and campuses have dedicated staff that help students find housing and other similar things. By reaching out to these organizations, they may be able to help point you in the direction of some great roommates either by connecting you with other students or helping you find the platforms that are most often used in your area. Remember that your university support staff is there to help you! Don’t be afraid to reach out to them.
- Use dedicated websites for finding roommates
Did you know that there are websites out there whose entire purpose is to connect college students with roommates? Websites like Roomsurf allow students to connect with other potential roommates from their university. They let you create your own profile and take a quiz to help you find other people that would be compatible with your living style. This is great for knocking out multiple things at once. Not only are you being connected with other people, but you can also narrow down who would be right for you to live with.
Remember while you are looking for roommates to always listen to your gut. While you may be tempted to go with the first person that shows interest, they may not be the right person for you. You will be living with this person for likely at least nine months which is a long time. You don’t want to be stuck in a living situation that you hate just because you were hasty in finding someone to live with. Take your time and make sure that you find someone who is compatible to your living style. You aren’t looking for someone who is perfect, because nobody is, but for someone who you think that you could live with happily. Your roommate doesn’t have to be your new best friend, but that is always a bonus. Even if the process seems daunting and tedious, keep in mind that you will be much rewarded if you put in the effort to find someone great.
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