Opinion: How To Choose a Good Roommate
For all you seniors, there’s a next step after high school. Whether it’s joining the military, working full time, or going to college, we’re all heading somewhere next.
College can be a very exciting time for many students. It’s a place they get to spend the next few years of their life. Yet, the time leading up to college can be very stressful. Why? Because you have to figure out what to bring, brace yourself for leaving your family, and then, there’s the task of finding a roommate.
Finding a roommate is probably the biggest decision you’ll make, besides what college you’re actually going to attend. You can room with someone you know, or you can find someone you don’t. However, many people like to stay in their comfort zone and room with someone they already know.
Here are some possible ways to scout out a roommate for next year:
Facebook:
Most colleges offer an online Facebook page where incoming freshmen can put information about themselves in hopes to catch the eye of a potential roomie. To find a roommate on Facebook is like online dating. You scroll through so many profiles and pictures of people that it just gets overwhelming. You can choose to put your information on the page or just respond to other people’s posts. People post a few pictures of themselves, describe what they’re like, what they’re looking for, and some clubs they’ve been in.
Instagram:
Some people like to take a more popular social media route of finding a roommate. Occasionally, the college will have an Instagram account dedicated to posting pictures of people in need of a roommate. The comment on the picture will be similar information that they’d put on Facebook, only their Instagram account would be tagged so you can… check them out (more like stalk them because you need to get a sense of what they’re like, right?)
Randomize:
A less popular way to find a roommate is to go in blindly and have the college’s website match you. You fill out a questionnaire all about what you’re like and what kind of things you’re into. It shows no images, only the names and descriptions of people whose interests line up with yours. If you’re a person who can base a roommate off of similar interests without talking to them first, this way is for you.
Any way you choose to find a roommate, always keep in mind that this will be who you share a small dorm room with for the next year. Whether you room with someone you know or someone you don’t, be sure to put yourself out there the first couple of weeks. It’ll be good to explore your dorm floor and meet new friends!
