'use strict';var cls_disable_ads=function(n){function h(a,b){var c="function"===typeof Symbol&&a[Symbol.iterator];if(!c)return a;a=c.call(a);var d,e=[];try{for(;(void 0===b||0 Student Life > Articles. The Ultimate Guide to Choosing a College Roommate, Choosing a Roommate: Friend or Randomly Assigned, Choosing an Online College: 5 Keys to Choosing an Online Program, Student Loan Refinance and Consolidation: The Ultimate Guide to Refinancing Your Student Loans. According to a survey conducted by Brown University last year, about 30% of college freshman were not satisfied with their dorm-mates. If the situation with your roommate is so bad that it is affecting your mental health, consider moving into a new room. Choose wisely, because havinga roommate is a big deal, but remember, you can always move after room freeze is over. There are the articles youd expect regarding college applications and financial aid, but you will also find advice on things like de-stressing and maintaining relationships while balancing a heavy course load. At the same time, it's also important to know if your college gives you any input into yourhousing decision at all. In your profile, give other students a sense of who you are, both as a person and as a roommate. Unless you're lucky enough to head off to college with your high school bff, you're going to have to do some digging. Thats why a wave of tech-savvy students has turned to various social media platforms to find roommates that arent so random. 1025 Connecticut Avenue, NW Suite 1000 Washington, DC 20036 Unfortunately, the big decisions are just beginningthe rest of your life will be full of them. Temperament Match. My SAT prep class the following year further familiarized me with the opportunities available through the organization. As Sacerdote alluded to, a peer who on paper may seem appealing to a roommate-seeking freshman may not end up being the best match for that freshmanor may be so similar that living with her undermines the freshmans ability to experience new things in college. There is nothing to be ashamed of if you end up moving out of your room. Use College Raptor to discover personalized college matches, cost estimates, acceptance odds, and potential financial aid for schools around the USfor FREE! Msg/data rates may apply. )['"]/g);if(null!==b)return b.map(function(c){return c.replace(/["']/g,"")})};a.prototype.extractAPICall=function(b,c){b=b.match(new RegExp(c+"\\((.*? Yikes! I plan to study Conservation Biology and work protecting species/ecosystems. this._timeOrigin)}catch(b){return 0}};return a}();window.adthrive.windowPerformance=window.adthrive.windowPerformance||new g;g=window.adthrive.windowPerformance;g.now.bind(g);var p=function(a){var b=window.location.href;return a.some(function(c){return(new RegExp(c,"i")).test(b)})};g=function(){function a(b){this.adthrive=b;this.video=this.recipe=this.content=this.all=!1;this.locations=new Set;this.reasons=new Set;if(this.urlHasEmail(window.location.href)||this.urlHasEmail(window.document.referrer))this.all= The first thing to do when you are having issues with your roommate is to talk to them about the issue. Are you willing to live with someone who doesnt have the same habits, interests, and expectations as you? If a physical meeting is inconvenient . Just because someone has a big social media following or looks like a fun person on social media, does not necessarily mean they will be a good roommate fit for you. social media. This is extremely rude and could leave your roommate very confused. We'd love to connect you to like-minded students who share your similar drive, motivation, and work ethic. Honestly, I won't hold it against any of them if I run into them in college (I'll be going to a small school so def possible) because online stuff is weird, but it is really discouraging. But some schools have recently stopped allowing student input on the process. !0,this.reasons.add("all_email");try{this.checkCommandQueue(),null!==document.querySelector(".tag-novideo")&&(this.video=!0,this.locations.add("Video"),this.reasons.add("video_tag"))}catch(c){C.error("ClsDisableAds","checkCommandQueue",c)}}a.prototype.checkCommandQueue=function(){var b=this;this.adthrive&&this.adthrive.cmd&&this.adthrive.cmd.forEach(function(c){c=c.toString();var d=b.extractAPICall(c,"disableAds");d&&b.disableAllAds(b.extractPatterns(d));(d=b.extractAPICall(c,"disableContentAds"))&& a.Roundel="roundel";a.Rtbhouse="rtbhouse";a.Rubicon="rubicon";a.RubiconServer="rubi_ss";a.Sharethrough="sharethrough";a.Spotx="spotx";a.Teads="teads";a.Triplelift="triplelift";a.TripleliftServer="tripl_ss";a.TTD="ttd";a.Undertone="undertone";a.UndertoneServer="under_ss";a.Unruly="unruly";a.YahooSSP="yahoossp";a.Verizon="verizon";a.Yieldmo="yieldmo"})(m||(m={}));var q;(function(a){a.Prebid="prebid";a.GAM="gam";a.Amazon="amazon";a.WebVitals="webvitals";a.Marmalade="marmalade";a.Floors="floors";a.CMP= gtag('config', 'DC-8591251'); And while the most common criteria schools used to pair students were personal habits (such as cleanliness and smoking status), slightly more than half of the surveys respondents reported considering characteristics such as academic interests and hobbies. I swapped roommates my first semester of college, and after I moved my college experience was much more positive. As the anticipation and excitement that comes with the thought of being a college student becomes more real, there is one major thing you need to be figure outbefore you can make the transition. It has made such a difference in high school, and I plan to continue relying on it in college. Sometimes people think the best way to avoid an argument is to just move out without letting your roommate know. The sooner you apply for housing, the more likely you are to get your first choice dorm and/or LLC. I absolutely do not think we would have found each other [if wed been allowed to choose], Rachel Harshaw says of her college roommates. roommates Harshaw graduated from New Yorks Hamilton College in 2017. These sites have you create a profile and allow you to browse profiles of potential roommates. Leawood, KS, The City University of New York (CUNY) They were full of affluent white students, while many poorer students lived in off-campus boarding houses. Are you messy? Maybe you dont want to leave your roommate selection up to fate. Are you quiet? If so, what are they? This system assigned Harshaw to a suite of six freshmen total, none of whom appealed to her when she did her pre-matriculation internet sleuthing. In 1926, the University of Wisconsin published a brochure advertising its new mens dormitories. Asked My Son as He Returned to College. "Have an open mind and practical expectations," says Low. Privacy Policy. Even roommates who arent super close can have a profound influence on each other, if only because of how much time they spend together: While only 37 percent of the student participants in a 2006 study identified their roommate as their best friend, close to half of the respondents said they spent more time with their roommate than with any other friend. gtag('js', new Date()); Please enter Email. Based on your profile, potential matches will be compiled for you. Schools aim to match compatible roommates as much as possible. Try not to judge how compatible a roommate someone will be solely based on their social media. As the Dartmouth College economist Bruce Sacerdote, whos studied the effects of random roommate assignments, wrote last year in an analysis for The Conversation, Natural instincts do not always benefit us in the long run. As human beings we naturally gravitate towards our comfort zone and find peers who look a lot like ourselves, he went on. On some campuses there are other themed housing options (e.g., wellness dorms) in addition to Greek life, co-ed housing, apartment-style housing, suites, doubles, triples, and quad-dorms. After all, as Yanni noted, a lot of students come to college for the social life, not for the academics., College was so much for me, and for my roommates, about catapulting ourselves outside of our comfort zones, Harshaw said, and there were a lot of instances of catapulting that I was not happy with at the time [I started freshman year]. Meet your matches Welcome our newest member, Jess! Thats the beauty of the university process; you arent evaluating a candidate based on their Facebook profile picture or your network of mutual friends. A few days ago I was having a great convo with someone for about an hour and I asked if they had found a roommate already. Our mission is to help you maximize your potential. In fact, I lived with different people every year of college and it all worked out. If some of the questions you encounter seem a little intimate, dont be alarmed! You have no classes earlier than 10 a.m. (goodbye, high school schedule), and your major could not be more perfect for you. Why Is College So Hard and Stressful? Similarly, more laid-back students could quickly become annoyed with a roommate who's constantly cleaning up or who goes to bed by 9 p.m. Opting to find a roommate through your universitys system is great because it takes a lot of the guesswork out of finding a bunkmate. Join thousands of students and parents learning about finding the right college, admissions secrets, scholarships, financial aid, and more. Barack Obama began to feel lonely and out of place after his freshman year at Occidental College in Los Angeles, he says in . We allow them to choose their sports, friends, clothes, and colleges, all while keeping, Editors note: We are so proud of all of this years graduates, and we loved this list of ways to embrace your first year of college. You got accepted to your dream school. Here are some questions to ask yourself: Be sure to write down deal-breakers, too. How clean should we keep our room/apartment? The tool gave me all the information I could ever need about a particular scholarship that was being offered. and our (They dont harass you with any product promotion like so many other sites do.) The qualities that make a good friend only partially overlap with what makes a good roommate, says Dan Thibodeau,co-founder of Roomsurf.com, a networking site that helps college students find roommates. Learn how to find a college roommate with our top six tips. The idea that finding the perfect roommate will set the tone for your entire time on campus can add more worry to an already stressful experience, so let it go! In this latest installment of ourCollege Students Guide to Living on Your Own, well highlight all the ways tosearch for asuitable bunkmate, whether youre a dorm-bound newbie embarking on your first semester or a college veteran renting your own apartment and seeking roommates to fill the extra space (and those Saturday nights you feel like kicking back at home and binge-watching Game of Thrones). Social media sites like Facebook often suggest friends based on mutual connections, so your network of choices might not extend far enough to include the diversity you want. Posting something that someone else is doing in your room is immature and hurtful. Just this tool alone gave me so much information about a particular school. So, answer a few questions, drop a few pertinent details, and let my school do all the hard work? Finding theright roommate can make all the difference. College is an ideal time to make some of the best memories of your life, from late-night study sessions to early morning walks to the dining hall. Which personalities do you get along with best? These discussions allow you to chat with potential roommates to determine whether your living styles are compatible. Themed dorms are also a good way to meet and live with others who are passionate about a cause you care about. There are groups on Facebook for nearly anything, and finding one that's a hub for people looking for roommates at your college won't be too hard. You can also ask your friends if they know anyone else in need of a roommate. Every school has its own rules and traditions surrounding move-in day, and you will soon learn what those are. padding-top: 47px; Its no one elses business. The bond can be so tight, one study found, that the two studentsif theyre friendlytend to adopt each others speech patterns. How to Find a College Roommate: 6 Essential Tips Many students live with peers, but how can you ensure you choose the best match for you? She previously worked as a freelance writer, composing articles on the SAT/ACT, higher education, language learning, 2023 BestColleges.com, a Red Ventures Company, The Public Ivies, Little Ivies, and Other Ivy League Equivalents, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Some colleges use their own roommate-matching sites, while other sites remain unaffiliated with a specific school. Schools have an interest in ensuring that students thrive, and whom a freshman lives with can have an immense impact on her long-term success in college and beyond. On the other hand, ifyou're attending a college a few states away, it can be a relief to room with a friend who can help keepthe homesicknessat bay. Establishing lists of desired qualities and deal-breakers can help you narrow down potential roommates. Though many new students want to choose for themselves, schools prefer to use dorms as a way to introduce young adults to new perspectives. I accept the friend request but like we haven't talked since . Sure, on-campus resources, like professors, mentors, and tutors can be great, but who will you go to when youre feeling a bit homesick? Similar to Facebook groups, roommate-matching websites can help you find a potential roommate through online forums. Sometimes when trying to find a roommate, students will lie or overstate their good qualities, maybe theyll say they are clean when theyre actually messy or say they study a lot when they actually dont. This is a key step that a lot of people forget about. View Sage's Profile. Nashville, TN, Mount Aloysius College Search. well notify you about new articles, scholarship deadlines, and more. Many incoming first-year students simply wait for their college to match them with a random peer. At the same time, keeping an earlier schedule might mean you get tired earlier, and if your roommate is staying out late after evening classes, they could get back to the dorm when you're already asleep. By subscribing, you agree to receive CollegeXpress emails and to make your information available to colleges and universities, scholarship programs, and other companies that have relevant/related offers. This is a terrible idea and could permanently ruin your relationship with your roommate. On these apps and sites, youll generally take a short survey about your living habits and fill out a few About Me sections. Remember that even if you and your roommate do not end up being best friends, it can still work out as long as you are able to coexist without constant conflict. "Mention a few details about your own living habits, and that you look forward to learning more about theirs," she . Usually, roommate assignments are based on students' answers to questionnaires. Four Things That Can Help Your Teen Survive a Bad College Roommate. For many students, it's their first time living away from home and that can feel daunting. Provide your information below to connect with, Copyright 2023 Carnegie Dartlet. This scholarship will help me adjust to college life without worrying as much about tuition.