How to Find a Roommate 101
If you know me, you probably know that my roommate and I are attached at the hip. We’re always laughing together, and we just get each other. I thank the universe all the time to have blessed me with a roommate who is one of my closest friends. I know a lot of incoming freshmen have the expectation that they’ll become best friends with their roommate, but the reality is that this isn’t always the case. Sometimes, your roommate may be a suitable co-inhabitant and nothing more, and that’s perfectly fine if that’s what you’re looking for. Other times, your roommate’s personality and habits may clash with yours in a way that creates tension or small scuffles. This is unavoidable sometimes, but I’d like to think that there’s a way to minimize the possibility of winding up in one of those horror stories we’ve all heard or in a living arrangement you’re not satisfied with. After having heard both success and horror stories, I’d like to offer a few tips on finding your ideal freshman year roommate. I want to mention that this is by no means a foolproof guide that will give you the results you want –just some tips that might help!
- Use roommate search Facebook Groups
There was a Vanderbilt Class of 2020 Girls’ Roomies Facebook group I was in before I came to college where people posted short summaries about themselves to try to find a roommate. If you found someone who had similar interests as yourself, you could reach out to them and chat more over messaging. I think this was a pretty useful tool to not only find a potential roommate, but also to become acquainted with your class. Obviously, it’s hard to really get to know someone without meeting them in person, but a little profile stalking can usually give you an indication of someone’s hobbies and personality.
- Use GroupMe
My year, people created different GroupMe’s to connect ethnically, academically, and geographically similar people. For example, there were GroupMe’s for people from various states, of different ethnicities, for those planning on rushing, for people in certain areas of study, etc. Personally, I found my roommate through the premed GroupMe. Looking back, I’m glad I did because not only do we share academic interests, but also a certain set of values that unite us in a particular way that I can’t exactly put into words. As an added bonus, since we take many of the same classes, we can help each other study!
- Use other online platforms
When I was looking for a roommate, I used a site called Roomsurf that a lot of people used to find roommate matches. You put in your school and answer a series of questions, and at the end, you get a list of people who match you to a certain percentage. You can then message them on the site or through social media.
- Go to Vandy networking events
Vandy usually hosts events in cities across the country for accepted students to get to know each other. These events are a good way to make some friends and possibly find a roommate. If you were accepted, look out for an email in the spring about attending one of these events in a city nearby.
- If you want, go random!
I know many people who went random and it worked out perfectly. If you’re not really into the whole “online dating” thing and are feeling adventurous, leaving it up to Vandy to pair you up with someone might be the way to go. Follow your conscience!
- Keep your mind open!
Above all, I think it’s important to remember that you don’t have to be the same person as someone else to be good roommates or good friends, even. If you have certain qualities you would like in a roommate, you can limit your options that way, but it’s ultimately up to you to make the final judgement. Your living arrangement will be a big part of your life in college, so I encourage you to take the time to get to know some of your classmates before arriving. This should be an exciting process, so cherish it!
I hope this post was helpful, and if you have any questions at all, feel free to email me at lanxi.liu@vanderbilt.edu! Anchor down!