Dorm life 101: How to choose your roommate

Most colleges have Instagram pages where the incoming class can post about themselves and share their interest to connect with potential roommates. Multer found her roommate through one of these pages. 

“My college had an Instagram account where you could post a few photos of yourself and tag your Instagram and Snapchat. My now-roommate reached out to me after seeing my post, and we started texting before agreeing to live together” said Multer ’24.

Wright ’24 had a different experience and said, “I started looking for a roommate a little late, and looking back, I wish I had put more effort into connecting with people through Instagram and other platforms,” she explained. “I have friends who met their roommates that way, and it worked out really well for them.”

When you’re looking for a roommate, it is important to think about what kind of living situation you actually want. Wright knew she didn’t want a roommate who was always in the room. 

“I wanted someone who had a campus life and wasn’t just in our dorm all the time,” said Wright. “Luckily, my roommate and I balance each other out really well. We respect each other’s space, and that’s what matters most.” 

Multer also took her time finding the right fit and advised us to not just say yes to the first person who reaches out and to wait until you find someone with the same habits and goals as you. 

If you get assigned a random roommate, the best thing you can do is keep an open mind. Wright says: 

“You might not get someone who’s your favorite person but that doesn’t mean you can’t make it work. Set boundaries early, find common ground and make the best of it.” 

Even if you and your roommate don’t become best friends, respecting each other’s space and keeping communication open will make the experience much smoother. Remember you’ll be living together! 

It’s normal to feel nervous about living with someone new, I know I am, but talking to the alumni made me learn that being upfront about your expectations can help avoid problems later. If you like going to bed early, need a clean space or enjoy having friends over, talk about it beforehand because it’s better to be clear from the start. The key is to be patient, flexible and open to whatever comes your way.