As the May 1 college decision day approaches, more and more students are committing to their respective schools. After all of the admissions fees are paid, the college is toured and you’ve found the place you’ll call home for the next four years, the next question is … with whom? Finding a roommate can be daunting, especially with students who aren’t yet committed. With the right guidance, the process can feel much easier. Here are options other than meeting people face-to-face to aid the search process for a roommate.
Option 1: The random roommate
There is always the option to select a random roommate. This option is suitable for risk-takers or for anyone who might be looking for an unexpected friendship. Opting to combine your living space with a completely random stranger for an entire year is a bold choice that could either benefit you for the good or result in submitting a new roommate request.
Option 2: ZeeMee
This innovative social networking app embodies what social media has become today. This mobile app is a way to interact with fellow students either interested in or committed to prospective colleges. This app offers a way for students to connect and find potential roommates without having to step foot on campus.
How it works:
The first step to navigating ZeeMee is to create a profile. Your profile entails your name, hometown, graduation year, a brief bio, interests and social media handles of your choosing. There are additional details optional to add to your profile such as intended major(s) and a description as to what you are looking for in a roommate. These profiles are public to those in the chats you join, with anyone being allowed to request to follow and/or message you.
Once your profile has been completed, it’s time to join the communities of each school you are interested in. There is no limit to how many schools you may join and each school has a separate messaging thread. Initially, the only thread accessible to you is the general one for both admitted and prospective students. There is a way to update your letter of acceptance to the corresponding school, unlocking a thread for admits to your class in addition to a thread designated for finding roommates. Once committed to a school, there is a forum that opens by inserting your newly activated college email address.
Option 3: Instagram
If downloading a new app solely for the roommate search process seems daunting, you can utilize an app you may already have. Instagram is a more widespread app with pages dedicated to incoming students for almost any school. These posts include students looking for roommates or just potential friends willing to reach out.
How it works:
The process of being posted is simple and less overwhelming. Typically, you either submit a Google form or directly message the account holder, sending multiple pictures of yourself (that you want to be posted), along with a brief bio. Occasionally, accounts will charge a small fee (typically around $5) to be posted to their page. The benefit of being posted on these pages is reaching a much larger amount of incoming college attendees with little to no work on your end. Additionally, Instagram doesn’t restrict posts to students who are fully committed to a college, making it more accessible.
Finding a college roommate doesn’t have to be an extremely overwhelming process. Whether you are willing to take a risk, download a new app or use a widely known platform, there are various options to aid your search in finding the perfect living situation. Each method comes with its own pros and cons, finding what’s best for you is the next step to starting this new chapter in your life.
