Some think that the college process is completed once the school is chosen — this is a common misconception.  But then begins the stress of choosing classes, where you will live, meal plans, placement tests, and most of all, finding a roommate.

Finding a complete stranger that you will live with for the next year is a difficult thing to manage. As you embark on a new chapter in your life, you need to find someone that will have a positive effect on your life, one that will help you in times of need.

One way that people find their roommate is through social media, specifically Facebook groups. Senior Julianne Sullivan who is attending the University of Connecticut next year reveals how she found her roommate for next year.

“I posted a paragraph about myself, the things I like to do, and what I plan on doing next year in the Facebook group chat with all of the incoming freshman.  I added  added at the end that if anyone thought we were compatible for being possible roommates, to message me to get to know me better.”

She claims that nearly every girl attending Uconn next year posted in the groupchat the same way she did, making it easy to to find the perfect match.

“This girl named Amanda messaged me and we started talking and both agreed that spending the next four years with one another as “roomies” would guarantee the best first-year experience as possible.”

Another way to find your future friend is through a mutual friend.  Senior Leah Ferrari, who will be attending Penn State, found her roommate through a friend.

“My friend who is also going to Penn State found her roommate through Facebook.  It just so happens that her roommate’s best friend was also looking for a roommate at Penn State.  So I got her number and texted her.  We had a lot in common and decided to room together!  It worked out perfectly and made the searching process much less stressful and more simple.”

Requesting for a random roommate is also a very common method.  The school provides a lottery system for all of the students that enroll. If no request is made by the student, the school automatically pairs them up with another student.  But for those of you who are not familiar with the process, it is not completely “random.” Most schools provide surveys and allow students with similar hobbies and lifestyles to coordinate.

Overall there are many ways to find a potential roommate and grow closer before actually getting to school.  It may be a scary process but everyone is given a new slate, so use that to your advantage.