WOODBURY – As high school seniors commit to their colleges this spring, a new, often stressful, phase begins: finding the perfect roommate for the fall semester. While the prospect of sharing a dorm room is an exciting rite of passage that can spark lifelong friendships, it also brings pressure to secure someone compatible before it’s too late.
The search begins finding peers with similar sleep schedules, study habits, and lifestyles, aiming to turn a potential stranger into a lasting friend.
“I’m honestly just going on Instagram,” said NHS senior Connor Segers who will be attending Louisiana State University this fall. “[Right now I’m] scrolling through the page and DM’ing people to see if I can find a roommate but the search is taking a very long time.”
With many students worried about spending increased time in dorms, finding a compatible, respectful partner is a top priority.
Whether students choose to use dedicated matching platforms or join university-sanctioned social media groups, the goal remains the same: navigating a new, independent life with a peer.
“I’m just going in blind honestly,” said senior Laila Jones who will be attending Fairfield University this fall. “Either way, I will get someone I don’t know.”
“Going in blind” forces students out of their comfort zone, promotes new friendships, and avoids the pressure of maintaining a pre-existing relationship that might not be suited for living together.
When you live with a stranger, expectations are lower, allowing the relationship to develop naturally rather than immediately feeling like you must be best friends.
The process of high school students finding college roommates has shifted from a reliance on random assignment to a highly curated, digital-first experience, where finding a compatible match is seen as a key component of ensuring a successful freshman year.
“I’m using this app called bunky where it focuses on lifestyle, so it gives me good visuals of what the person I’ll be having to live with,” said Niko Alonza, NHS senior who will be attending Eastern State Connecticut University. “My biggest fear is not finding the perfect person rather than the actual work I’ll have to do there.”
Using college roommate apps is beneficial because they allow students to self-select roommates based on shared lifestyles, interests, and habits, significantly reducing anxiety and potential roommate conflicts.
By communicating beforehand, students can skip the awkwardness of a completely random pairing and feel more confident about their living situation.
Platforms broaden the search pool beyond just immediate acquaintances, helping students find a better match among the entire incoming class.
With all the steps most students go through in finding a college roommate, there are still some who lave this up to chance.
“Honestly I’m just winging it and seeing what I get to be honest,” said Brayden Whipple attending WestConn next year. “I’m not really too picky, hopefully it’s somebody with common courtesy, though.”
