So have you even started packing yet? Moving out of your parents’ home and going off to college brings about a lot of emotions for students: excitement, nervousness, fear, courage – you name it! The feelings stem from being out on your own for the very first time, plus finally being able to make your own decisions on what you
can eat, the classes you take, or how long you plan on staying out.
You have a lot to think about as a college student, in addition to all the actual studying you have to do in order to see
graduation day. Many students look forward to their first college apartment! And if you decide to live off-campus, consider renting with a roommate to help cut down costs. Where exactly should you start? Here are five easy ways to find a college roommate:
Reach out to friends for recommendations
Your friend circle is a pretty good resource to help you find a college roommate. They may have a recommendation to give you, or knows of someone who knows another person also looking for a
roommate to share an off-campus apartment with. Whether they provide you with a name of a friend-of-a-friend or a family member, you’ll be surprised how well-connected your friends are. You’ve heard of the
six degrees of separation theory, right? Well, when you’re searching for a college roommate, you’ll quickly realize it’s more like two or three degrees.
Give Facebook groups a try
If you’re on
Facebook, you may have come across numerous student-run university groups after you updated your education on your profile page. Student organization pages are popular platforms to meet other students, especially for those seeking a roommate to split the rent and
utilities. You may come across some university pages specific to roommate matching, too.
Engage in off-campus housing programs
Maybe you’ve already moved in, but you still have that spare bedroom sitting empty. While the quiet is nice for studying, you’d much rather have someone who can pitch in for rent. Many off-campus apartment communities have programs and events to entertain their residents – especially on game day eves. Attending these events can provide you a place to mingle with others who may also be looking for someone to rent with. Get to know the community staff as well, as they might have a waiting list of upcoming tenants in need of a roommate.
Use roommate-matching websites
Student renters seeking a roommate have plenty of online matching services to choose from. You’ll first have to create a profile and answer some questions like if you prefer a male or female roommate, need someone who likes (and isn’t
allergic to) pets, and
how much the rent is for the apartment. You can typically chat with prospects online through the site’s messaging center, or exchange contact information to see if you want to follow through with the match.
Some roommate-matching websites to consider:
- Roommates.com
- Roomiapp.com
- Roomsurf.com
Post a flyer
This may be more old-fashioned, but marketing yourself on paper is an extremely effective method of finding a college roommate. Be sure to include the type of qualifications you seek (non-smoker, good with cats, tidy, etc.), the price per bedroom or cost of rent, apartment amenities, how utilities will be divided, and contact information. Many students post these flyers on bulletins around campus and at coffee shops.
If you want to get an
off-campus rental first, look at ones close to school or near public transit that drops off at campus. ForRent.com has tons of apartments near colleges and universities where you can filter by price, pet-friendly, and other amenities that are important you.
Being able to divide the cost of the rental is an excellent way to save money for other necessary things (like Ramen, books, and endless coffee and creamer). You can cut down on the time and
stress it takes to find a college roommate with these helpful and easy tips.
