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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]The vast majority of students pick their own roommates these days. Everyone my kids know who has gone random at a host of private and public universities in the past few years has ended up with an international student, which can be the best match ever or can be difficult. [/quote]

I spoke to a housing director who said the roommates that are based upon the school's system (a survey of habits/preferences, around things like sleep and neatness) tend to work out better than when the students choose based upon social media posts (which show things like fashion, food and sports teams). Makes sense really. when you think about it.

I like orientations that are funded for all students (rather than only those who can afford it). They come before the older kids, break into groups based upon their tastes (like around an activity), and spend quality time together. The school also sneaks in some tips for succeeding in college. That way, there are a few familiar faces for the freshmen on the first day of classes.

Juniata College had something like that (pre-Covid), so the kids could choose between activities like camping, art museums, volunteer work, rock climbing, ....there were like 12 choices.  Really fun, and led by older students. [/quote]

Yes, they match students who go random based on their survey results…but you have to consider that the only students left in this pool are the other students that have chosen to go random. All other students that could have been a great match have already selected a roommate on their own, so typically the kids that go random are the kids who are too shy to reach out to someone in the Facebook or Instagram groups or the kids who just don’t care who they end up with. [b]It’s a brutal process to find a roommate. It’s like trying to “date” people your own age via Snapchat and FaceTime until one sticks[/b], but in the experience of my three kids and what they have heard from friends, it’s worth it. [/quote]

That part sounds awful.  So glad we didn't have to do that back in the day![/quote]

I’m 50/50 on it. My freshman year roommate was sleeping with half the basketball team.[/quote]

Lucky guy[/quote]

Not a guy. She was sleeping with the men’s basketball team. [/quote]

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