The moment you hit “Accept” for your future college, the search for the perfect roommate kicks into high gear! For many seniors at Benilde-St. Margaret’s, the process of finding a roommate is vastly different. It depends on where you’re going, the college’s preferences, and whether you want to room with someone you know or take a chance on a randomly assigned roommate.

Senior Kate Cornell is attending Notre Dame in the fall. Her process of finding a roommate is different compared to most seniors. Incoming first-year room assignments are randomly generated through a computer, making both the residence hall and the roommate randomized. The benefits of this process are that it helps expand social circles, people form unexpected friendships, and it opens you to new perspectives and experiences. However, having random roommates can be challenging due to conflicting interests, habits, or lifestyles. “You could be completely different from your roommate, not get along at all, or have different interests. They might be a morning person, you might be a night person. All that type of stuff is completely random, so it’s the luck of the draw,” Cornell said.

Seniors Addie Morris and Ella Pasqua are both planning to play Division 1 hockey in college. Morris met her roommate, who is from Canada, on her official visit to Bemidji State. Her coach assigned her a roommate to encourage team inclusion. Pasqua, committed to Quinnipiac, is in the process of finding her college roommates. She also has random roommate assignments and mentioned that the coaches pick who her roommates are for her. She thinks having random roommates is fun; however, it can cause uncertainty and anxiety. “It’s randomized throughout my hockey team for the commits in my class. I kind of already have some roommates, but I don’t know who they are officially yet,” Pasqua said.

Senior Eli McLaughlin has already found a roommate for next fall. He posted on the Ole Miss class of 2029 Instagram page with pictures and a personal bio. Many students choose to go this route because it offers a platform where they can find a wide range of people who have similar interests to theirs. Although McLaughlin didn’t know anyone at first, many people reached out to him, including his roommate. “We kind of talked for a bit, and figured out that we both wanted to rush a frat, which was something in common. And then we just decided we’d room together,” McLaughlin said.

Finding a college roommate is a unique process that varies depending on the school you choose and your preferences. Whether students are randomly assigned roommates, matched through a coach or the school, or find their roommate through social media, each method comes with benefits and drawbacks. However, finding your roommate helps play a significant role in your overall college experience, helps you build new friendships, and makes the journey ahead more exciting!