10 Steps to Successfully Find a Roommate on Facebook
“She showered once a month and never wore deodorant” are words that can haunt you forever. We have all heard college roommate horror stories and we at SOCIETY19 are determined to help you avoid firsthand experience. In this day and age we have the technology to make sure that having a roommate who doesn’t shower is not something you will have to deal with. Keep reading to discover the steps of how to successfully find a roommate on Facebook!
1. Join a Facebook group.
Becoming a part of the Facebook group or page is super easy! Each college has their own Facebook group and students post in here to try and find potential roommates. You will have to request access to the page, or have a friend who has already been accepted into the group add you. Easy enough? Well the search is about to get a little harder…
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2. Decide what you are looking for.
Figure out what you are looking for in a roommate. This step is something that may take some time. However, once you decide what characteristics you are looking for, they can be a crucial tool that will help you for the steps to come. Ask yourself questions like, “Do I want someone who will be clean?”, “Do I prefer if he/she is single?”, and “What are some of my interests that I want my roommate and me to share?”
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3. Keep an eye on your options.
Look at the posts on the page. As you will see when you join, dozens of people post every day in search of a roommate. Looking at these posts is the easiest way to get to know someone without actually having to talk to them. For example, if you’re someone who is energetic and looking for someone in your area, a person who uses a plethora of exclamation points in his or her post and says he or she is from your area could be of interest to you.
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4. Do your research.
It is important to realize that not all people looking for a roommate will post on the page. This step may require the Nancy Drew in you to come out. By clicking on the “Members” tab you will find a full list of everyone that has joined the page. Here you can scroll through the list and try to find people you like. This step is harder because the only thing you have to judge these people on is their profile picture. However, this step can be made easier if you reflect on the pictures they take. For example, if you aren’t a person that is big into taking selfies, a person that has a selfie as their profile picture probably won’t be a good fit. If you really enjoy going to concerts, look for pictures of them at concerts. If you find yourself liking a person, click on his or her page and look at the pictures.
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5. Create your own post.
This step is optional, but will most likely be better in the long run. Posting a paragraph about yourself is perfect for the lazier people out there because people will come to you, rather than you having to search for prospective roommates. Your post should be short and sweet, because no one wants to read an autobiography. Be honest about what you want in a roommate. Start with your name and where you are from, then go from there. Avoid being boring and using the not-so-original “I like to party, but school is important to me”.
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6. Make lists of potential candidates to keep yourself organized.
Keep a list of the names of future roommates you may be interested in. As you are viewing different profiles, names may not be too helpful. Try putting a few short descriptive words be each name in order to keep track of who is who. Using words like basketball player and concert-lover could be useful to your memory.
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7. Be consistent in your search.
The first time you check the page probably won’t be the time that you find your roommate. Members are added to the group everyday, so being consistent in checking new activity on the page is smart. You may even successfully find someone a week before roommate requests are due.
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8. Narrow down your options.
Look at your list of contenders and start to decide whom you are truly interested in. If you are unsure about a person, searching them on Twitter and Instagram may give you an idea of how compatible you two will be. Other social media outlets can help you in getting to know a person better. You can find out if they like the same cute dog memes as you or what they really think about Donald Trump.
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9. Reach out to the potential candidates.
Once you narrow down your list to a handful of contenders, the next step is to use Facebook messenger to chat with these people. Actively talking back and forth will give you a good understanding on who these people really are and can help you decide if you are indeed interested in them. This will probably be pretty nerve-wrecking due to fear of rejection. However, it is important to remember that you do not want a roommate that isn’t as equally interested in you. Starting with a simple message like, “Hey! Are you looking for a roommate for next year?” is usually a safe icebreaker.
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10. FIND YOUR ROOMMATE!
Once you successfully decipher who you want your roommate to be, it’s time to pop the question. Only do this if you are confident in your choice. Remember, new people join the page everyday so you have hundreds of other options if you can’t a winner. But, if you are sure, enthusiasm is key. Stating your immense interest in rooming with the person will get them pumped up for being your roommate. Good Luck!
