Tips for Selecting A Roommate

The process of applying for housing and selecting a roommate can be daunting for students who are leaving home for the first time. We have compiled a list of tips to help you understand and navigate the roommate selection process at Oregon State University.

 

1. Set up your roommate profile. As part of the housing application process you will answer questions that will be used in the roommate search process.

  • First year students and transfer students, applying for Fall 2018 between Feb. 1-May 1, 2018:  The day after you submit your housing application, you will receive an email with a login invitation to My College Roomie, an online roommate matching system we use to help you find potential roommates. Filling out OSU's My College Roomie questionnaire will help you find someone in our online roommate matching system if you want to choose your own roommate, and will help our staff match you if you do not choose your own roommate. Know that once you accept a friend request from someone they will be able to see your profile information including gender identity.
  • Current OSU students and graduate students: Current OSU undergrad and graduate students who will be in their second year and above in Fall 2018  can answer profile questions within the UHDS housing application. Answering questions to potential roommates find you, or to help our staff assign you if you choose not to select your own roommate. If you

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2. How to search for a roommate. Once you've filled the online questionnare, you can search for potential roommates. If you are using My College Roomie, you will be able to find other students the system identifies as a potential match, or search on your own.  Make sure potential roommates are eligible for the same communities you are; for example, pre-Business students may only match with other pre-Business students. You can also search for other specific students that you know have applied for housing. If you have any questions as you go through this process please contact us.

 

3. Push yourself outside your comfort zone. We understand the process of looking for a roommate can be challenging, and even a little uncomfortable. We encourage you to embrace this process for all that it represents about your transition to life in college. Don’t just accept the first roommate request you receive; actively engage in conversations with multiple roommates to see who will be the best fit for you. Also, once you have found a roommate, let others you have been talking with know you have found someone else. One final tip here: don’t live with a friend. We won’t stop you from doing this, but we would encourage you to trust our experience when we say that it rarely works to live with someone you know.

 


4. Be patient with the process. Roommate matching is open from Feb. 1-May 15, 2018 for new students, and Feb. 1-March 31, 2018, for returning students. Every day more students are completing their housing applications who will be potential roommate matches for you. Take your time to find someone you are truly compatible with.

 


5. Roommate matches must be completely mutual to be valid. Anyone you request as a roommate must confirm this request to be valid, and vice versa. You can see all requests you have sent or received and the status of that match on the roommate search page.

 

6. Talk to potential roommates about where you want to live. If you want to be in Cauthorn hall, and your potential roommate wants to be in Sackett hall, that will eventually be a problem. Also, talk through the Living Learning Communities and Special Interest Communities you are interested in with potential roommates. If you want to be on a Substance Free wing, and your roommate does not, that is a sign of a roommate match that may not work out.

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