The Boston Globe reports that many colleges and universities have begun to allow incoming freshmen to choose their own roommate, and students have turned to social media to get a sneak preview of prospective “mates.” Some administrators are nervous about the unintended consequences of this practice. They wonder if students will pair up prior to campus arrival and marginalize others who have a lackluster online presence.
The Association of College and University Housing Officers – International conducted a 2012 poll that revealed 32 out of 45 universities surveyed allow freshmen students to request roommates.
Apps such as RoomSync and websites like RoomSurf.com allow freshmen to post profiles containing pictures and descriptions of their interests and living habits.
Some universities, such as New York University and Harvard, have chosen the traditional policy of matching incoming first-years to encourage them to connect with others from different backgrounds. UMass has a different practice, allowing students to either be matched by the school or select their own roommate, which more than 40% choose to do.
Many rising freshmen don’t see a problem with prescreening prospective roommates online and instead find it to be advantageous. One incoming Tufts University freshman values the honesty that accompanies online match-ups, remarking, “With online dating, you can get away with pretending to love puppies because after you meet the person you don’t have to go on a second date. But with a roommate, you’re going to be living with them for the entire first year.”
