Finding a college roommate is much like searching for your soulmate online. Multiple ways of finding one include the blind date, the setup, the online profile (with college Facebook groups) or even the friendly relationship that takes it to the next level. Then there is courting, wooing getting played or the holy grail, a match made in heaven.

Senior Maret Welby endured the combination of two, the blind date and the setup. Lucky for her, the set-up turned out, and she now has a roommate.

“I’m going to college at The University of Missouri (Mizzou) next year. Thankfully I have already found a roommate through my friend, Grace Colbert,” Welby said. “My soon-to-be roomie texted me one day and later on, we went down to visit Mizzou a few weekends ago to get to know each other. It felt as if we had known each other forever.”

Some students, like senior Mahnoor Malik, are not sure where they are going to college, but the roommate is still on the brain.

“I don’t know where I’m going to college yet, but I will know by April 2nd! I’m looking at places close by like Saint Louis University, Washington University and University of Missouri- Kansas City (UMKC),” Malik said. “I haven’t found a roommate because I’m not sure where I’m going, but I’ve begun looking at Facebook groups for my schools that I’ve been accepted to potentially find a roommate if I end up going there.”

Other students were not as fortunate. Senior Maggie Walkoff was strung along by a potential roommate, then ditched before the first meetup.

“I was messaging a couple girls I met through the Miami University Class of 2020 Facebook page, which later turned into texting,” Walkoff said. “So far I have talked to more than 10 people. Some have already found a roommate, some decided not to go to Miami.”

According to Walkoff, it can be hard to find things to talk about with a complete stranger, just like on a blind date.  

“Both of these things have happened to me [already have a roommate or dumped for a new location], which is super frustrating after forcing conversations with someone and then having to start all over again with another girl,” Walkoff said.

Putting yourself out there can be hard or even scary whether it is dating or searching for a college roommate, but sometimes there is no search necessary.

“Next year, I’m planning on going to Missouri State and living in a suite of four people. I was gonna room with Ally Guccione and Vericia Pearson, and then my mom’s roommate from college’s daughter texted me one day and told me she was going to Missouri State also,” senior Grace Miller said. “Now we plan on rooming together! My mom and her mom both went to Northwest Missouri State. My roommate is from Kansas City, MO, so we are both pretty close to Missouri State.”

With experience and hope for the upcoming year, these seniors have a few pieces of advice for students who will attempt the search next year.

Maggie Walkoff: “Be Patient.”

Maret Welby: “Join Facebook groups and other private groups in order to find a roommate. It’s also important to ask your friends if they know anyone looking for a roommate at the school you’re going too.”

Mahnoor Malik: “Honesty is the best policy! If you aren’t honest about, for example, your tendency to wake up at 4:30 a.m. to work out and get ready and your roommate doesn’t like to get up till noon, your lifestyles will clash. Be straightforward. Although you can limit the amount of time you spend with your roommate, it’ll just be a better experience if your personalities match and you have someone who’s looking out for you. Honest is the major key.”

Grace Miller: “I would say keep your options open and maybe room with someone you kind of already know, like maybe a friend’s friend or someone that you haven’t talked to in a while. If you room with somebody that you know really well, it could end good or bad and then somebody that you don’t know could be weird and totally different from you.”