According to Georgetown University, “One third of all college students in the U.S. have problems with roommates and/ or relationship difficulties [during their college years],” The fact is also, roommate drama can impact a student not only if they aren’t comfortable with their roommate, but also their academics as well. Georgetown University also said that these difficulties can, “impact academics in 17% of students”.

Deciding on a college can be hard, but sometimes it seems finding a roommate can be even harder. Sometimes, just finding the right roommate can set a college student up with a connection they’ll have for the rest of their lives.

For Kierra Baker, a Morgan senior, and many other students, it all starts with a post, usually on an account on Instagram, this account allows students to reach out or “DM” to post about their availability for a roommate. The usual post includes a couple photos, a bio, and a link/tag of the student’s account. In this, other students that are a part of the class of 2029 can reach out to either make a future roommate or a future friend to see at the school. Since early March, Kierra mentioned, she has gained more of a following ever since putting her college (CCSU 2029) in her Instagram bio.

For the current generation, the students connect mostly by their phones through social media, when back a couple of decades ago that wasn’t the case.

For Mrs. Patterson, a chemistry and forensics teacher who went to North Eastern and then transferred to UCONN, when she was looking for a roommate, she was given a form or survey she had to fill out that was sent out by the college. In this survey, “you would fill out with interests, and they tried to put you with similar people. Then, before orientation, we knew who our roommates were, and we got contact information, so we then emailed each other, and figured out, who was bringing what sort of things, so we didn’t have bring doubles of it.”

Patterson also continued to give the advice of how to find the right roommate, and said to find someone who is the same level of organization and cleanliness. “Be on the same page if you like going out or not going out. Establish guidelines of who can come in your room, who can stay over.”

Mrs. Robinson, who spent four years at SUNY Potsdam in upstate New York, also agreed and gave the came advice but focused on honesty, “if you are really messy in nature, don’t lie and say your neat freak because you’re embarrassed to let somebody know that you’re a little disorganized, or not be fully who you are, don’t make yourself into whom you think the person is going to want you to be because then you’re going to be stuck living with somebody that you’re not compatible with.”

“Remember that a roommate is a roommate, they don’t have to be a best friend, so you want to find somebody that you know you can cohabitate with,” said Robinson. A point that Robinson made, saying that it is perfectly fine having a roommate just to room with, and not make a best friend for life.

During Robinson’s first year, she originally did room with someone her first semester, but then after her roommate transferred to another university. So she didn’t have a roommate for long. Robinson continued and said, “I feel bad for you guys (seniors), though. I think that there’s a lot of pressure that the colleges put on you guys now to do those switches.” Robinson says to just stick it out with your roommate and if there is a true issue that is troubling, then report it.

When finding out what seniors were doing now, Robinson found it complicated and not necessary. It can be stressful finding someone, but the pressures of social media doesn’t help.

She continued and mentioned her daughter Kate and her experience, “It’s so weird. I will say when Kate [started at] High point, they still do it old school, where you fill out of survey, you’re not allowed to say after freshman year, you can pick your roommates. For freshman year, the philosophy part of life is getting to learn how to live with other people.”

“And part of college is exactly that, you’re going to have your trials and tribulations, so, knowing that whatever you choose now is not lifelong.” Robinson concluded.