Seniors choose future college roommates through Instagram

by Dayna Sockol Staff Writer

As seniors receive acceptances from universities, they must choose a roommate to dorm with during their first year. Social media accounts dedicated to incoming freshmen at particular schools have begun popping up and serve as a way for current seniors to meet their future peers. Students planning on attending these schools post pictures of themselves with informative captions introducing themselves, listing their interests and providing contact information so that others can reach out.

Many NDB se- niors have begun messaging each other via Instagram and determining if they are compatible. However, these decisions are based on social media and online personalities, making them slightly untrustworthy. Simultaneously, everyone is attempting to connect with and make friends on social media in an effort to choose the school best suited for them. This process is not ideal for people who are too shy to reach out or do not like responding to strangers via social media. However, there are also other alternative routes that a student may take when making a decision on their roommate. Some schools offer housing applications that students can fill out in the hopes of being matched with a compatible roommate. The quiz includes one’s living preferences, how they act and how social one is. Another option is just to enter blindly and hope for the best by asking for a randomly selected roommate. Some seniors have begun the process and, while tedious, appreciate the efforts required.

“Personally, I think there are pros and cons to finding a roommate via Instagram,” said senior Mabelle Joudieh. “You have to take into account that not everybody has social media. Other than that, I think it can be easy and stress free using Instagram as a platform because it is an easy way to text the other person while seeing what they are like by their posts.”

Finding out if one gets along with someone solely through social media is difficult, especially when learning about people’s personalities. However, it is good to begin getting to know people from different areas. Although it can be an overwhelming process, it is exciting to meet new friends through social media as it marks the starting of a new chapter and a fresh start.