How to Find a Roommate

When you’re renting an apartment off campus and don’t have roommates already lined up, how do you go about finding the right ones?

On many college campuses there are services that help match up people who are looking for roommates. This can be as simple as “She has an apartment, she needs a roommate” to a “likes and dislikes” matching service as sophisticated as internet dating. Check out what your campus has to offer in the Housing or Student Services areas.

Since you most likely would prefer to have roommates that you share common interests with, consider these ideas:
1. Post notices on campus in the buildings where you have classes. If you’re in the journalism school, post them there. If you’re in nursing school, post the notices there. This increases the chance of you attracting a roommate that has similar interests.
2. Use your social networks to advertise for a roommate. Your Facebook friends or the other students in your class email lists can be an excellent source for finding roommates.
3. Place a classified ad in the campus paper.
4. Post a “Roommate Wanted” flyer where you work.
5. Tell everyone you know that you are looking for roommates.

If you want to live off-campus but you don’t have roommates lined up, your other option is to rent a room in an apartment being leased by someone else. This can be an easier process than finding your own roommates, especially if you need more than one.

Look for a room the same way you’d advertise for a roommate. This is a common practice on college campuses, so chances are you’ll have no trouble finding just what you need.