<p>I’ve seen a lot of people on the BU facebook group searching for a roommate. Do most people find their roommates on facebook and other social media sites or do most people just let the BU housing survey determine their roommate? Which do you think would be the best option?</p>
<p>My daughter is a freshman and she just did through the survey (which really isn’t that much of a survey) and got set up randomly. If you have a particular type of person you’d like to room with you can try the facebook group. Honestly though even doing that you won’t know the person until you live with them. I would just make sure you send in your dorm preference asap as that seems to be more of a problem than finding a roommate.</p>
<p>Second Westie’s recommendations - pick your dorm and send in the forms. BU believes in randomness of roommates - there really is no survey. DD had a random roommate freshman year - she was wonderful. They were not best friends, but respectful of each other, tolerant of differences, and went to meals, etc if they were both free at the same time.<br>
Excellent experience. This year, she elected (insert long story here) to have a random roommate again. It was also fine - I wouldn’t say she loves her roommate this year, but again respect and communication make things work. As long as you remember that you aren’t the center of the universe, or even the center of the room, it works out fine. As an aside, don’t worry about the communal bathrooms - they are clean, easy to use, and really not an issue at all. </p>
<p>If you are concerned about randomness, one thing you could do is go to an early orientation week. We went in late June two years ago - it was great as you are assigned classes at orientation and have a great time learning about Boston and BU. We noticed a fair number of students who chose their roommates as someone they “clicked with” at orientation - as long as it is early in the summer, I don’t think this is an issue. </p>
<p>Be sure you read the threads about orientation and FYSOP - FYSOP is a fantastic experience, and a popular program. You move in a week earlier than everyone else, and spend the week doing volunteer opportunities in a chosen area (homelessness, etc). Applications historically open in early June, and it fills up quickly. Keep your eyes peeled!!</p>
<p>Honestly, it’s not really a survey at all. I mean I don’t know how it is this year, but as a freshman when I filled it out last year all it really asks is where you want to live in order of preference and some dining plan options. </p>
<p>Then of course there’s the option to request a roommate as well. Be warned though, even if you request someone it’s still not a 100% guarantee that you’ll be rooming with them in the end. A girl I had talked to on facebook and I requested each other because we were scared of going random because there wasn’t much of a housing survey to fill out, and when the assignments came out we weren’t placed together (not to mention the fact that they don’t release all of the housing assignments at once and I had to wait until August to see where I would be living, but that’s a different story).</p>
<p>Just go random. I picked a girl and we ended up in a quad with two other girls anyway (those rooms are now triples). Just because you think you like them from a survey doesn’t mean you’ll be good roommates. Most random choices I have seen worked out fine.</p>
<p>I think BU housing survey suits better for finding the roommates. Now a days, we can’t trust the people, mainly through Facebook and other social networking sites.</p>