<p>^That’s really shallow. Judging someone because of their facebook? You can’t judge someone until you meet them in person.</p>
<p>^^This is exactly why my son hasn’t joined the “class of 2016” Facebook group at his future college. He’s not looking to reinvent himself or anything, but he sees the folly in trying to “understand” people one hasn’t met based on the online identity they have cultivated in high school.</p>
<p>As an aside, he took almost two weeks to email his new roommate, an international student, and still hasn’t heard back from him two weeks since then. And IT’S FINE.</p>
<p>Did you email their new school email? They might not be used to checking that one yet. Or if they’re going on fb in their phone sometimes the messaging doesn’t really work and doesn’t tell you when you get a new message</p>
<p>My roommate was on a 3 week missions trip when we got our assignments, with limited internet, so I didn’t hear from her for a long time, I was the one who told her we were roommates, since she checked facebook before her email. </p>
<p>Don’t sweat it.</p>
<p>Of course you’re off to a bad start— you were essentially creepin’ on her online. I was tempted not to reply to either of my room mates that sent me a message on facebook. I didn’t know them in person, and was weirded out that they were looking me up.</p>
<p>My roommate was in Spain when I first received her name, and I got no response to anything I sent her for about three weeks, despite the fact that she had updated her facebook status. She was using a cell phone. It’s possible that your new roommate has phone access (Twitter) but not email or facebook.</p>
<p>Also, if you’ve only emailed her, it’s <em>highly</em> possible that the email went into her spam folder. Maybe she’s busy or just really bad at answering emails. Maybe she’s like me - when only have a minute but have an email that I want to write a lengthy response to, I’ll mark it as unread and save it for later. Sometimes I forget to answer things. It isn’t the end of the world.</p>
<p>I really, really wouldn’t try to switch roommates because of this. It’s a really minor issue. BEsides, in my experience, the best roommates are those whose sleep/hygeine habits match best, which isn’t exactly something you can tell from facebook.</p>
<p>Chill out. My roommate was on an international flight the day roommate assignments came out. It’s really no big deal.</p>
<p>Oh goodness! I’m with everyone that says take your worry down a few notches. Do not switch your roommate yet. At least meet her in person. Don’t judge her by her facebook. I know I’ve seen a lot of people’s profiles and thought I’d never like them, and they turned out to be awesome, whereas I have seen profiles where I thought the person and I would be best of friends and we couldn’t stand each other. At least give it a couple days to a week into the semester. Give it a shot. What do you have to lose those first couple days?</p>
<p>Why are some of you guys bashing the OP? Just calm down. She came here for advice and got it. No need for name calling and assessments of what kind a person the OP is. You don’t know enough about her to be making that kind of judgement. </p>
<p>OT: Don’t worry too much OP. Worst comes to worst, your RA/Housing director will accommodate you if you feel uncomfortable after a few weeks of living with your roommate.</p>
<p>oh nooooo…what if the roomie checked the OP out on Facebook and decided she didn’t like what she saw, wrong fashion, whatever…</p>
<p>Actually, my guess is that she is doing something that is keeping her out of the communication loop…like a vacation abroad with her family, a mission trip, maybe working at an overnight camp (my son went on an eight week Appalachian hike as a counselor after high school graduation…and I could reach him in emergencies only)…and that she has absolutely no idea that she is upsetting you.</p>
<p>Or maybe she is shy or anxious or doesn’t know what to say…</p>
<p>I am really glad that I went to college before Facebook. The idea of a future roommate looking me up on Facebook and judging me by my profile or the speed of my communication before she even gets to know me is really creeping me out. (And I’m still friends with my freshman year roommate - we live in the same city now, and met up for dinner last week :D)</p>
<p>I work in residential life as a residential director. In addition to what everyone else is saying about this not necessarily being a sign that your roommate is not as enthusiastic as you, I’d also like to offer this: so WHAT if she’s not as enthusiastic as you? Your roommate doesn’t necessarily have to share the same interests as you or be your best friend. It’s nice if you do become friends, but it’s not required. Not being friends doesn’t mean you won’t get along, either: you can get along with, and live with, people you are not best friends with. So I would prepare yourself for the possibility that your roommate does not want to be friends with you.</p>
<p>When I was an RA in a freshman hall, I got a lot of roommate complaints that amounted to “Me and my roommate aren’t friends!” or “My roommate is different from me in ways I don’t understand.” I had to work through with these residents to make them understand that just because someone is less social than them, or doesn’t study on their schedule, or doesn’t want to be their friend doesn’t mean that 1) they are having a legitimate roommate conflict or 2) that there is something wrong with their roommate.</p>
<p>However, if you really don’t get along after 2-3 weeks, you can definitely talk with your RA. That’s what they’re there for.</p>
<p>I also dispute the statement that “Having a positive relationship with a roommate is essential in order to have a positive and successful college experience.” It’s not. If you have a really horrible roommate experience, then that’s likely to have effects in other areas, but being friends with your roommate does not determine your college success or happiness.</p>
<p>I’d just like to point out that Facebook class of 2016 groups aren’t ALL bad. I’m going to school 8 hours away in a little over a month, knowing one person out of 25,000. I met an awesome roommate through Facebook, made a lot of new friends, have been corresponding regularly with people on my floor and in my dorm, and feel a LOT more comfortable now. It also helped at orientation - I was able to put a name with a face.</p>
<p>Of course, I haven’t judged the people I meet based on their profiles but rather on conversations we’ve had, and it’s not like I already dislike anyone. It is nice to have a couple people that I’m already semi-comfortable with.</p>
<p>On Sunday night 2 weeks ago, I got my roommate assignment. I was leaving at 5:30 the next morning to backpack around the SC coast for a week. My roommate didn’t know this. So I didn’t email him (he hadn’t emailed me either) or respond to the facebook friend request he sent me. I’ve also been working all this week. If my roommate was like you, he’d already hate me, which would be kind of pathetic. Communication both ways has been rather slow. We’ve exchanged about 3 e-mails and I just sent him a facebook message. We don’t seem to have many similarities at all.</p>
<p>Am I freaking out like a 5 year old child? No. We’re both busy, we’re both going to have plenty of time to get to know each other even though we don’t have similar interests. Your judging someone based off whether or not they respond to your e-mail? And opposite in fashion sense? Is that REALLY a concern for you. I’m sorry, but I don’t think it’s possible to be much more shallow. </p>
<p>There are legitimate reasons that roommates can’t get along. And then there’s those who don’t even try because they’re quick to judge. You’re in the latter category.</p>
<p>Also, in relation to Facebook groups. My college’s Class of 2016 groups (a student made one months before the school decided to have an “official” one, both are pretty active) have been invaluable. I don’t take everything said on there as true, but it’s nice to have some way, however small, to not walk on to a campus of complete strangers. I’ve found people who will be in my classes, my major, my dorm, and even on debate team with me. Do I know these people? No, except for a couple that I met at orientation. But I’m getting somewhat of a familiarity with the people who will be my classmates for the next 4 years.</p>
<p>Even if roommate responded right away you don’t really get to know someone till you live with them. Daughter thought she’d found the perfect roommate and they communicated prior to starting school. Didn’t turn out so well and they did not become friends but just shared space. Didn’t stop daughter from making fantastic friends on her floor and from having a very enjoyable and successful year. She also learned how to live with someone she wasn’t close to and how to resolve interpersonal differences.</p>
<p>way too soon. some people hardly ever respond, doesnt make them evil people. get a chance to get to know her while you are there</p>
<p>I’m curious I know this was a couple years ago, but whatever happened when you met your roommate finally? Did you both click and stay together? And did she know you were trying to reach out to her before move-in day? The same situation is happening now with my daughter and I’d love to know how this all played out for you. I agree, it is not about stalking the roomate, or judging them – it’s just nice to say hi and good to meet you before the first day - ice breaker! Thanks!</p>