<p>OP, lots of possible explanations. D had a similar experience lest summer. Turned out her roommate was on FB, just under her nickname (think “Angie” instead of “Angela”) and was working all summer in a location without Internet or cell access.</p>
<p>My son had the same experience as intparent’s kid. He got info for two roommates, contacted both. One responded; they exchanged cursory e-mails (and never liked each other a whole lot more when they actually met). The other never responded . . . and never showed up, either. No Facebook.</p>
<p>In that article, I love the pairing of David Lynch and Peter Wolf. That’s pretty good. But how did they miss Al Gore and Tommy Lee Jones? A relative of mine had a future rock star as his freshman roommate back in the 60s. Neither lasted much longer than that year in college. My relative had chronic mental health problems, and wound up as a street person in New York for years before he finally committed suicide. The rock star remained his friend throughout, making repeated attempts to help him over the years, and always greeting him warmly, talking with him, buying him a meal, offering him a place to sleep, etc.</p>
<p>I agree, that it’s not a big deal, no need to over analyze. It is also possible that he’s on Facebook, but under a fictitious name (especially given ‘semi-famous’ family). He may want to keep a low profile because of his background.</p>
<p>I don’t think boys connect as much with their roommates in advance as girls in any case. They don’t care much about color schemes, wall decorations, etc.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t worry - could be a lot of reasons.</p>
<p>High Security. </p>
<p>Maybe they are gone on vacation. When we travel, we do NOT call home or use our cell phones. We do not use the internet either. No interference whatsoever with relaxing. Important people (my parents, work) have our contact info in case of emergency. We just catch up when we get home. Kids too. (Love it that way !)</p>
<p>Our S’ email address listed for roommates’ to contact you is one issued by the university. Because of a typo in the address line, we couldn’t get it to work for months. When we finally figured out what it was suppose to be, he had messages from last spring. Maybe your roommate just hasn’t checked a special account, or it’s full ?</p>
<p>I’d keep trying, but I know some people travel right up until the weekend before school. It’ll work out. Assure your S that it’s not because this person has no interest in him, probably just a glitch.</p>
<p>had a similar thing happen with one of my kids – the roommate was working at a camp, then on vacation, didn’t even get the email until right before move in.</p>
<p>as for facebook – maybe he just has his privacy settings secure enough that you can’t find him.</p>
<p>kids these days are so used to being able to keep in touch so readily over the internet, i think it is jarring when they can’t reach someone that way. just relax.</p>
<p>besides, you can’t always tell much from iniital contact anyway. i know a kid who got together with the future roommate, planned who’d bring what, families met – all seemed great. within two weeks of living together, they couldn’t stand each other.</p>
<p>Wealthy people move in different ways and I would not worry. My son’s roommate at Swarthmore ( and for many years a roommate) came for a very exclusive boarding school in CT. Initially, he did not respond to my son’s emails in the same way but through the 4 years, they became fast friends.</p>
<p>In fact, my son knows a lot of the ways of extremely rich people from his roommate. This guy was roommates with the scion of the Fiat family in his CT boarding school. And he himself comes from extremely wealthy and connected family. Not scion of Fiat family kind of connected but still very connected.</p>
<p>Same thing happened to my son. I envisioned all kinds of scenarios about why the future roommate didn’t respond. Finally he did a few days before they were to meet in person and he was a normal person that just didn’t feel like responding…</p>
<p>My son’s roommate is on a trip very far away and may not have internet access - he hasn’t posted on FB in weeks.</p>
<p>No panicking allowed - people get busy and there’s no sense of getting worked up over what may be nothing.</p>
<p>one more non-facebooker… my son’s not on facebook (thank god!), never was on myspace, barely checks his e-mail (which may be a problem for me when he goes to school), doesn’t play…video games!!! loves texting though. not a “weirdo”. very sociable and loves to be outside. he’s likely going to make a great roommate.</p>
<p>let it go.</p>
<p>Even in this day and age there are still ways to be at a loss for internet connection (traveling in China, cruising, etc.). I would not worry about it and I am sure that a response will come in due time!</p>
<p>I’d let it go and not read too much into the situation. My older son’s roommate did not use Facebook, did not respond to an e-mail or phone call. They ended up being lasting casual friends (they are both seniors). While it’s unusual for kids now even more than three years ago not to be in touch electronically through Facebook or text messages I do not think it’s cause for alarm. Social media is becoming more and more important in the business world and digital communication like instant messaging etc. is embedded business technology these days, if this roommate is not participating perhaps it’s something your son can share and teach. Embracing new technology is a rolling adoption with early participants and those that “catch up.”</p>
<p>My son’s roommate did not respond either. Concerned me since the other two kids had had contact with their roommates over the summer (but their roommates were no prizes). Turned out the kid was just a little spacey, but son and he hit it off very well. In fact, they are living together again this year. They became good friends. So don’t worry about it.</p>
<p>DD’s frosh roomie, responded a few times to her, then last minute decided to make alternate housing arrangements. Things were still unclear 3 weeks into the semester (housing office still had her listed), D did a quick look at girls FB page, and learned she had indeed procured alternate housing. Perhaps your son’s roommate is casting about for different housing situations (esp since family may be somewhat well known). Tell him not to creep on the guy anymore, if he turns up, they can get acquainted then, if not, perhaps a new roomie is in his future.</p>
<p>I agree with a bunch of the above posts that I really shouldn’t worry about not hearing back from my roommate. BUT, we got our rooms about 4-5 days ago. I friended him and sent an email. The email has not been returned and he has not accepted my friend request, though I have seen him updating his facebook status over the course of the week (so I know he has seen my friend request). Really weird stuff. I can’t tell if he saw my facebook and was turned off or just didn’t want to room in my residence hall or something.</p>
<p>He might just not want to be dealing with this right now or have other things on his mind. He may also be looking at other arrangements that are not yet made public. It’s not weird, just typical of some kids at this age.</p>
<p>Same thing happened to our son. No facebook or anything under the boy’s name. Emailed his new roommate on the campus email address the school gave him. Month later got an email reply. The kid hadn’t checked his new campus email address. He goes by a different name, (mom’s remarried name maybe ??, not legal name registered at school?). Of course he’s on facebook under the new name. </p>
<p>Don’t worry about it. Lot’s of logical explanations.</p>
<p>All of this simply demonstrates how right the schools that do NOT share the housing information before the move-in day truly are. </p>
<p>The extent of the parental obsession (and that is what it is) to find about the FUTURE friends of their children is as mindblogging as it is creepy. Really!</p>
<p>never mind.</p>
<p>One more ‘this happened to my kid’…last year my D was going nuts wondering why her roommate was nonresponsive…took over a month for the girl to respond to D’s email. Same as others–her FB name is not her given name and she’d been out of the country at a program with no access to the internet. I’m sure there’s a logical explanation to the lack of response!</p>