<p>Hello! I've been looking for some information online but have been unable to find it. Maybe some of you here can help me out.</p>
<p>I have just been accepted as a transfer student (for January) to the College of Arts and Sciences and I am now needing to decide whether to stay in school housing or not (I'm going to do so). </p>
<p>What is making me nervous is - how does the school go about pairing students up in housing? Is it random? Do students' personality/preferences somehow come into play?</p>
<p>Daniel, the pairing of roommates is entirely random. Prior to last year, for freshmen, there was a brief questionaire of maybe 3 or 4 very general questions. Last year, they eliminated even that. For someone entering mid-year, you will be placed wherever they have an opening. Keep in mind that if you choose not to live in housing from the start, it is extremely difficult to get back into NYU housing at a later date. Also, as I'm sure you know, transfers tend to get shafted in housing because the housing lottery is done based on your time at NYU, so transfers choose later than even freshmen.</p>
<p>Hi, alwaysamom. Thanks for the information. It sounds kind of horrible, though....no? I mean - in pairing students completely randomly, doesn't the school face many more roommate/assignment problems?</p>
<p>I'm a conservative, quiet and religious fellow and I dread finding myself into a room with a raucous , party-going type...</p>
<p>Do you know anything about S.A.F.E. housing?
Thanks! DanielJ</p>
<p>Oh, I wouldn't assume it would be any more horrible than anywhere else. :) I think what they found is that there were sometimes problems with roommates, even with a questionaire. When you have the number of kids entering at around 5-6000 for freshmen, it's difficult to match kids to everyone's satisfaction. There is always going to be a randomness to it which isn't always a bad thing. After freshman year, kids tend to choose their roommates and do the lottery together so it's less of a problem. </p>
<p>SAFE housing is available at NYU so that may be something to investigate. Your chances might be good because from what I understand, after one semester, many kids are ready to get out of SAFE housing. Living with a stranger is rarely easy but it can be a great experience, and you never know, you may form a lifelong friendship. I did! My freshman roommate and I are great friends and still get together regularly, and we were VERY different 'types' when we first met. :) I'm sure it will all work out fine for you. Good luck!</p>
<p>I certainly agree. NYU is a diverse enough school, that you'll find people like you no matter what your interests are. I lived with the same roommates my soph, junior, and senior year...and we're all still great friends. We too were all conservative, non-religous Republicans...but our big common interest was partying hard. I'm also still great friends with many of my high school roommates...and I graduated hs in '96. Living with someone during those years can be a great bonding experience and can teach you so much you can't learn in the classroom. </p>
<p>The randomness of roommate pairing makes it interesting in my opinion. In a way, it can even build character since in the real world you'll be dealing with all types of people no matter what you do. You'd be surprised at how well roommates can get along even if they are polar opposite in personality type. </p>
<p>All in all, NYU residence halls were a great time. Give the roommate thing a chance. </p>