I’m currently a high school senior getting ready to make college my college decisions, like where to go, who to room with, etc. Having been deferred from one of my top schools, I have no idea where I’m going and won’t know until around April. A lot of my friends already decided on a college and are beginning to find roommates through Facebook groups. I initially wanted to go in blind, but I’m starting to think it could be a good idea to find matches on Facebook for roommates, or, at the very least, find friends at some of my potential schools. I don’t actually have a Facebook, so does anyone recommend making one before college? I know it can also be helpful for getting invited to grad parties, so I’m really considering making one, but I feel awkward having an empty account. Any thoughts on if I should do it and if I should join Facebook groups for some of my potential schools?
Facebook can be helpful but it’s not absolutely necessary for college. From what I’ve seen with my daughter, Facebook is good for getting to know people on the accepted students’ page. My daughter found her first-year roommate through the Facebook group. It’s also good for organizing numbers, matching names to faces (especially when you’re meeting a lot of new people at college), communicating in small groups (for ECs, study groups, dorm groups, etc.), and for learning about and, later, promoting campus events. When you go to college, it’s also a nice way to keep up with what high school friends are doing.
It’s a tool that can be useful. And it only takes a few minutes to set up. Don’t be worried about having an “empty” page. Most people I know have pretty tight privacy controls (something I’d recommend for anybody), and nobody will know how much or how little you’ve got on your page.
As long as you don’t let it become a focus or a distraction, I’d recommend having one.
Thank you so much, I think I’ll definitely make one now! I’m glad your daughter had success and finding a roommate through Facebook, I hope that can eventually be me!
Facebook can be helpful for finding about about college events, meeting new people before college, keeping up with clubs that use it to communicate, or contacting someone when you don’t have their number. It is a tool and no one is going to judge you for having an empty facebook page, you can always add photos and people understand if you are new. They can also be a way of keeping in touch with people from back home.
That said it is not a necessity if you have a good reason not to use it, and it can be distracting at times. I know people that are very good about keeping in touch with people via phone/text and don’t use facebook, and they have been fine. But it does generally make a lot of things easier, especially if you are trying to get in contact with someone you met but couldn’t remember their number or have an easy way to get in contact with