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ESF Student Blog - 5 Tips for Finding a Roommate
By: Owen Volk
One important aspect of coming into college as a first-year student is finding the right roommate. Having a compatible roomie while becoming acclimated to a new environment is something that can enhance your college experience.
At ESF, new students who don’t already have a roommate in mind can match up with someone through RoomSync. If your housing agreement with Centennial Hall is all set, then you should have received a link to log into RoomSync, create a matching profile, and begin your search to find your new best friend by scrolling through profiles. It might feel a little like online dating, but it works! The last day for incoming Fall 2023 students to request a roommate is June 23. If you can’t find the email, you can contact Centennial Hall at 315-741-3067.
Not sure where to being with how to find the right person to share your space with? Here are four tips to follow.
- Start with Your Friends
Know someone from your high school or have a friend or acquaintance coming to ESF? They could be a great place to start because you already know them (at least a little). And they may be looking for a roommate, too.
- Determine Qualities You Like in a Roommate
Many of you have probably lived with at least one person before – like a parent, sibling, or other family member – so it’s helpful to think about what it’s like living with them and make a list: What are the qualities they have that you like when it comes to sharing a space? What’s something they do that annoys you? Also think about what type of person will compliment your own habits. Are you a night owl or an early bird? Do you prefer to spend most of your time quietly or are you someone who is social and always surrounded by friends? These are all things you want to keep in mind when filling out RoomSync, which conveniently leads us to our next tip.
- Fill Out your RoomSync Application
RoomSync uses an algorithm that matches students based on their lifestyle preferences, academic majors, and mutual friends. Honesty is key. Lying on the application puts you at risk of being paired up with someone who is the opposite of what you’re looking for, like they’re clean and organized, and you’re not; they like to stay up super late and are loud while you’re not; or you love sleeping in, but they want to tackle the day first thing in the morning.
- Find and Connect with Other Incoming First-Year Students Online
The class of 2027 has a page on Instagram suny.esf.27. This is another good place to connect with people in the roommate search. It’s also a good place to connect with other incoming students!
Bonus Tip once you have your roommate
- Set Up a Roommate Agreement and Boundaries
Once you are set with a roommate, it doesn’t hurt to put together an agreement that you both believe you can uphold and follow. Making sure you have mutual boundaries set in a written agreement that you can reference if the relationship gets a little bumpy. There will likely be times when this happens!
With a bit of time and effort, you can find a roommate who not only fits your lifestyle but can become a friend for your time at ESF and all the years beyond.
Owen Volk is an intern in the Office of Communications and Marketing. He is a senior majoring in Environmental Studies with a focus in policy and communications.