How to Find a Roommate at UIUC: Tools, Tips & Green Flags

Deciding who to live with, especially in college, carries a heavy weight for those moving into dorms or student or off-campus housing. These are the people who you will see every day, good days or bad, and the people who you will share your space and your home with. 

If you’re a freshman and don’t know anyone yet, how can you find the right person to live with? And if you’re a sophomore, junior, or grad student, deciding between people you know might be hard. Some of your friends you were not meant to live with- but you only find out the hard way! In this article, we will highlight red and green flags of potential roommates, and what to do once you have found the one. 

Use University and Local Resources

UIUC wants to set you up for success in and out of class. Using tools like Room Sync lets you set up a profile and list lifestyle preferences, making it easy to find someone whose values, schedules, and cleanliness align with yours. 

MHM and other local properties can also help you match up with an ideal roommate using similar profiles and programs to find you a perfect match. This is not the time to lie or be coy about what you are expecting. Being honest and open up front will only benefit you, as you can be matched with someone who lives similarly to you. In addition, utilizing Facebook groups for your school can help you connect with other students looking for a roommate, too. 

MHM Properties provides a free UIUC roommate matching service for students. You can choose specific properties you’d like to live in, your gender, and the number of roommates you need. 

Know What You Want In a Roommate

Determining the characteristics you value in a roommate, and trying to find someone who matches up with your wants and needs. It can be hard to determine who will and won’t be a good roommate, so just go with your gut! Here are some green flags in people who will make great roommates, according to alcoverooms.com. 

Respectful: Knowing each other’s boundaries and respecting them is essential for living harmoniously with anyone.

Good communication:” One of the main qualities to look for in roommates is their ability to communicate. They need to be willing to discuss any issues or disagreements that may arise in a friendly and positive way. Sitting down and setting up the tone of the communication is as important as the actual decision-making process”.

Trustworthy: “Living with someone is no easy thing. You would have to share the common areas, split responsibilities, understand each other, and so much more. Hence, being able to rely and depend on each other would be essential! When looking for a roommate, you need to make sure that they are trustworthy and that you know they are honest and truthful!

Clean and Organized: “Having an organized roommate might not always be as essential; however, it would be a huge plus. This is especially relevant if you are an organized individual yourself. You probably would not want to have your roommates’ dishes, clothes, and shoes lying around”. 

Once you decide on your roommate, you can establish what type of home you want to live in and what amenities are important to the household. Forget location and size; does the apartment have an in-unit washer and dryer? Do they have a dishwasher? Outdoor space? Usually, the most important amenities for people are dishwashers and in-unit laundry, but tons of other perks come along with apartment life. 

For one, a full kitchen so you can finally cook and avoid the dining facilities. Also, consider whether you will need/want an outdoor space or balcony, a large closet, extra storage, etc. If you’re trying to get the most bang for your buck, deciding what is necessary for you and your roommates’ apartment can easily help determine where to live. 

Making sure your roommate understands the financial commitment of where you are living is another key to a successful dynamic. Talk about rent, utilities, how they might want to split groceries, or if they prefer to buy them on their own, etc. Often, roommates do a 50/50 split, but other times, expenses can be divided by who and what they are, taking into consideration income, family help, usage, and more. 

Start Your Apartment Search Early

Starting early could be the key to landing your perfect apartment. Ask around at the end of the school year and see if there are any preferred apartments by other students you know, and see if you can visit some spots before coming home for the summer. The sooner you start considering where and with whom you want to live, the sooner you can sign up for your first choice spot! If you know a friend who you think will be a great roommate, don’t hesitate to let them know! You will spend some of the best moments of college with them by your side.