Roommate Information

 

  1.  I do not have a roommate request. How will a roommate be selected for me?

Most students do not have a specific roommate preference when they come to RU.  If you do not preference a specific person, a person will be placed randomly with you.  Matching roommates based on personality tests or self-reported behaviors does not show any more significant success than simple random placement.

 

   2.   I would like to request a roommate.  How do I do this?

To request a specific person as a roommate, you will both need to send us a letter stating that you want to live with the other person.  All requests must be mutual and in writing, and received by Tuesday, June 30, 2009 for consideration.  Requests can be e-mailed from your Radford e-mail account (to verify your identity) to res-life@radford.edu or a written letter can be mailed to Office of Residential Life, Radford University, Radford, VA, 24142.  Please be certain to include your roommate’s full name and student ID number, or other identifying information.  When requests are mutual and submitted by June 30, 2009, you will be placed with your requested roommate.  You can also request a roommate at Quest this summer.

 

   3.   I know someone from my high school who is going to RU this fall.  Is it a good idea for us to select each other as roommates?

The answer to this question depends on the set of roommates.  Many times, people choose someone who is familiar, but not really known well, because it provides a sense of security.  If you are considering selecting a roommate, please make sure you ask questions in depth about his or her personal habits.  These are the most important factors for roommate success.  For example, two people may describe themselves as “morning people.”  However, a person who wakes at 6 am daily has a different perspective than the person who considers 10 am early. 

 

   4.  My best friend from high school and I want to be roommates.  Does that seem like a good idea?

Certainly, choosing a friend as a roommate can be a comfort when you are moving to a new situation.  Radford offers you the opportunity to meet people and make friends with people from around the world.  When you are in college, you will see that people can change in ways you never anticipate.  Friends often learn they have similar interests but they do not live well together because of differing study, cleanliness or social habits.  Therefore, you may want to consider living in the same quad as your friend, but not as roommates.   This will give you a place to go when you need some time away from your room and can help your friendship.

 

   5.   If my roommate and I have different dates for our housing deposit, how does the room assignment process happen?

All housing assignments are done with regard to dates of deposit to the University.  For roommates, the person with the later date of deposit will be used to determine your order in the housing assignments.  We believe that students who have requested specific roommates are more concerned with who they live with than the location of their room.  In some cases, this means that the later date of deposit will mean that a person will not get a first choice, such as a Themed Living community, that they would have gotten on their own.  Therefore, if your building placement is more important than your indicated roommate, you will need to send this information to Residential Life by June 30, 2009.

 

   6.  If my roommate and I do not get along, can we switch rooms?

It is possible to change rooms on campus, with certain limitations.  In order to complete all our administrative processes, we are not able to accept housing preferences after July 2, 2008.  Room changes may not occur until after the first two weeks of school.  From July 1 until the end of the second week of classes, we are in an intensive process of verifying and sharing data.  Therefore, we are unable to make any changes until the end of the second week of classes.  At that time, our priority is to move students out of tripled rooms.  We encourage students to work together to make the most of their living arrangements.  Room changes are possible, but they are dependent on available space and timing considerations. 

 

   7.   If I do not have a mutual roommate request, will I be placed with another new student?

In most cases, we do pair new students together.  However, space considerations can mean that some new students are placed with returning students.  Out goal is to place people together with similar class ranking (such as a new student with a sophomore).  No matter their placements, new students will live in a building with other new students who are going through similar transitions.

 

 

      A Department of Student Affairs                                                                                                                           


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