Two students chatting on Old Main lawn

Roommate Options

The residential experience is designed to help you learn about yourself, and how to live and work with others. These learning outcomes begin with your roommate experience — even if you knew your roommate before coming to Western. Some students are nervous about sharing a room, and others are eager to meet new people and get involved. Either way, your roommate experience will teach you something about yourself, and even more about others, relationships and community.

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Fall Quarter Applicants

Option 1

Search for a Compatible Roommate in the Online Portal

Once you apply for housing and confirm your enrollment with Admissions, you have the option of searching for potential roommates on our secure online portal, Roommate Manager.

Searching for a compatible roommate is a great option for students desiring someone with characteristics similar to your own, such as academic interests, religious beliefs, food allergies, etc. Once you have identified a mutually satisfactory match, the two of you must complete the process for inviting someone you know.

Housing & Room Gender

Your Housing & Room Gender Will Affect Who You Can See & Invite to a Roommate Group.

Please note that the housing & room gender you selected on your application will affect who you see and are able to create a group with in Roommate Manager. 

During the housing application process, you selected a housing gender (male, female, or neutral), and a room gender (gendered or all-gender). 

Gendered: The gendered housing option allows you to find roommate matches with students who selected the same housing gender identity. You will not be able to create a roommate group with a student who selected all-gender housing. 

All-Gender: The all-gender housing option allows you to find roommate matches with students who also selected all-gender. Students who selected all-gender housing may room with students of a different gender identity. You will not be able to create a roommate group with a student who selected gendered housing. 

For more information, visit Housing & Room Gender. Want to change your housing gender? Send an email to housing@wwu.edu with your name, Western ID #, and what you want changed.

Option 2

Request Somone You Know

Roommate groups for new residents:

  1. You and your roommate(s) must apply for housing and confirm enrollment with Admissions in order to use Roommate Manager.
  2. You will receive notification to pay the $200 housing prepayment.
  3. Once you confirm with Admissions, you may begin using Roommate Manager.
  4. One student will act as the group leader. The group leader will create the group, give the group a name and choose a password.
  5. The leader adds each member to the group, which automatically sends an email notification to go to Roommate Manager in MyHousing to accept the group invitation.
  6. The group leader must request and have roommate(s) accept the group by June 15.
  7. Check your MyHousing Dashboard during roommate selection to see your status.

Roommate groups with one or more renewers (current residents):

Only eligible renewers may use Roommate Manager (see renewal information). To create a fall roommate pair, renewers must do the following between April 6 - May 1:

  1. You and your room/suitemates(s) must apply for housing in order to use Roommate Manager.
  2. One student will act as the group leader. The group leader will create the roommate group, give the group a name and choose a password.
  3. You will need to contact your room/suitemate(s) and share the group name and password with them so they can log in to the portal and join your roommate group to confirm the group.
  4. You must request and have your room/suitemate(s) accept your group by the deadline.
  5. Once confirmed, your MyHousing Dashboard should reflect your roommate group status.

Option 3

Don't Join a Roommate Group

If you choose not to join a roommate group in Roommate Manager, you have the option to select your roommate when you select a room. If you select a vacant room or do not select a room, a roommate will select or be assigned to your room.

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Winter & Spring Applicants

Roommate Search is available for fall housing applicants only, due to space constraints for incoming mid-year residents. A roommate will be assigned to you based upon the roommate profile you created in your winter or spring housing application. If you know the person you wish to invite as your roommate, invites are granted on a space available basis; both of you must email housing@wwu.edu to confirm the invite.

Roommate Invitation Deadline

Winter Quarter: Dec. 1
Spring Quarter: March 15

What Makes Roommates Successful?

Your resident advisor will be your first point of contact regarding roommate-related issues or concerns. To ensure a good start, you and your roommate(s) will meet with your resident advisor within the first two weeks of the term. Successful roommate relationships do not happen by accident; they require intentional behavior, communication and self-awareness:

  • Getting to know each other before you arrive. Send messages through MyHousing. Try talking on the phone or video instead of texting. 
  • Sharing room organization decisions.
  • Respectful and honest communication. 
  • Setting and maintaining limits on noise, visitors, and quiet hours.
  • Respecting each other's values & prospectives.
  • Protecting the safety and security of the room.
  • Being mindful of own behavior and the impact on others.
  • Not expecting to be best friends; successful roommates can just be friendly, open, and respectful.
  • Asking their permission when borrowing items.