It’s that time of year again! It’s not holiday season; it’s housing season. As the spring semester continues, returning students may have noticed a change in the housing application process this year. That’s because USA Housing has partnered with RoomSync. RoomSync is a roommate pairing platform, and its purpose is to offer an enhanced experience in the roommate selection process.

Upon completion of the housing application, students are prompted to “search for a roommate with RoomSync.” From here, they select the link that corresponds to their classification. Students then create an account. Afterward, a survey is given to determine their personalities and preferences. This is saved to their profile. To further customize their profile, students can link social accounts; these include X—formerly known as Twitter—Instagram, Snapchat, YouTube, Pinterest and TikTok. Students can also add a profile picture and their major.

When selecting a roommate, a profile card of a potential roommate is displayed. A percent compatibility score is given for each roommate. Students can swipe to “skip” or “like” roommate profiles and are notified when others “like” back. Direct messages and video chats can be sent through the platform as well. Students also have the option to search for roommates. If socials are linked students can view these profiles. There is also the option to make and respond to community posts.

It may be too early to call if the app is more effective than its predecessor. Prior to RoomSync, students chose their roommates using only the USA Housing application. However, it can be noted that the app incorporates social media as well as other ways for users to communicate—an upgrade in its own right.