Frequently Asked Questions

What is URoomSurf.com?

URoomSurf.com is a resource to help high school and college students identify and connect with potential roommates and future classmates in a new way. We have a matching algorith that immediately matches you to students based on compatibility. We believe having a compatible roommate is important, so we created a website dedicated to helping students spend more time getting to know potential roommates, and less time just trying to find them!

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Who started URoomSurf.com?

URoomSurf was created by two recent University of Miami alumni, Justin Gaither and Dan Thibodeau. After months of research and development, our company was officially formed in 2009. We also consulted with over fifty students to help us develop the application, so that the common student will find it useful.

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How old are the founders?

We're not old! Dan is 24 and Justin is 23.

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Who can use URoomSurf.com?

High school seniors, college students, and graduates school students can use URoomSurf.com. If you need to find a compatible roommate for on-campus housing, or need to fill an extra room for your place off-campus, you should try URoomSurf to identify compatible roommates.

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Why should I use URoomSurf.com?

High school seniors that are going off to their first year of college should use URoomSurf.com if they do not want to get stuck with a roommate that they will not enjoy living with. The majority of colleges allow students to mutually request each other as roommates. So why leave it to chance? URoomSurf.com also makes the process of identifying compatible roommates easier by immediately calculating your matches based on your survey results.

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What is a Video Profile? How can I create one?

The Video Profile is an opportunity to really shed light on your personality, and the essence of you in a video. This gives other users a better feel for you as a person, and is much better than a text profile and looking at a photo.

All you need is a YouTube account, a video or web camera, and a little dose of personality.

Watch how to upload your video profile here: How to Make a Video Profile

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I found someone I am interested in living with, now what?

The next step is to just let them know! Send them a Top Pick request, indicating to another user you are interested in rooming with them. If your potential roommate(s) agree to live with you, the next step is to find out how your school accepts roommate requests. You can do this by calling your university directly, or looking up the process on their website under housing or residence life. Please note that the school may not be able to meet your request, and we cannot guarantee that you will be paired as roommates with someone you find at URoomSurf.com.

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I want my college on URoomSurf.com! How can we add it?

If your school is not listed, e-mail contact@uroomsurf.com to add your school and we will get it up shortly.

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How many colleges are on the URoomSurf.com network?

Future and current students of over 700 different colleges and universities can use URoomSurf.com. If your college isn't listed, email us at Contact@URoomSurf.com or fill out the form on the Contact Us page and we will add it!

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Is URoomSurf.com free?

It's free to register and look around but if you want to use the roommate matching and communications tools, you'll need to become a Basic or Plus member! Fees are one time, not monthly!

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Can I advertise on URoomSurf.com?

If you are interested in advertising information, please e-mail contact@uroomsurf.com and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.

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My college network needs more members! How should I refer friends to URoomSurf.com?

There are many ways to refer friends.

If you want to get more members on URoomSurf.com from your college class, post a link to our site in your college class group. These groups are usually for you to connect with your classmates, and share relevant information and resources. So if you like our app, feel free to share away! Sharing is caring.

Ask your class group administrator to shoot out a message about our site and how it can help everyone find the best roommates.

Post a FB status update linking to our site! Be creative, and remember, the more people that use URoomSurf the more matches to choose from. Would you rather see how you match against 100 people or 1,000?

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Can I change school networks?

Yes! You can easily change school networks by upgrading to URoomSurf Plus.

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How are matches calculated?

Our approach presents match percentages based on what you want in a roommate. You are asked to answer a question, and then asked how you wish your roommate would respond. After you make these selections, you apply a weight to the importance of the issue. This way the match percentages are based on your personal sensitivity on each question.

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Can I change my survey responses?

With a Plus account you may reset the survey as many times as you like; With other membership levels you may take the survey only once.

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I am a parent, and do not understand this website. I thought the college matches students as roommates?

Many schools provide some type of system to pair students up as roommates. Many do not. Most colleges allow students to mutually request roommates if they can identify each other. That is where we come in. URoomSurf provides a medium for students to connect with and identify potential roommates based on compatibility. If students decide they are a good match, they can request each other through the school's established methods. Most schools can not promise to honor every roommate request, but students should at least try to network with each other before getting to campus in the Fall.

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If I send a roommate request to my school, does that mean we will definitely be paired?

Many schools allow students to submit mutual roommate requests, and they do their best to honor those requests. Ultimately the school makes the final decision about roommate pairing, and it is not always possible to meet every request. Our website allows students to meet other students who they may want to room with. Even if your request cannot be met, you now have several friends from your school that you know you get along with!

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I can't remember my password!

If you forgot your password, click the forgot password link at the top right and we will send you an email with a link to reset your password.

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My school doesn't let me pick roommates!

That's ok. You can still use URoomSurf to see how your personality matches with your future classmates. You can also find out how you match with your assigned roommates. This is useful because you don't get matched on other social networking sites.

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