Room Surf

Everyone has a story, or has a friend with a story, about an unpleasant roommate experience in college. But now, growing social service Roomsurf can prevent unlucky roommate matches from ever taking place. Established by two University of Miami graduates, Roomsurf was created to connect people with compatible interests and living preferences so that they may fully enjoy the college experience. Since its founding in 2010, Roomsurf has soared in popularity, and currently accommodates students at more than 900 universities across the United States. The Roomsurf process takes inspiration from social media and sites which use a calculated algorithm to create matches. After setting up a profile within a college’s network, the user engages with a series of questions, both answering them and stating which answer they would prefer from a potential roommate. Additionally, Roomsurf asks that the participant assign importance to each query, thereby identifying issues that could present a concern. In this regard, Roomsurf determines the lifestyle of the survey taker and the qualities of a person they may tolerate and appreciate as a roommate. After completing the questionnaire, users receive a suggested list of roommates and links to their profiles. From there, individuals connect through Roomsurf messaging and obtain a feel for one another. Should two parties decide on a match, they submit a mutual request to their university. Roomsurf cannot guarantee the college will always pair people who use the service, but the company’s continuous growth leads to a strong probability. As more student report satisfaction with Roomsurf, more schools rely on it. Roomsurf’s innovation has attracted the attention of both students and the press. The venture has been profiled by prominent media outlets, including the Wall Street Journal, the Orlando Sentinel, Gossipreneur, and Inc. Magazine. To learn more about the manner in which Roomsurf revolutionizes the roommate search process, visit roomsurf.com.