Options for Selecting a Roommate

Few decisions will impact the next year of your life as profoundly as selecting a roommate. Living with a peer is an important step in the college student development process, inevitably teaching many of the life lessons that occur out of the classroom. While it is not encouraged, many students opt to live with friends from high school who are also coming to American University. Others prefer the luck of the draw, believing that the opportunity to make new friends is more important than familiarity. Whichever route you take, your roommate will hopefully be a confidant, study-buddy, dinner partner, teammate and, above all, a friend.  

If you have a roommate preference, please email housing@american.edu from your AU email address with your full name, AU ID number and the full name and AU ID number of your preferred roommate. Your preferred roommate should email us as well to confirm that they wish to live with you. The University makes every effort to fulfill roommate requests, but cannot guarantee them. Applying early (before May 1) will improve your chances.

Please note that room preferences will be limited by your program, cohort and room type.

Roommate assignments will be available via your portal by clicking the Life@AU section starting on  July 1 for the fall semester. Roommate assignments for the spring semester post on December 15th. The assignment information will include the name, city/state, phone number and email address of the roommate(s) when it is available.

Roommate switches are not allowed for the first two weeks of classes. Starting on the third week of classes your hall staff will be able to walk you through the process if you are looking to switch roommates.