What to Text Your New College Roommate (25 Examples)
When you're figuring out what to text your new college roommate, keep the first message short, friendly and easy to answer: your name, one detail about you, and one question. Something like "Hey! I'm Jordan, looks like we're rooming together 🎉 where are you from?" Save the big stuff (sleep, cleaning, guests) for later chats.
Once you're planning the actual room together, RoomMaxx can score how it looks from a photo and give you one fix a day so your side doesn't end up as the "before" pic. Scan my room
The first text: keep it short and easy to answer
You just got your housing email. You found them on Instagram. Now you're staring at the DM box like it's a final exam.
Relax. The first message to a college roommate has one job: get a reply. That's it.
The formula:
- Hi + your name.
- How you know they're your roommate (so it's not random).
- One easy question they can answer in five seconds.
What makes a first text hard to answer: long paragraphs, five questions at once, or asking something heavy like "so what's your sleep schedule and how clean are you." Too much, too soon.
Hello texts you can copy
Here's how to text your roommate for the first time, depending on your vibe.
Casual and friendly
- "Hey! I'm Sam, I think we're roommates in Baker Hall 👋 where are you from?"
- "Hiii, just got my housing assignment and I think you're my roommate?? I'm Priya. What are you studying?"
- "Hey roomie! I'm Alex. So hyped to finally know who I'm living with lol. You moving in early or on the main day?"
Low-key (if you're more reserved)
- "Hey, I'm Chris, looks like we're rooming together this year. Nice to meet you!"
- "Hi! Got the roommate email. I'm Nia. Excited to meet you at move-in."
Funny (only if it's genuinely you)
- "Hi new roommate, I promise I'm normal. Mostly. I'm Leo 😅"
- "Hey! I'm Grace. Fair warning: I own too many blankets. Where are you from?"
For uni flatmates (UK) or rez (Canada)
- "Hey everyone! I'm Tom, I'm in flat 4B too. Doing History. Who's arriving on Saturday?"
- "Hi! Looks like we're on the same floor in rez. I'm Ava, from Calgary. What program are you in?"
For a flat group chat, one message to the whole group is less pressure than DMing everyone. That's honestly the easiest way to know what to say to new housemates.
Texts to plan who brings what
This is your best second conversation, because it's practical and gives you a reason to keep texting.
- "Random q, should we split who brings the mini fridge and microwave?"
- "Do you know if our room has a rug or anything? Thinking of bringing one."
- "I can bring a kettle and a trash can if you want to do the fridge?"
- "Should we make a list of stuff so we don't end up with two microwaves lol"
Follow up with a simple list in your chat:
| Item | Me | You |
|---|---|---|
| Mini fridge | ✓ | |
| Microwave | ✓ | |
| Rug | ✓ | |
| Trash can + bags | ✓ |
Texts about room style and colors
Not everyone wants a matching room, and that's fine. But it helps to ask.
- "Are you planning a theme or colors for your side? I'm thinking sage green and cream."
- "Do you want to match bedding or just do our own thing?"
- "I'm bringing string lights, are you okay with them over the window?"
- "Are you more cozy cluttered or clean minimal? Asking so I know if my 40 plushies are a problem 😂"
Planning colors is fun, but most rooms look off because of the boring stuff: the big overhead light, a clothes chair, an unmade bed. RoomMaxx scores a photo of your space on tidy, light and vibe and tells you which one is holding it back, with one small fix a day. Scan my room
Move-in day texts
The day itself is chaos. Short texts help.
- "We're about 30 min away! Are you there yet?"
- "Just got here, I'll take whichever bed you don't want, no stress."
- "Do you want me to save you a cart? The line is insane."
- "My parents brought too many snacks, want some?"
- "Heading to the dining hall around 6 if you want to come!"
After move-in
Once you've met, it's a good time to start conversation with your roommate about the real stuff, in person:
- "Btw what time do you usually sleep? Just so I know when to switch to lamp mode."
- "Should we do a quick room reset on Sundays?"
- "Is it cool if friends hang out here sometimes? Anytime you'd rather not?"
For the full list of serious and fun questions, see questions to ask your roommate before moving in.
What not to send in the first week
A few texts that land badly:
- A full rules list. Save rules for a chat once you've met. A roommate agreement works best when you write it together; here's a roommate agreement template for college for later.
- Judgy comments about their Insta. "Wow you party a lot huh" is a vibe-killer.
- Five messages in a row. If they haven't replied, wait.
- Voice notes as the first message. Some people love them. Many find them stressful from a stranger.
- Anything you wouldn't say to their face. Screenshots exist.
If something feels off later, these college roommate red flags help you tell a real concern from just a different personality.
When they don't text back
Silence feels personal. Usually it isn't.
- Give it two or three days. Some people barely check DMs, especially in summer.
- Try another platform. Instagram, Snapchat, email from the housing portal, or the class group chat.
- Send one easy follow-up: "Hey just checking this got to you! No rush 🙂"
- Then let it go. You'll meet them on move-in day either way. Plenty of people who texted nothing before move-in turned out to be great roommates.
Whatever happens, keep it chill. Knowing what to text your new college roommate matters less than being friendly and patient when you actually meet.
Get your side ready before they arrive
You can't control the conversation, but you can control your half of the room. Snap a photo with RoomMaxx and get a Room Score out of 100 for tidy, light and vibe, plus one small, free or cheap fix for your lowest score. The photo is scored and never saved.
FAQ
What should my first message to a college roommate say?
Your name, how you know you're roommates (housing email, dorm name) and one easy question like "where are you from?" or "what are you studying?" Keep it to two or three lines so it's easy to reply.
How do I message a potential college roommate I found online?
Mention where you found them, like a class Instagram or Facebook group, say a bit about yourself, and ask if they're still looking. Something like "Hey! Saw your post in the class of 2030 group, I'm also looking for a roommate. I'm a bio major from Ohio, wanna chat?"
What should I say to my roommate for the first time in person?
A simple "Hey, I'm ___, so nice to finally meet you!" then something about the move: "Which bed do you want?" or "Need help carrying anything?" Practical stuff takes the pressure off.
Is it weird to text your new roommate before move-in?
No, it's normal and most people appreciate it. It makes move-in day less awkward and lets you plan who brings what so you don't end up with two microwaves.
What do I text new flatmates in a UK uni group chat?
Introduce yourself to the whole flat chat: name, course, where you're from and when you're arriving. Asking "who's arriving Saturday?" gives everyone an easy reply.