Social media is changing how students prepare for college, giving them a chance to meet and bond with future classmates before the first day of classes. Through Instagram accounts with “Class of 2029” in their username, students take the reins on their college journey early on.
The transition from high school to college used to look very different. Orientation weekends, randomly assigned roommates and showing up on campus without knowing anyone was the norm. Although this still happens today, there’s been a shift toward where the majority of incoming college freshmen now arrive with connections and even housing plans thanks to social media.
The most common way students are connecting is through “Class of 2029” pages and accounts on social media. These accounts are run by current students, usually require a small fee and are often not affiliated with their respective school. They provide a space through which students can share pictures and a short bio about themselves in order to connect with future classmates and find potential roommates.
Students who engage in these pages aim to build friendships and ease into this new era of their life. “I got added to the page by submitting my information to a website that ensured I would get posted,” senior Priya Suresh said. “I wanted to do it because I’m going to an out-of-state school where I know no one else and I wanted to meet new people so I won’t be completely alone.”
The benefits often go beyond just feeling less nervous, as students meet even their future roommates through these pages. “I have connected with many people through the page and found my roommate next year. This definitely made me more prepared because I was able to get a roommate and make friends ahead of time, which definitely made me feel more excited,” Suresh continued.
These early connections can have a very positive impact on students’ initial college experience. It helps ease the anxiety of going into college alone, making the transition smoother and a large campus feel more familiar.
In order to find success in the search for a potential roommate, relevant questions must be asked. “My roommate reached out to me through Snapchat and we quickly got along based on many things we have in common,” said Myra Webb, freshman at the University of Northern Iowa. “Our conversation included what we both looked for in a roomate, if we preferred to sleep in cold air or hot air and we talked about where we would potentially want to live.”
Nevertheless, meeting in person is what seals the bond. “What was most beneficial was the fact that we decided to meet up in person and get to know each other more before living together,” Webb said. “The biggest benefit was that we didn’t have to stress too much about living things, like deciding whose side is whose.”
Like many, Webb has gone through the process and benefited from it. “Just be kind and reach out to as many people as you can because you really never know.”
Social media has fundamentally reshaped the college experience by transforming what was once an uncertain leap into college into a more familiar and connected journey. For today’s students, the first step of the transition into college often begins not at orientation but with a simple post or message months in advance.
