Many colleges have a matching system to pair you with your future roommate. If they do not, they might do it manually within their housing department. If you are going to an in-state college or going to a college with someone you know, you have the opportunity to choose your future roommate if you so wish.
As a sophomore, you are required to live in your connected quad with a roommate from your East Campus connection. However, rising sophomores have the option to submit a Roommate Appeal request. This process allows students to request a roommate from a different quad connection.
First-year students are permitted to submit roommate requests. Prior to requesting a specific roommate, students are encouraged to have open and frank conversations regarding living habits and preferences. Each student in the pair must request the other in order for the request to be considered.
Incoming first-years do not choose their roommates. Instead, you fill out a very detailed survey, which asks students questions such as when do you sleep, what time do you wake up, how clean are you, what music do you listen to, and so on.
Duke undergraduate students are required to live on campus for their first three years of study. Students can live off campus for their senior year.