Done a lot of leasing. This all depends on if you can afford the rent (and get qualified) on your own.

If you are looking for a $1600/mo and can get accepted on just your income and credit alone, I'd vote to find the place you want and then find the right roommate.

If you cannot float that per month, and/or your take-home pay doesn't qualify for that amount, I suggest finding a roommate first. Both incomes will be considered (keep in mind, both credit scores will be, too), and as a team you have much stronger potential to qualify. They will be on the lease with you.

In the former example, you would be "subleasing" a room. The upside is, you get to pick the apartment, your bedroom, the furniture, etc. The downside is, if your sub-leaser doesn't pay their rent, you can't take that up with the landlord. It's on you.

To you and anyone else reading this: if you ever need a background/credit/eviction check on someone, I have access to a top tier service for this and I'll do it for you for free. The person getting run (for instance, your tenant or subtenant) has to pay for the check. But my time and effort to do it for you are free. :)