If you are preparing to enter your freshman year of college, then you are probably experiencing one of the busiest times of your life. Shopping for dorm supplies, choosing classes, and organizing finances are all very important and very time-consuming undertakings. However, one of the most important parts of preparing to move away to college (and one that is too often overlooked until the last minute) is choosing a roommate. Your roommate has the power to make or break your entire college experience. The right roommate has the power to make your freshman year one of the best of your life, but the wrong roommate has the potential to stress you out, make you feel uncomfortable in your own room, and just generally get you down. Below you will find the top three tips for picking a college roommate:
Check Facebook.
Facebook will be one of your most valuable resources in your hunt for the perfect roommate. The social networking sight will allow you to easily locate potential roommates and then scope them out for interests, hobbies, and other personality traits and lifestyle choices- all from a safe distance. If one has not already been formed, it is probably a good idea to form a Facebook group for the entering freshmen at your new college, as this would provide a common space and gathering place for students to share themselves and connect in an effort to find a roommate for their first years. Once you’ve found a potential roommate, it would also benefit you to correspond via email or over the phone to ascertain whether or not they’re truly a good fit for you.
Consider their personality traits.
Obviously, before agreeing to share a space (and essentially a life) with a stranger, you’ll want to explore how well your personalities mesh. Analyze your existing friend base to determine the type of individuals with whom you get along well, and try to seek out a roommate who shares similar qualities. If you value your privacy and alone time, for example, you’ll probably want to avoid choosing a roommate who demands constant attention and conversation.
Consider their habits.
Like personality traits, the wrong habits could cause you to view your roommate as a complete monster. For example, while smoking might not bother you in theory, living alongside a smoker could change your opinion entirely. It could prove entirely impossible for you to enjoy living with the musty smells and their need to exit the dorm room several times a day, so consider very seriously your opinions on certain habits before agreeing to share a space with someone who engages in them. Other habits that could prove problematic include
- Inviting a boyfriend/ girlfriend over to spend the night
- Eating pungent foods
- Waking up too early or too late
- Partying
- Falling asleep with the light/ TV turned on
- Messiness
- Being too studious/ not studious enough
While some of these habits might not seem like they bother you, consider the fact that these habits will permeate your life and personal space very deeply. Your roommate is someone with whom you will have to spend a great deal of time, so many of their habits will probably be very difficult (if not impossible) to ignore.
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