It’s that time of year again: when girls start dreaming about adorable apartments conducive to wine nights and sleepovers, and guys begin scrounging for vacancies on Beeler street. Yes, the season of house-hunting is in full-throttle as students talk of moving in and out of living spaces. The thought stressing you out? Don’t worry, read on for descriptions of finding housing, and of what to consider when choosing housemates.
A few key ways to obtaining housing at CMU:
First, there’s the housing lottery. This method is ideal for unsure underclassmen or those who simply want the luxury of living directly on campus. However, the lottery really is a lottery in the rawest sense of the word: many students who choose this process can attest to receiving their last choice of living space.
Another method is getting “pulled in” to a space, usually by an older peer or friend who has to fill a vacancy for one reason or another. Although often ideal, getting “pulled in” depends on whether you know someone and thus cannot be relied on.
Finally, there’s apartment/house hunting. This method appeals to upperclassmen opting to live off-campus so they can house a large number of people, become the next go-to party spot, or simply garner a good deal (campus housing can be tremendously overpriced!) Nevertheless, prime reality on Beeler is often difficult to snag; it seems the token “party houses” are usually handed down among sports teams, fraternities or other tight-knit student organizations. That being said, CMU has an unusually high number of off-campus residents compared to other schools. As my dad always says, “living in the dormitories creates a sense of community; it’s how you meet people.” While this is sometimes true thanks to creative RAs, many students form separate communities within private apartment complexes and neighborhoods.
Choosing Housemates:
Regardless of where you choose to live, perhaps a more pressing issue is with whom you share your space. We’ve all heard roommate horror stories, yet it’s easy to overlook potential deal-breakers when you’re dreaming of a reality-show lifestyle with your besties. Here are some factors to consider to avoid potential disillusionment.
Cleanliness
This is perhaps the most obvious consideration when choosing a roommate. Although some people can look beyond a messy friend who’s otherwise a splendid roomie, if you’re a stickler for cleanliness, even the sweetest of slovens can evoke intense frustration.
“Too-Fun” Friends
So you love your friend because of all the wild nights you’ve spent together. Because she’s so much fun, you presume that she’d be the perfect person to live with. But this is not necessarily the case: coming home to a drunken mess every weekend gets old faster than unrefrigerated milk. Unless you’ve lived with an extreme party girl before, or (God forbid) you are one of these people, it’s useful to realize that the fun friend you see at parties isn’t necessarily fun when she gets home. In other words, when dealing with a too-fun-friend, make sure you’re prepared for the responsibility of dealing with her irresponsibility.
Significant Others
It’s vital to consider whether your roomie/apartment buddy has a boyfriend. Although it may seem harmless, a guy’s constant presence can drastically change living dynamics. Yet telling your friend that her guy needs to quit loitering is a tried-and-true recipe for conflict, so it’s probably easiest to avoid living with a particularly smitten friend altogether. This also applies to friends with long-distance boyfriends if they’re constantly present via Skype.
Eating Habits
Although much less pressing, eating habits/food preferences are other lifestyle considerations. For instance, your vegetarian friend might detest the smell of your famous pot-roast, or worse, stash ho-hos plainly enough to tempt you after a stressful day at the lab.
Drama
While some friends are great to spend time with over a coffee-shop gossip session, these are often the same girls who find themselves in the midst of conflict. Before signing the lease with a gossip girl, reconsider whether you’re willing to compromise an otherwise peaceful abode for a daily bitch-session.
And finally, two things that really don’t matter in the selection process:
Sorority Affiliation
So you and your friend pledged different sororities but not much has changed in your relationship. This is great; after all, if you wanted to be surrounded by your sorority sisters 24/7 you’d have lived in your Greek house. Living with a girl in a different sorority shows panhellenic love, and besides, who doesn’t love a little bit of friendly competition during Booth and Greek Sing?
Major
So what if your roommate is an engineer and you’re a drama student? The diversity of the two can actually work to your advantage by making your space a clique-free zone. Furthermore, a mixed-interest environment can serve as an escape from the people you see daily while bringing new perspectives to the table.
Ultimately, the importance of all of these factors are up to you, but ensure that you’ve thoroughly considered the options when choosing where and with whom you’re living next year.
Good luck, and happy hunting!
Photo credits:
http://weheartit.com/entry/493…
http://xkcd.com/616/