College decisions are coming out, and this is an exciting time as you find out where you will be spending four amazing years. As soon as you decide where you are going to schoolm you are bombarded with lots of decisions. What classes will you take? How will you design your dorm room? And who will your roommate be? Some schools give you the option to go random, but if you are a bit of a control freak (like me), you will be choosing your roommate. Here are some tips on how to ensure you will not be the subject of a roommate horror story.
1. Get access to how new students find roommates.
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First things first: where do you find a list of students that need roommates? Some schools have their own database to find roommates whereas other schools have group chats or Facebook pages. If you can’t figure this out, try to get in contact with a current student or someone in the admissions department. Once you’re on the page it feels a bit like online dating, but embrace it!
2. Assess the way you live.
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Don’t lie to yourself, and don’t lie to prospective roommates. If you are a little messy or a clean freak, be honest about it. Think about what time you will want to be asleep every night and if you want your room to be a social place. Asking yourself these questions will allow you to find a roommate that will live compatibly with you.
3. Talk to your roommate.
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Once you find a roommate, I find it helpful to talk to them a little bit before you move in. It’s important not to develop too deep of a bond online because, after all, you haven’t met yet, but it’s nice to get comfortable around each other because you will be living with this person for a year.
4. Make a roommate agreement.
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Once you have moved in, there is a lot that goes into making your room a pleasant place for you to live. This involves cleaning the room, dealing with friends that overstay their welcome, and sharing food. Although you and your roommate might get along well, it is always smart to craft an agreement with some ground rules to make sure the year goes well.
5. Be a pleasant person.
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Hopefully, this goes without saying, but try to be a pleasant person. Sometimes you will have a bad day, and sometimes your roommate will have a bad day, but things will go a lot smoother if you are friendly to your roommate. It can be hard to live with another person, but you are in control of your attitude.
6. Remember, you DON’T have to be best friends.
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The most important thing to realize is that you don’t have to be best friends with your roommate; sometimes it’s even better if you’re not. If your roommate is your best friend, you end up spending 24/7 with them and that can get tricky and cause conflict. I have found the key is to be friends with your roommate, but ensure you have different friend groups. It’s really nice to be able to go back to your room to a different friend that you haven’t spent all day with (plus if they aren’t in your friend group, they are a great source to vent).
I hope these tips help you find the perfect roommate so that you don’t become a roommate horror story.