The roommate search process can be an intimidating one. When I first decided to come to UVA, an upperclassmen gave me the best tip I could have received pertaining to finding a roommate: room with someone from Virginia. I was coming from the West Coast, so this seemed like a logical tip; I figured that if one out of two people knew what was going on, as a pair we would survive the chaotic transition phase that is the first few weeks of college. Little did I know that I would end up rooming with not only someone from Virginia, but someone from Charlottesville. When I first began talking to my now roommate on Facebook, I was a bit intimidated by the fact that she grew up only 10 minutes down the street from UVA. Would she go home too much? Would she stick with her high school friends? Would she already be too comfortable on Grounds and not be able to relate to my excited confusion? These were all questions that ran through my head, though in the end we got along so well that I put them aside. After a month of living with my new best friend, I can happily say that living with not only a Virginian, but a “Townie” was the best decision I made upon coming to UVA. If you are from out-of-state, here are the top 5 reasons you should consider rooming with someone from Charlottesville:
1. They know how to navigate the streets of Charlottesville. The first week of school, nobody really knows where they are going – including “Townies.” However, people who grow up in Charlottesville have a greater understanding of the area around Grounds, as they drove the surrounding streets in high school. This comes in handy for neighborhood short-cuts on walks through JPA, locating various periphery athletic fields, and navigating the always crowded Corner.
2. They know cool places to eat beyond the Grounds. It only takes a few weeks for the dining halls to get old. Most UVA students know of other places on the Corner and around Grounds to eat,such as Mellow Mushroom and Roots, but “Townies” know of all the secret, unique places to try that students may not otherwise discover. Often, they are also able to tell you the best thing on the menu to order, and since they know the restaurants so well, they make sure your limited budget is well spent.
3. Their house is a short Uber away. It doesn’t take an entire weekend to go home. On the one hand, you never have to worry about being lonely because if they want to see their family, they can “pop in” for a dinner and be back in time to go out or study with you. On the other hand, if you ever want a home-cooked meal or to take a shower that doesn’t have strange hair circling the drain, you can go home with them – you’re bound to be invited! Pretty soon their family will be your second family, which will be incredibly nice, since yours is so far away.
4. Storage. If you are coming to UVA from out-of-state, chances are you will be flying as your mode of transportation. Having a roommate who lives in Charlottesville is wonderful because they will most likely offer to let you store things with them or ship various items to their house. On move-in day, various trips in the rental car can be made to their residence to pick up the belongings that you didn’t need to waste room packing in your suitcase!
5. They have connections, but they want to branch out. A handful of people from their high school typically go to UVA, so you will never be friend-groupless if you are lacking one. However, your roommate will be looking to branch out more than you might expect because of the fact that they know so many people so well. It will be an adventure for you both, and since they know upperclassman from their weekends spent on Grounds, chances are you will have all the equipment you need for that adventure!