I Need Help With Choosing A College Roommate?
OK, so I’m going to college for the first time. I’m not so intimidated by it. I know these three girls that are going to the same one, and they want me to room with them in a quad. It’s a good idea because two girls already know the area and one girl I’ve been friends with for a little while.
Problem is, I don’t think I could live with them. Sure, there are alot of advantages to staying with them, but in the long run they aren’t the kind of people I’d want to stay with. I like to stay out late at night, party, smoke, drink, and I’m not a morning person. But these girls don’t like that stuff at all, and I’d really like to room with a girl that has the same interests as me and acts the same way I do. Is it a good idea to stick with these girls I’ve already found, or let the college pick for me?
I could always go to the college website and find people who are going when I am, but you never know how a person is until you actually meet them.
February 24th, 2010 at 10:46 pm
My advice is to select a random roommate if possible. College is all about meeting new people and experiencing new things for yourself. This doesn’t mean you can’t still be friends with these girls you know or that you can’t hang out with them. You’ll certainly have plenty of opportunities to see them, but in the meantime why not take the chance of living with someone who might wind up becoming your best friend? You might live with someone who will want to party with you and meet guys, etc.
You said yourself that you don’t think you can live with the girls you know, so I think this decision should be easy for you. From personal experience, I know several people my Freshman year of college who came into the year choosing their roommate for fear of being paired randomly with someone they didn’t like. In the end, most of those people wound up hating their roommates and most people who get a randomly selected roommate usually enjoy their company.
Be spontaneous and have fun, you won’t regret it…
February 25th, 2010 at 3:16 am
You can’t pick your roommate. Unless you and a friend BOTH put down each other as a roommate.
So your college may have a form to fill out, and they will try to pick a roommate to match. Like smokers together.
Remember most students are there to go to school. That means studying and getting to classes. You are paying big bucks to be there.
If you want to party,drink and stay out late, not too good of an idea for college. Do you think all your classes are going to meet late afternoon and evening.
Most school don’t move students out of their dorms till second semester. Unless there is a valid reason, that you don’t get along isn’t a valid reason. So you would have to stick it out at least one semester. It is hard to move students around. It starts a domino effect.
February 25th, 2010 at 7:53 am
Maybe these girls would like you to show them how to party! People change when they get away from home and family.
If they are not, then you should follow your instincts and not room with them. I can’t imagine a non-smoker wanting a smoker for a roommate. Either give up the habit or get a smoking roommate.
On the other hand, maybe *you* are ready for a change. Either you should learn some habits that will help you succeed at college, or if you are going to school just to party, why not just get a job and an apartment. You will have a lot more time and money for partying.
February 25th, 2010 at 8:32 am
It’s true, you don’t know what you’d get if you asked for a random roommate. But it doesn’t sound like what you know you’d be getting with these girls would make for a very happy living situation. I think you’d be better off telling them that you don’t think you’d make very compatible roommates, and either looking for someone on your own or filling out a questionnaire with the housing office so they can match you up with other night owls. Remember, if it doesn’t work out, you can go to your RA and ask for a change.