Choosing the Right Roommate

By Hollis Mclain III

Roommates are a necessary part of life, but more specifically, university. If you attend college, chances are you will need a roommate. They help with rent, transportation (sometimes), and even provide protection in some cases. A roommate can make or break your time in college, and if you can learn how to pick the right one, your college life will be less stressful. Choosing the right roommate can seem like a daunting task, especially if you don’t know any of the potential candidates, but I’m here to show you how to simplify the process.

Decide what type of roommate you want

The three types of roommates we encounter are the random roommate, the acquaintance, and the friend. I can tell you from experience the friend isn’t always the best choice, in fact, friends can be hard to live with. If you ask the right questions, you can learn enough about any of the three to make an informed decision. So what kind of formula will yield a good roommate? Before I jump into the answers, I want to encourage you to meet potential roommates in person prior to making a decision. I know that’s not always possible, but try to make it happen. It could save you a world of frustration and pain later.

Find someone you can put up with

The end game is to find a person you can live with amicably, and perhaps, gain a new friendship at the same time. Nobody constantly sees eye to eye with another person, however, having more than one thing in common is positive. Choose someone like you, but don’t pick a person you have everything in common with. Diversity is a good thing. Look at you and your potential roommates’ schedules in order to determine if they clash.

Ask some questions first

Does one of you stay up late while the other goes to sleep early? How often do you study/need quiet time? What major are you studying? We all know that engineering majors have a different schedule than business majors. Obviously, it would behoove you to know the usual questions to ask as well. Do you party? Drink? Smoke? Are you clean/organized? Cleanliness is my personal top criteria for roommates. I cannot stand a dirty apartment. Another decisive factor when choosing a roommate is their relationship status. Do they have a girlfriend? Are they married? Most likely, you won’t enjoy having your roommates’ significant other constantly living at your place. If you combine the correct questions with your own judge of character, you will pick the right roommate.

The key to a good living situation is to create a balance between each other. Don’t choose a roommate that is extreme when it comes to studying, partying, or staying up late. The ability to counterbalance each other will provide an easygoing, friendly living situation with your roommate. Compromise is your greatest friend when it comes to roommates. Who knows, maybe you will even gain a lifelong friend in the process.

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