THE ROOMMATE EFFECT

One of the most important things that can shape your college experience is your roommate. Provided you choose to have one, which I strongly suggest because it can get lonely all by yourself so far away but not everyone is lucky enough to have a compatible roommate. It’s almost like you’re a married couple, you eat together, decide on the décor of the room together, argue about who created the mess and spend a lot of time together. And no one wants to go through the pain of a divorce which equals the roommate contract which is just as tedious to alter.

Hence, it is very important to have a good roommate. While the random roommate thing may seem like a good idea, it ends up as a disaster a lot of times. I chose someone I talked to over social media and we decided to room together. And I’m glad to say that we are the best roommates, we may not be the best of friends but we are amazing roommates. She’s not as clean but I love cleaning and she provides food and a good ear, we couldn’t be more compatible.

Therefore, when you’ve chosen what college you want to go to, it is best to go on the social networking sites and see the people who’ll be joining you. Try to introduce yourself and your preferences so you can get someone who shares the same interests. It is important to talk to as many people as you can so you can choose your perfect fit. If you can hold a conversation for a long time, you’ll definitely be great friends but not necessarily good roommates. Try to discuss your social lives, what time you usually go to bed, how clean they are, how loud. Because my roommate and I don’t have all the same interests but that is the least important thing, we have matching lifestyles.

Furthermore, it is important to not wait till the last minute before college to find a roommate and start talking to people, because you’ll find that you like them but by them they’ll already be hitched and it’ll be too late. Also, never promise more than one person that you’ll room with them and bail on the others; you don’t want enemies before college has even begun.

You and your roommate will be more intimate than any of your other friends so pick wisely and if you are dissatisfied later in the semester, not to worry, you can always talk to your RA about your situation and sort it out. However, prevention is better than cure, pick wisely and you’ll have a best friend forever.

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