Scared about your living situation for next year? Don't know who to live with? Read on to see if the single route could be the one for you (and only you).
One of the main appeals of going to college away from home is finding your new best friend (aka your "roomie"). Freshman year I was placed in a single and was slightly bummed out that my new BFF to be was no longer at my fingertips. However, even though I was not graced with the luxury of having an immediate dinner buddy the first night, having a single is the best housing and here’s why:
1. Privacy
Possibly the most obvious reason, but undoubtedly one of the most important ones. Maybe you feel awkward changing in front of another person all of the time? Or maybe you feel ashamed calling your mom crying because this school year is too stressful already? Having a single saves all the possible embarrassment by making your space yours all of the time.
2. Sleep
Keeping your own sleep schedule is something that doesn't matter to you until you can't do it. In a single, there's no need to wake your roomie if you have to set an 8am alarm to get to Econ bright and early. Even better, you don’t have to stress about their blaring alarm in the morning waking you from much-needed beauty sleep.
3. Avoiding Frenemies/Enemies
Many people make a best friend for life out of their roommate. However, this is not the case for everybody. Imagine getting stuck in a room with somebody who doesn’t talk to you and having to sit there in silence whenever you’re there! Or even worse, imagine having a roommate that wants you gone and tries to get you kicked out by saying you have perpetual bitch face (both of these stories are true)!! With a single, the crazy roommate is not a possibility.
4. Avoiding Friend Limits
If you make a bestie out of your roommate, it might seem like a dream come true at first. However, sometimes you can get sucked into a vortex of friendship, confining you two to each other. With that being said, you could be missing out on exploring all the people out there. After all, college is a BIG place!
5. Decoration Freedom
When was the last time you got to decorate your room without your mom picking out everything from Pottery Barn Teen? Having a single means DIY heaven. There are no worries about coordinating linens or having your picture frames in anybody else’s way.
6. Clean up your act (or not)
My only child syndrome comes out the most when I opt into being a slob. It’s not that I love being messy; it’s just my nature. Having a single allows you to embrace your own cleaning OCD, or lack there of. There’s nobody to worry about cleaning up after, and no having to feel bad about somebody crawling through all of your stuff to get into their room. After all, mi casa es… mi casa!
7. Limits on Germs
Being sick in college is the absolute worst. Germs spread like crazy and all you want to do is curl up in a ball, eat Cup of Noodles, and indulge in a new Netflix series. With a single, there’s no roommate to come in and disturb your Netflix peace, or complain about you getting germs everywhere. Better yet, your room is only filled with your germs, so you don’t have to worry about getting sick in your own room from somebody else!
8. VIP Guests
Having a single means having whomever you- and only YOU- want over. You’ll hear plenty of horror stories about the roommate who has the boyfriend that calls himself their third roommate. If you want to avoid having boy drama in your room or even want to have high school friends come over without warning anybody, a single could definitely be for you.
9. Peaceful Studying
We all know how stressful it is when you’re in the library trying to study and there is that one person talking loudly or blasting their headphones. If you have a single, your room is one place you can avoid all of that. No worries about a random group of people entering your room while you’re studying.
10. Personal Space
College gives you the opportunity to be surrounded by people 24/7. Meeting new people can be an adventure and has been by far the best part of my college experience so far. With that being said, sometimes it’s nice to have a space that is just yours. I’m sure a roomie is a lovely companion to have, but alone time is necessary, and 100% guaranteed with a single.
So whether you’re dorming on campus, living in your sorority house, or found a lovely apartment of your own, consider getting a single! College gives you many opportunities to live with people your own age and still have your own space, so take advantage of it!
