Every new college freshman has a lot to worry about the summer leading up to the first fall semester.

One of the biggest things stressed over is roommate assignments and the decision of whether or not to go random or choose your own.

This is my own insight as to why this one decision turned into one of my best decisions.

1. It’s A New Beginning

The whole experience of college is all about starting this new, big chapter of your life. So why shouldn’t the person you live with be new too?

2. It Forces You Out Of Your Comfort Zone

A new person means new experiences, meaning encountering things you may have never encountered before. You almost have no choice but to expand your horizons and learn to accept people that may be extremely different from yourself.

3. The Surveys Are Like A Match.com For College Freshman

Those little personality quizzes that the college offers for those who try out random roommates are almost scary accurate. It asks about things you might not think of yourself if you were to try to choose a person from a Facebook page.

4. Room Disputes Are Easier To Sort Out

No one likes fighting with a friend or telling them that something they do bothers you. But you’re living with them now, you can’t just deal with it for a few hours until you’re done hanging out and go back to your own separate houses. Someone you didn’t know beforehand, is much easier to discuss these issues with.

5. The Horror Stories Of Pre-chosen Roommates

In my personal experience, I have heard so many more stories of people who picked their roommates beforehand than those with random roommates. A few questions over Facebook messenger and a few texts doesn’t mean you really know a person.

6. No Preconceived Notions

Having a friend as your roommate, or even just choosing someone from the internet, could lead you to have expectations of how that person may be to live with, and many times they do NOT live up to them. Go random, and all those expectations don’t exist.

7. Meeting New People Is Exciting

Along with having no expectations, you get the thrill of meeting this whole new person that you didn’t even know existed, and now you’re going to be living 3 feet away from them for 9 months. Their likes, dislikes, hobbies… it’s all unknown and all new for you to learn about.

8. Their Likes Can Possibly Become Your Likes

Anywhere from Netflix shows to weird food combinations to new sports they talk you into joining, you might just find that there’s a lot that you didn’t know you liked.

9. Remember, You’re Random To Them Too

As awkward as the first few hours/days might be with this new person, remember that they’re in the same boat as you. Make some conversation (or be like me and my roommate, and play 20 questions to fill the awkward silence).

10. You Might Just Find Your New Best Friend

You’ll find that living with someone means you get real close, real quick. And if you’re as lucky as I was, you’ll find that that random person the school forced you into a room with is the “college friend” that everyone has even after the four years are over.