Going to college can be scary for a lot of reasons. You get exposed to a lot of new things all at once. You have a new environment, with new responsibilities and new people. For many people, the prospect of having a roommate is one of the most terrifying. What do you mean I have to share a small space with someone that I don’t know for an entire school year? To ease the transition, I chose to room with a good friend of mine. However, I was amazed by how many people advised me against it. They wanted me to have a randomly assigned roommate or at least someone that I didn’t already know. After living with my roommate for one year and preparing for our second year together, I am still happy with my choice. Here’s a list of five reasons why you should room with a friend in college.
1. Changing in front of them is a lot less awkward.
It’s going to happen. You are going to have to change clothes in front of your roommate, but I promise that just being base level friends with your roommate makes it less awkward for both of you. No one wants to be running to the bathroom every time they put on sweatpants just because they would be creeped out if their roommate saw their underwear. It’s better when your roommate is your friend and comments something like “Yo where did you get those? They look nice.”
2. Conflict resolution is easier.
When you don’t know your roommate you might not be comfortable with saying, “Hey, I took the trash out last time so it’s your turn now.” This can lead to one person always doing a chore and harboring some resentment. It’s easier to address issues like this with someone that you know without someone ending up feeling hurt or too embarrassed.
3. Every night can feel like a sleepover.
Even if both of you are up doing homework at 1 a.m. on a Tuesday, it still can feel like a sleepover. Late night chats, snacks, and Netflix with a good friend always make me happy. Sleepovers every night? My childhood dream. Sometimes you just need that late night chat to calm down from a long day. It’s nice to have a friend that you've know for a while around to do that with.
4. You probably share interests.
Friends are friends because they have common interests. It is way easier to live with someone who likes the same things as you. Lots of college campuses have events during the first week of school and it is more fun to go to them with someone that you know will enjoy it too. If you and your roommate are friends from before college you will be able to have more fun together right off the bat and will already be familiar with each other’s strange tendencies. For example, when I come back from class to hear 80’s music blasting from my room I don’t turn around in disgust and leave, I run right in and start singing along.
5. Your room is a safe space.
This was the main reason why I wanted to room with a friend in college. When you are away at college your room is your home. And in my experience, your roommate becomes your family. It needs to be a safe place for you to go after a rough day to cry it out or just curl up and watch Netflix. It should not be a place where you feel judged. The first few weeks of college can be hard and rooming with a friend makes them slightly easier. Rooming with a friend means that there is a much higher chance of your room always being somewhere you are comfortable.
While I appreciate and understand that some people prefer to room with strangers, rooming with a friend was perfect for me. It might not work for everyone, but going back to your dorm room to find someone that you know is always comforting. Of course, that's not to say that you cannot become friends with someone that you are rooming with randomly or through a roommate search process, but rooming with a friend from before college can offer more security. I wish you luck with your roommate adventures.
