Are you still looking for a roommate for next year or just not sure if the roommate you chose is compatible with your personality? I believe I have devised a pretty flawless checklist of things to look for in a roommate to make sure you are completely satisfied with your selection. The criteria consists of: cleanliness, TV/movie interests, shaker situation, study schedule, after party personality and "judgments."

Not saying that all these make or break a roomie, but some opposite views could spark red flags. I’ll tell you why.

Cleanliness - If you are a clean person, there is nothing more annoying that a person who stores their life’s belongings on the ground. No one will admit to you that they are disgusting, dirty human being, so it is your job to do some recon and figure this out for yourself. Also, do not fall for the claim that the messy person will be keep his stuff clean and organized next year. That person is a lying sack of crap and will always live in filth.

TV/Movie Interests - This is a major issue for people who take nights off and relax on the regular. Most people are stuck with one TV in their room, so if one person is a sports fan and the other is a RomCom kind of person, then I can guarantee you will have conflicting options about what to watch on a given night. The best way to find if a person has similar tv/movie interests is to ask if they like or have Netflix. Personally, I am a Neflix buff and have never disagreed on a series or movie a fellow Neflix’er wanted to watch. 

Shacker Situation - Shackers are anyone who stays overnight regardless of relationship status. It is essential to find a roommate that shares similar shacker interests. If you don’t get much tail but your roommate is hitting home-runs every night, you will not be a happy camper. I promise that envy will have you acting like an old curmudgeon claiming you can’t do this rooming situation anymore because of how loud they are and that “every night it’s always the same with you.” Also, know if the person is in a relationship because from experience I know that their significant other will be one additional roommate.

Study Schedule - Having a roommate on the same study schedule as you is crucial. Some people are night owls, and others are early birds. A roommate that likes to get work done at night will come back to the room in the dead of night, probably flipping the lights on, rummaging around and waking you up. On the other end, if you have roomie that likes to get stuff done in the early morning, you will be woken up at the crack of dawn with a blaring alarm and 30 more minutes of that person getting ready. People are creatures of habit and asking them to change around their study schedule is not in the picture, do some research them before choosing.

After Party Personality - You are going to be spending the majority of your time with this person, and when it comes to the “after hours,” make sure they are a good fit for you. There are two types of people that you do not want to deal with on weekend nights before going to bed. The first kind of person is the destructive type. It is funny for everyone else in the chapter to hear what the destructive person did, but not so much for the roommate who’s TV, desk and coffee table got ruined that night. The second type of person no roommate wants to deal with is the emotional one. This person will take every situation spin it, and then complain, cry, or rant about it for hours looking for somebody to sulk with. And guess what, as their roommate you basically just volunteered to be that person.

Judgment - This trait is more about the overachievers vs. the lazy people. There is nothing worse than not going to class and then getting judged and ridiculed by your roommate. Make sure that if you are all right with not being a frequent class attendee, not to room with someone that acts like your mom and belittles you every time you miss class. Although, if you are a habitual class attendee, then a roommate who doesn’t go will feel threatened and pressure you not to go daily. Two people with opposite classroom attendance views can create for a hostile environment.

I hope these six tips about what to look for in a roommate help you in your quest for the ideal roomie.

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns you can email me or get @Johny_TruLove.