After not feeling the whole roommate thing my freshman year of college, I opted into a single dorm room for the first semester of sophomore year; something that was fairly easy to do at my school, with some buildings that have more singles than doubles. Second semester I became a resident assistant, and still have my own room. Other single-bedroom options at my school include suite-style living, which gives you the ability to have your own bedroom but share a living room and bathroom with a group. Living in a single was the best decision I've made through college, and here's why.
1. Your sleep schedule is totally independent.
My roommates and I had very different sleep schedules last year, and I always felt like none of our needs were being met. My roommates felt like they had to be quiet and keep the lights off when I was sleeping and they wanted to study, and vice versa. Now I can stay up as late as I want or pass out as early as I can, without worrying about bothering anyone else.
2. You can be as clean or as messy as you'd like.
No more stressing over your roommate's messes, or feeling bad that their side is clean while yours looks like a disaster. Strangely enough, I keep my room way cleaner now that I don't have a roommate, probably because there's way more storage space to myself. Speaking of which...
3. All of the space is yours.
You can decorate however you like, put your things wherever you like, and in my case, there's way more floor space. It's a breath of fresh air.
4. There is no drama.
I don't care what anyone says. No matter how much you like your roommate, no matter how laid back they are, there will always be some sort of conflict, be it big or small. Even if it doesn't turn into an actual argument, you might feel some resentment at some point. Want no drama? Get your own room.
5. You don't have to check in with anyone.
Want your friends to sleep over? Want to eat a whole pizza without sharing? Want your significant other to hang in the room? You don't need anyone's permission. When you have a roommate you have to check in, because it's the polite and good thing to do. But when you have a single, you can do what you want.
6. You should learn to be a bit more independent.
As a disclaimer, I think that it's important to know how to live with others, if you don't already. I grew up sharing a room with three sisters, so I think it's also important to learn how to live alone. This year, having a single has allowed me to be a little bit selfish and to enjoy my own company, as well as to not rely as much on other people.
7. You learn self-care.
It's important to be good to yourself, but you can't kick your roommate out every time you wanna power nap in the middle of the day. Having a single room forces you to get along with yourself and to be OK with being alone.
8. Most importantly, clothing is optional.
You don't have to worry about making your roommates uncomfortable when you just don't feel like wearing pants. Also, note that you don't have to be embarrassed about any weird or gross habits you may have, like belching, clipping your toenails, or popping a zit, because no one is there to judge you.
