There are various reactions somebody will get when they say they're rooming with their best friend freshman year of college. Most of them include a mixture of shock, confusion, and sympathy. “That is a terrible idea," they’ll either think or be brave enough to say out loud. Your eighteen year old self will begin to wonder if you’ve made a terrible decision. Rooming with your best friend since fifth grade sounded like a great idea until everybody made a sour face when you told them about it. Well here is the truth about rooming with your best friend freshman year of college (no sour faces included.)
1. Decorating the room
With a stranger or somebody you met online you might discuss color schemes and what comforter you’re getting over text or video chat. But with your best friend the trips to Marshalls, Target, and Bed Bath and Beyond are endless. With them only being five minutes away from you the planning never ends. Whether you meet at your hometowns cozy coffee shop to obsess over Pinterest boards or constantly send pictures of items you find, you’re never not planning. And you can always tell your best friend the truth about their terrible taste in bedding. Rooming with your best friend guarantees a room worth airing on MTV Cribs.
2. Move in day
It’s awkward. It’s stressful. It’s sad. It’s move in day. You never realize how much stuff you were actually bringing until you have to unpack it all. You’re finally entering a new chapter in your life and the last thing you want to worry about is making conversation with a stranger. When you’re rooming with a best friend this does not have to be the case. Instead you get to just focus on yourself, how you decorate your desk, and your crying parents. Moving in with your best friend takes a pressure off your shoulders completely.
3. The first couple weeks of college
The parents have left and you have no idea what to do now. You are starting to feel all sorts of emotions but with your best friend by your side you feel like everything is going to be okay. The first couple of weeks can be awkward and confusing, especially when you don’t have many friends already at the school. Rooming with your best friend means going out for the first time with them or staying in and watching a movie when you’re homesick. It makes the transition so much easier. The best part? You don’t get as homesick because part of your home is sleeping five feet away from you.
4. Fights
“You are going to fight all the time” “You’re going to kill each other” “Are ya’ll sick of each other yet?” These are all things I have heard and been asked. Fear that there will be fighting is a top reason why people don’t room with their BFF. They’re worried that their friendship will be ruined by living together. The truth of it is that yes there are going to be fights. When you’re living in such a small space with anybody of course there is going to be bickering. The thing about living with your best friend though is that the fight doesn’t last very long. “YOU ATE MY SALTINE CRACKERS” will be followed with a passive aggressive comment and then five minutes later you’ll be laughing about your lives again. When you room with your best friend you understand that you’re going to disagree, so you’re able to look past it or talk it out in a mature way.
5. The habits
You already know she wakes up early, eats a yogurt everyday, jams to country, and has a terrible habit of leaving her pillows on the ground. Rooming with your best friend means there’s not many surprises when it comes to their habits. Some people who live with strangers find out a little too late that they’re living with a complete slob or a crazy person that makes you want to run all the way home. My friend has a roommate that is so messy that you’re in complete shock when you walk into the room. With your best friend you’re prepared for all the habits and so is she (thank you roommate for accepting my snoring).
6. Storytelling
You get to come home and tell your crazy stories from the day. Sometimes when you’re rooming with somebody who isn’t your best friend you feel like you can’t always tell them every single thing that happened that day. But when I come back to the dorm we tell each other everything. From running into that boy you’re trying to avoid to getting a good grade, you are able to tell your roommate everything and anything. The story telling never ends.
7. Having a therapist at your fingertips
Whether you're confused about boys or don't know what to do about a certain class, your best friend is right there for you. This person has given you advice for years and now living with her makes it even easier. They won't lie to you and are comfortable enough to be completely honest. Living with your best friend means always having a person right there to be real with you and talk through whatever problem you have.
8. Constantly having your partner in crime around
There have been so many times where I’ve looked at my roommate and she just knew that I needed a Macado's cinnamon bun or simply a pick me up talk. They’re always down for an adventure and they know exactly what to say to you to cheer you up. With one word you and your bff will be walking across campus to get cookies or getting ready for a night out. The fun never ends.
9. Motivate each other
Made a goal over the summer not to gain the freshman 15? Have a big test? Your best friend will be there standing over your shoulder motivating you every step of the way. This can be annoying when all you want to do is eat chocolate and watch Netflix. In the end however it’s for the best. Rooming with your best friend means you constantly have a cheerleader cheering you on. Would a stranger yell at you to get your life together and stop being a piece of trash? I think not.
10. Not afraid to speak up
The trash is overflowing, there’s crap everywhere, what the heck roommate? Having a best friend as your roommate means not being afraid to tell them how it is. With a stranger you may hold back but not with your bestie. This means that you can always make sure the room is clean and that things are running smoothly. Speaking of which, roommate if you’re reading this right now, CLEAN THE SILVERWARE!
11. It’s a constant slumber party
Remember when you were little and you wished you could have sleepovers with your bffs every night? Well for me that became true many years later. Every night is filled with laughter and jokes. Having a best friend as a roommate means that you’re never bored but also never pressured to make conversation. It’s always a comfortable and fun time! WOO SLUMBER PARTY!
There may be a lot of bad things said about rooming with your best friend your freshman year of college. I thought for awhile that it might not to be the smartest idea but I am so thankful that I went through with it. Rooming with your best friend is an experience and it will bring you so much happiness. I would recommend it to anybody because there will be many hilarious stories that come out of it and you'll only become closer.
