A big part of college that no one really knows how to prepare for is moving in with someone. Whether you’ve lived with a sibling your whole life or always had a room to yourself, moving into college with someone you don’t know can be a scary and exciting experience. I asked five students how they felt about the process.
Tyler
Q: Have you lived with a roommate before?
A: No, I have not. First time doing this.
Q: What were your initial thoughts on moving in with someone at college?
A: I was worried that I wouldn’t like their living tendencies. That was my biggest concern.
Q: What is the best part about having a roommate?
A: Having some to talk to, really. Having someone to confide in, someone to bounce ideas off of if I’m having issues writing a paper. Also, you’ve just got your best bud to just walk around with.
Q: What is the worst part about having a roommate?
A: If your sleep schedules don’t align for the next day, sometimes it can really suck.
Q: Do you have any advice to incoming freshman about living with a roommate?
A: Establish some ground rules early on, but like don’t be afraid to talk to them if there are issues. More than likely, you’ll be able to work out something.
Taylor
Q: Have you lived with a roommate before?
A: I have lived with my sister, we shared a room, so I had been used to living with someone, but not really a total stranger, so yes and no.
Q: What were your initial thoughts on moving in with someone at college?
A: I was hoping that we could be friends and live together well, and you know I’m pretty laid back so I was just hoping we’d get along for the most part.
Q: What is the best part about having a roommate?
A: Having a built-in friend. If you get along with your roommate you’re always together and you can like talk about your problems and be like “Hey, you want dinner?” then you’re not, you know, that awkward kid who sits alone at every meal.
Q: What is the worst part about having a roommate?
A: If your lifestyles do not match. I’ve actually had one roommate before my current one, and we did not have the same lifestyle at all. We did not have the same personality so it didn’t work out, but I was able to switch and luckily get one that fits me much better and we’re best friends now.
Q: Do you have any advice to incoming freshmen about living with a roommate?
A: Take your roommate agreement seriously, because I know you think you’re going to be best friends and have no issues, but it could end up that you’re going to have them, so just like keep an open mind and make sure you communicate because honestly being passive aggressive is the worst thing. Been there, done it, don’t do it.
Nick
Q: Have you lived with a roommate before?
A: I lived with a roommate over Slap Week, but other than that and my brother, that’s it.
Q: What were your initial thoughts on moving in with someone at college?
A: Well I actually got to choose my roommate because I knew him before I came to college, but I didn’t really know him that well, so I just went in with an open mind.
Q: What is the best part about having a roommate?
A: The best part is probably my roommate himself, because he and I get along very well. I know that after a long day I can come back here and he’ll be there for me and if I ever need anything, well he’s there for me. All I have to do is go back to my room.
Q: What is the worst part about having a roommate?
A: Having to have tough conversations sometimes.
Q: Do you have any advice to incoming freshmen about living with a roommate?
A: Just go in with an open mind. It’s not as bad as people make it out to be.
Aaron
Q: Have you lived with a roommate before?
A: It’s like way back, but back in elementary school until third grade I shared a room with my younger brother. As my 10th birthday gift in fourth grade my parents moved him into the room next to me and converted it to a room just for me.
Q: What were your initial thoughts on moving in with someone at college?
A: At first I had no idea who my roommate was because he goes by his middle name instead of his first name which was in the email that I got sent from the school when they said we were roommates. So I spent like a solid 20 minutes trying to look for him on social media and such, and his name wasn’t even popping up so I was like is this guy even real? There were all those normal fears, like I’ve seen all those college movies and heard stories from friends who have graduated college.
Q: What is the best part about having a roommate?
A: It’s good future practice for living with people in the future because as soon as you get out of college you’re probably going to move into an apartment and be very close with people. It’s also like getting to live with a really good friend.
Q: What is the worst part about having a roommate?
A: When we don’t have enough fridge-space.
Q: Do you have any advice to incoming freshmen about living with a roommate?
A: Don’t assume the worst because then that will just lead to you having negative expectations. Try to have an open mind going in, like always try to have an optimistic viewpoint.
