College Roommate Tips
3 Reasons Why Living with a Roommate is Better Than Living Alone
For most of us college students who live away from home, either in the dorms or perhaps somewhere off campus, we’ve probably all dealt with the decision of either living with a roommate or alone. As with all things, there are definitely pros and cons to both options -- but the big question is which one is a better choice for you, which really depends on your personal preferences, your lifestyle, etc.
However, I’m here to tell you why living with a roommate is pretty much always a better choice than living alone. Even if you think you would be better off in a single room in the dorms or renting an off-campus apartment on your own, hear me out on the following reasons as to why living with someone else might be a better option.
1. You can live with your best friend.
When else in your life would you have such a fantastic opportunity to live with your best friend? Sure, the two of you might have talked about one day renting an apartment together in the city and having a grand old time, but why not live together now while the chance is right in front of you?
After a long, grueling day of classes, you can return to your room knowing that someone you appreciate and love will be there for you to talk to (or even not talk to, as your best friend will understand and give you space to breathe if you’re not in the mood to talk). After all, your best friend gets you, so you most likely won’t find yourself struggling to be someone you’re not or dealing with potentially awkward or tense situations. Plus, if you happen to feel bored or lonely or just want someone to hang out with in the moment, having your best friend right there next to you is always a great feeling.
Also, rooming with your best friend will undoubtedly lead to many more new, wonderful memories between the two of you. Your best friend can be the one you turn to at any time and say, “Remember when we pulled an all-nighter together/spontaneously decided to get ice cream and drive around town at 1 a.m./had so many deep talks that lasted for hours and hours?” Even if you can already say these things to them (which is great), living with them will only enhance your friendship and allow you to get to know them on an even deeper level.
2. You can meet someone new.
Some people might shy away from living with someone new, perhaps because they’ve heard of roommate horror stories or they simply don’t feel like interacting with someone in their personal “me time” space. However, even rooming with someone you haven’t met before can be an amazing and rewarding experience. Personally, having not known a single one of my freshman year suitemates, I can now say as a junior that living with them was one of the highlights of my freshman year and that we made so many wonderful memories together. Even now I am still quite close with several of them, which just goes to show how lasting new friendships can become!
So, if you’re still hesitant about living with someone new, at least give it a try. Make an effort to reach out to the other person and get to know them better; perhaps suggest some time to hang out, just the two of you. Or you could spontaneously end up having a conversation with them and learn a lot about them that you didn’t know before.
Whatever happens, there is certainly the possibility of developing a wonderful connection with your roommate until it becomes a lasting friendship.
3. Living with a roommate is often cheaper than living alone.
In terms of practicality, living with a roommate typically is financially smarter than living on your own. At most colleges, having a double or even a triple room is less expensive than having a single to yourself -- so not only do you get to solidify your bonds with your roommate(s), but you also get to save money that can best be put towards other college expenses, such as textbooks, meal plans, tuition, etc.
Also, if you happen to live off campus, sharing the rent with other people for an apartment or even an entire house is definitely more financially viable than coughing up all the rent money yourself. If you split the rent money with two, three, or as many people as you’d like, your housing costs will automatically decrease.
If you’re faced with a big decision on your housing situation next year, definitely consider rooming with someone. There are many lasting benefits that will make your experience that much more memorable and worthwhile!
Living at Home to Living with Roommates: A Transition Guide
Making the transition from living at home to living with roommates can be a difficult one if you’re not used to the changes and responsibilities that come with it. I was an only child growing up, so for the most part, I learned to be independent and depend on myself for a lot of responsibilities. Living (with your parents) but by yourself for most of your life, you become accustomed to how you do certain tasks, unlimited privacy, and the perks of being independent. Moving in with roommates change up the whole game of living situations and will teach you more about yourself than you ever knew could be possible.
Having one or multiple roommates is considered to be a natural part of the college experience, as it not only helps to expand your social life but it can also help you save money in the long run. Whether it is during your freshman year in a dorm or during your junior year in an off-campus apartment, living with your new roommates may be either a dream or a nightmare.
Sharing your life with one or a couple roommates is not easy, but there are ways that you can actively make your experience smoother and more enjoyable. Are you nervous about an impending or current roommate situation and do not know exactly how to handle it? Check out my simple tips below on how to live with multiple roommates!
Deciding Who to Live With:
Perhaps the first and most important part of living with a roommate/roommates is figuring out who to live with.
For a lot of incoming freshman college students, utilizing services provided by the university can help find a prospective roommate. In this case, universities will send out an email detailing instructions on how to fill out a questionnaire for your optimal roommate. Questions in the form may include: do you smoke/not smoke, do you prefer a cleaner/messier room, what time do you go to bed, etc. These questions help the residential advisors and administrators build a reasonable profile for you and place you with the ideal roommate that would compliment your lifestyle/living habits.
If you’re not a freshman, you may be looking for roommates elsewhere. Plenty of college students turn to university class Facebook pages to find people to be their roommate. This is less formal and is a way many consider better to find a perfect roommate. Students will typically post their major, where they are from, hobbies, favorite music/TV shows/movies, interests, etc. Before my freshman year, I found my first college roommate by making a post on my university’s “Class of 2018” page and found someone that was similar to me in interests. We ended up messaging each other, met up at accepted student’s day and decided to become roommates!
Another way to look for roommates is through mutual friends and/or through other social media pages. Many people successfully find roommates through friends or through sites like Roomsurf, Facebook or Craigslist. Finding roommates like this can be perfectly safe and easy, just be cautious of who you talk to and what information you give to them. Though not everyone on the internet is a bad person, there are definitely some bad eggs out there and you don’t want to end up being scammed by one or even go as far as living with one.
Tips for Finding a Roommate/Roommates:
- DO consider university resources (if they are available to you)
- DON’T rush moving in with someone you don’t know just because you need a roommate
- DO look around multiple sites/pages to find someone compatible with you
- DON’T move in right away if you can, spend some time talking and getting to know the person you may be moving in with
- DO put truthful information out to your prospective roommate regarding you/living habits
- DON’T lie about important lifestyle choices to appease a roommate and end up surprising them later on
You Have a Roommate/Roommates: Now What?
Once you have found a roommate or roommates that you want to live with and have moved in with them, now comes the hard part: actually living together. When it comes to living with others, I consider there to be five elements that are crucial for a smooth and stress-free living experience: chores, communication, privacy, bills, and quality time. These elements are important, as they will help to foster a healthy and balanced roommate relationship!
Chores:
Let’s be real, no one truly likes doing chores (unless you’re like me and sometimes likes cleaning to de-stress). You might be able to get away with not doing chores at home, but when you live with roommates, your lack of tidying up in the house definitely adds up. Before you even move in with your future roommates, it’s important to establish some basic, ground rules of living. This can include alternating who takes out the trash every week, who cooks dinner on Tuesday nights, who washes dishes after dinner, who vacuums on weekends, etc.
You may be thinking to yourself, “It’s not that simple. My version of clean is different from my roommate’s.” That may be true, but there are definitely ways that you can figure this out.
Kate Legere of Apartment Therapy states, “Determine what the household chores are and agree on a cleaning schedule. Ask questions like: What needs to be done daily, weekly, monthly? How will you split the light cleaning (vacuuming, dishes) and the deep cleaning (refrigerator, windows)?” Doing so will help you understand the tasks that need to be accomplished and when.
Additionally, writing out the chores on a chalkboard, dry-erase board, or calendar can further help by giving you a visual of what needs to get done. An Apartment Guide Blog suggests, “Use a wall calendar to write everyone’s duties down, or create a chart that lists all of the roommates’ names and their responsibilities next to it. This way, there is no confusion as to who is responsible for what. If it works better, rotate the chores every month.”
While this may seem incredibly simple, it will definitely be helpful in the long run. Once everyone gets a glimpse/idea of each other’s boundaries, standards, etc. each roommate can collectively work toward maintaining a good environment that is suitable not only for them, but for everyone else!
Communication
You have probably heard about keeping the doors of communication open over and over again in your life, but I can promise you that this is incredibly important, not only in roommate relationships, but in all relationship. This rule applies to living with one roommate as well as when you are one out of four people living in a dorm.
Regardless of how many roommates you have, you’ll want to make sure everyone is communicating effectively. Doing so requires no passive-aggressive post-it notes, subliminal messages, etc. but rather, openly talking to all of your roommates.
You may have an issue with roommate #1 because they constantly use your shampoo without asking, or roommate #2 makes you crazy because they eat all of the snacks your mom got just for you. Bottom line is this, speak up. There is nothing worse than having a problem with the person (or persons) you are living with and just letting their actions get under your skin.
It is infinitely more beneficial to confront your roommate with your problems than let the tension build for no reason. If you find yourself in a real pickle and you definitely can not talk to your roommate, bring your issue to your RA or a friend/parent and they can certainly help you settle it, it’s their job!
Tips for Communicating Effectively with Roommates:
- DO be direct with your roommate(s) when there is a problem that arises between you both/all of you.
- DON’T go behind their back and talk nastily with other roommates about your personal problems with that person. This can not only cause drama but it also makes it hard to trust one another.
- DO respect them and their differences.
- DON’T belittle, talk down to, or yell when you don’t get your way or you cannot see eye-to-eye.
- DO both talk and listen.
- DO ask if there is anything you can do to make the living situation better and point out what they do that makes you stressed/angry.
- DO go to a family member or campus counselor to get their input on the situation if you do not feel up to talking to your roommate just yet but feel that you need to vent about the situation.
- DO compromise. According to Rick Moreci in an article by Brian Burnsed of US NEWS, “Compromise does not have to mean sacrifice. It means working together with your roommate to determine the rules for your new living arrangement that you can both be comfortable with.”
Privacy
Everyone loves the chance to spend time by themselves, unwind, watch the latest episode of their favorite TV show, and not have to worry about anything. Privacy when living with a roommate/roommates can sometimes be violated, as it can just naturally (and accidentally) happen while living together. Sometimes you want to be able to call your mom or best friend without having someone else breathing down your throat or take a relaxing shower without worrying about who wants to jump in next.
Just because you have roommates does not mean that you have to spend every second of every day with each other. Sometimes doing so can create rifts and tensions and sometimes it can be great, it all depends on the person. However, do not feel obliged to have to do everything with your roommates, it’s good to have your own friends too!
Friends can not only help with any roommate problems you’re having but they can also be an escape for when you are experiencing a hard living situation. So whether you’re on your bed blasting music through your earphones or are venturing to the dorm across campus to see your friend, just know that needing your own space is ok and healthy!
Tips for Respecting Roommate Privacy
- DO establish boundaries of what is ok/not ok with you in terms of privacy
- DON’T use/eat something without asking
- DO ask before hosting a party at your place
- DON’T assume that it’s always ok to have friends over
Paying Bills
One super important element of living with someone (if you are in an apartment/house) is figuring out how to split up living expenses like rent/amenities/cable + internet. Taking on adult responsibilities and figuring out how to effectively split bills can be difficult but it will definitely save you any kind of money-related trouble in the future.
According to Leslie Tayne of Credit.com, “A major key for keeping the peace is making sure bills are organized. Figure out when and how bills will be collected and split each month, how they will be paid, and who is responsible for paying what amount. While this may sound obvious, too many times roommates will wait until the last minute, causing stress, tension and possibly late bills.”
To make splitting bills easier, put together a chart or spreadsheet of expenses that each person owes to organize payments and keep track of who pays what. Tayne notes, “Each expense should show details such as due dates, the amounts owed, and the person responsible for paying.” Once you get payments and billing figured out, a huge burden will be lifted off your shoulders!
Roomie Time
Between endless papers, labs, extracurricular activities, and jobs, it’s hard to maintain a strong social life in college without driving yourself crazy! It’s especially hard to find time to actually hang out with your roommates because you’re so used to seeing them all the time. As a way to keep the vibes good in your living situation, set up a day or night for everyone to hang out. Figure out what everyone’s schedule is like and make a plan to go to a party, have a movie night, or even go on an adventure around campus! Doing this not only can help everyone catch up, but it’s also a great way to create a better, closer bond with your roommates (plus it can be a nice escape from the busyness of life).
Going from living by yourself at home to living with roommates can be a large adjustment and can at times, prove to be difficult, but if you trust your gut and follow my tips, I guarantee you that you’ll look back the years with your roommates as some of the best of your life. As always, good luck!
How to Avoid Roommate Drama
Besides classes, one of the biggest sources of stress for college students is roommate drama. When you live with someone, it is easy to get annoyed with each other, causing a tense living situation. But it doesn’t have to be that way! Here are some tips to help you avoid roommate drama.
Write a roommate contract
The best way to avoid roommate drama is to write a roommate contract. A roommate contract is a document that lists the expectations you and your roommate have for each other. It requires you to figure out the areas in which you and your roommate are on the same page and the ones in which you are not. Good questions to ask while you are writing a roommate contract are:
- Around what time do you like to go to sleep?
- Around what time do you like to wake up?
- Do you like to have people over, or would you rather the room be a sanctuary?
- Do you plan on bringing any guests over? How long in advance should we notify each other of these guests? (Especially guests of the opposite gender!)
- Are you a neat freak?
- How much time do you plan to spend in the room?
- Are there any times during the week when you would like to have the room to yourself? (Of course, your roommate should ask you this question, and you should take each other’s answers into account as you plan your week.)
- How do you feel about sharing items? Food? Shampoo/conditioner? Beauty products?
Writing a roommate contract early on in your roommate relationship will help you avoid roommate drama and headaches. Having this conversation might be awkward, especially if you and your roommate don’t know each other very well yet. Still, it’s important. You will thank yourself later!
Communicate
Similarly, communication is key in any relationship, but it is especially important to communicate with the people you are living with. The contract is only the first step of this communication. Let your roommate know what’s going on in your life. For example, if you have a big test to study for, let her know that you would like some extra time alone in the room. It’s likely that she will be understanding and honor your request.
You should also communicate to your roommate anything she is doing that you don’t like. For instance, if she always leaves her dirty dishes in the sink and doesn’t wash them, let her know that this bothers you.
Of course, the key to this kind of communication is to be kind. Don’t be accusatory or mean and yell at her when you are telling her she is doing something that bothers you. Instead, say something like, “I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but I always wash my dishes after I use them. The dishes in the sink are yours. Do you think you could wash your dishes, too? Please? I would really appreciate it.”
If you don’t communicate with your roommate, you will be very frustrated and angry. Don’t let these unresolved issues become monsters. Communicate with your roommate whenever you have an issue, as this is the best chance of resolving the issue.
Keep the room clean
Even if your roommate says she is not necessarily a neat freak, it is important to keep the room clean. Not only does it look better, but it’s easy to find things when you know they are exactly where they are supposed to be. Your roommate will appreciate that you are not leaving your stuff all over the place.
Spend a healthy amount of time apart
When you live with someone, you spend a lot of time with them. This is good because you and your roommate could cultivate a close friendship. However, it is also healthy to spend a healthy amount of time apart to avoid annoying each other. Spend a few days studying in the library rather than together in your dorm room, or spend time with other friends for a little while. You’ll have something new to talk about when you see each other again!
Always ask before borrowing something
Everyone has different opinions on what they feel comfortable letting their roommates borrow. When I moved out, I was rather protective of my stuff. However, someone else might not mind letting you borrow any of her clothes.
Have a conversation with your roommate about what you can and can’t borrow from each other, and what are the rules if you do borrow something. For example, for how long are you allowed to borrow something? Do you have to wash/clean it before you return it? Knowing the “borrowing policy” ahead of time will help you avoid many roommate problems.
Roommate drama is a big source of stress for college students. Avoid roommate drama by making your expectations clear at the beginning, and communicating kindly with each other when problems do arise. If you do that, you can have a good relationship with your roommate.
Pros and Cons of Roommates
A huge part of the college experience is having roommates. Good roommates, bad roommates, college students experience them all. We have all heard a college roommate horror story or met someone who became best friends with a college roommate. There are many reasons why college students choose (or do not choose) to live with roommates during those crucial four years at university. Each person, each situation, and each roommate is different. You have to weigh out the pros and cons of each situation as it arises before you make a decision—that way you can be sure that you are making the right, and best, decision possible. Read on to learn some of the pros and cons of having roommates!
Pros
There are several benefits to living with a roommate while at college. Not sure what that might entail? Check out the detailed list of pros below!
It’s Cheaper
One of the major reasons that students choose to have roommates while at college is simply because it is cheaper. College is one of the most expensive undertakings a person can undergo—and that is just tuition! The cost of living is higher when you are on your own and no longer living with your family. Sharing a living space makes costs go way down. If you live alone, you have to pay for the entire rent, the entire utility bill, all the cable and internet bills, renters insurance, and more. There is no one to share it with.
Fortunately, the bills do not increase proportionally for every roommate you add to an equation. Say a studio apartment costs $650 a month to rent. If you wanted a place with two bedrooms, it would not necessarily cost you $650 x 2. It would more likely cost you $850. $850 split in two ($425) is a lot more reasonable an amount to pay per month for rent. The same with utilities and the rest of the bills you need to pay. The amounts do not go up in proportion to the number of people living there. It is having the initial set up and maintenance of a utility or service that keeps it at a base price each month. And each roommate that you add without the prices going up too much just helps you to keep your costs down low.
Being able to split all of those fees will really help you to save money in the long run and make sure all of your bills and expenses are covered. You can even split grocery bills to make sure that you do not buy too much food, that it all gets eaten, and that nothing goes to waste. Being able to stay financially secure will make your college experience a lot less stressful, so if a roommate can provide you with that financial stability, why not try it out?
Larger Living Space
Often when you have an apartment, dorm room, or house that is meant to house more than one person, the shared living spaces are larger to reflect it. A studio apartment does not offer much space, and the living room and kitchen for a one bedroom apartment will also be pretty tight. But the space you will find in shared living spaces in a two or three bedroom domicile? Much less snug of a fit. It is not only your living room that will be bigger but most likely your kitchen too! The larger living space might even be reflected in your bathroom or bedroom size, especially if the bathroom is intended to be shared. Even if you have to share a space like a bathroom, having a bigger one usually makes the experience more pleasant.
Safety
Living by yourself is not always the safest. Without another person in your daily, and I mean daily, life, there are more ways for you to fall through the cracks. If you get sick, who will know? Who will be able to help you, even to a minute degree? If you experience a home invasion or some other tragedy, who else will notice that something has gone wrong, that you are off schedule, that you are not where you are supposed to be? Yes, you have family and friends, but do you see each of them every day while you are at college? Probably not. A roommate knows your schedule and habits. They will be the first to notice if something is wrong and may be able to do so quickly enough that you can actually be helped.
Burglars and other invaders are also much less likely to target homes that have multiple people living in it, especially if they have different schedules. If one person lives in a place, it is much easier to track their schedules. And if they do come home in the middle, one person is much more easily dispatched than multiple. Having a roommate can often keep you and your household a lot more secure.
Have a Built-In Friend/Support System
Going hand in hand with the idea of safety, having roommates really can provide you with a support system you otherwise would not have. Your family and friends can only do so much from wherever they are living. Roommates are up close and personal, in your face, in your space, and in your life.
Sometimes, it is nice to just come home to someone at the end of the day. You go home after a long day of work and school and someone is there, a friendly and familiar face. Maybe you are not close enough for you to vent about your day; maybe you are. But living with another person gives you a more intimate relationship—through little details, you come to know each other better than most people ever will, even if you are not exactly friends.
Even if you do not know your roommate very well or are even complete strangers when you first move in, you will end up with a bond by the end. A sense of camaraderie, a sense of respect—these things can very easily be developed. And if you already know or are friends with your roommate before you move in together, your relationship will deepen as well.
And sometimes, a roommate can end up being your very best friends. As American Filmmaker, Richard Linklater once said, “The people you live with at college, those first roommates often are people you're still friends with the rest of your life.”
Cons
Just as there are many pros to having a roommate, there are also many cons. These should also be weighed very carefully before you sign any lease or contract. You do not want to get stuck in a situation that makes you uncomfortable. Check out the list of why a roommate might not be the best option for you.
Less Privacy
Having a roommate definitely means that you will have less privacy. If you have shared spaces, like a shared bedroom or bathroom, you will very much be in each other’s personal space. Especially when you share a bedroom, it can be hard to give each other any personal or alone time because you simply have no other place to go, like in a dorm room. Even if you do not share a bedroom, it can be hard not to feel watched or judged as you make excursions into the living room and other shared spaces. It can feel like they know, watch, and keep track of your every move. It is not a great feeling to feel judged by your roommate. And sometimes, you can’t just pick up and go to the library or sit in a dorm study room to give or get your own space—these are not always options.
For some people, personal time and being able to retreat away from the world and other people is incredibly vital. When you never have any space or distance from other people to recharge or unwind, it can be detrimental to your health, emotional well-being, and can put your relationships at risk because it becomes such a frustrating experience. No one wants a roommate situation to become a war zone or to let frustrations boil over to that point. However, if you are not used to handling a roommate and know how important privacy is to you, having a roommate might not be the best option for you. You need to feel very comfortable in your dorm, apartment, or house because while you are at college, it really is your home. And home is supposed to be a safe place.
Clashing Expectations
Another con to having roommates while in college is that you will often have clashing expectations. This is to be expected to a certain extent. No one comes from the same backgrounds or situations—you are setting up camp with a person who was raised and who lives in a manner that is probably very different from you. What you take to be blatant might not be so clear to you and vice versa. Maybe your family was more relaxed about cleaning and housework—it did not have to be done right away as long as it was completed in the end. But maybe your roommate expects you to clean up after yourself, immediately, right away, and without delay—after all, that is how they were raised and expected to behave. It is not as if you were not going to clean it up—but it can start an argument that you did not clean it up fast enough.
Or maybe it is the other way around. If you wanted to bring guests into your home, you would run it by your roommate first to make sure it was okay—that they felt comfortable having people in the space you guys share, especially if you are bringing over people they do not know. But your roommate is the opposite—they never think to ask you if it is okay to bring people over and they bring lots of people into your home, people you have never met before and might not feel that comfortable around. This can cause friction between you – you have different expectations, and it can be hard for you guys to get back on the same page about these kinds of issues.
It can be hard to clearly lay out your expectations without someone feeling like they are having their toes stepped on or that the other party is being unreasonable. If you feel like you cannot follow rules or cannot abide by someone who might break your own rules or ever dash your expectations, roommates might not be the best fit for you.
Patience
Connecting back to the idea of clashing expectations, if you do not have a lot of patience, then having roommates may still not be a good fit for you. Even when you set up expectations, it can be difficult to change the way you have always lived or what you presumed to be acceptable behavior. There will always be mix-ups, accidental violations of the expectations, and times when the expectations are too untenable and do not work out or are unachievable. It happens to the best of us. But if you cannot learn to roll with the punches and every minor or accidental violation of a rule sets your teeth so much on edge that you cannot bear to live or be around a person, living on your own, on your own terms, might be more comfortable for you.
Roommates can be the best and roommate can also be the worst. You have a lot of pros and cons to weigh when making such a decision, which should not be made lightly. You need to make the decision that will best enable you to get the most out of your college experience. You want to do well, feel well, and be well. Think out your options carefully before you commit so you know whether or not having a roommate will work for you.
15 Activities That Will Help You Bond With Your Roommate
You’ve found a compatible roommate—congratulations! You’ve already completed one of the toughest parts of “roommate life”! Now comes the fun part: finding fun activities to do together that will help you bond with your roommate and strengthen the relationship between you. Although the following list will provide you with bonding activity examples, you should take into consideration the likes and dislikes of you and your roommate when making plans to hang out. If you both share a similar interest, you should find an activity that involves that and do it together!
Are you ready? Here is a list of 15 activities that will help you bond with your roommate:
1. Movie night
Who doesn’t love a movie night? Pull out your favorite Blu-Rays and DVDs or log into your Netflix account and get ready for a night filled with nothing but good (or hilariously bad) movies. Skip out on cooking dinner for tonight and instead have everyone chip in to get a delicious pizza delivered to your door. (Expert tip: If you have different tastes when it comes to your choice of pizza, order from a restaurant that will let you order different toppings on both halves. Or order Korean BBQ instead!) Pop some popcorn, bust out the soda cans and beer, and bond over the beauty that is cinema
2. Sleepover
If you both have your own separate rooms, why not do a night where you both stay in one person’s room? You can swap funny stories, watch YouTube videos together, and take the chance to really get to know one another. Feels like middle-school, but sleepovers at this age can be even more fun!
3. Gardening
My roommate and I started a garden together. We both knew very little about gardening so our plants didn’t last too long, but the process of setting up our garden was fun! We went to a few stores to gather our materials, had all sorts of wacky adventures in the garden center of Home Depot, and laugh/cried at the pitiful state of our poor little garden a few months down the road.
4. Decorating
If your shared living spaces are looking a little drab, why not go on Pinterest with your roommate and find a living room setup that you both like? After that, arrange to go to the store and pick up everything you’ll need to transform your living room into the ultimate hangout space.
5. Shopping
Shopping really is a bonding activity. It doesn’t just have to be for clothes; shopping for furniture, household goods, and other things you might need in your home all make for a fun bonding activity.
6. Grocery shopping
Shopping for groceries is never fun, but having someone along with you in those packed aisles can make the experience a little better. Ask your roommate if he or she wouldn’t mind going with you to the grocery store to pick up a few things. Chances are, they’re also in need of a few things and will appreciate the offer.
7. Date night assistant
Does your roommate have a big date coming up? Offer to play wingman and help them get ready for their romantic evening. That includes being that “emergency phone call” if the date is a loss and your roomie needs you to bail them out.
8. Video games
Nothing builds friendship like a few rounds of Mario Kart or Call of Duty!
9. Homework help
Is your roommate struggling in a subject that you’re an ace at? Offer to help by walking them through the problem and helping them reach the solution.
10. Road trip
Imagine leaving the stress of class behind you and going for a great road trip with your roommate. Pick a spot that you’re both interested in visiting and head there for the weekend. You might consider doing something similar for Spring Break or Winter Break.
11. Attend school functions
Aren’t you a little bit curious about those campus events you keep getting emails about? Why not grab your roommate and check one of them out? Sure, the event might be as boring as the email made it sound, but that gives you and your roommate something to laugh about!
12. Plan a spa day
Take a break from classes and visit the spa together this weekend!
13. Go see a play
You know that play your roommate keeps mentioning? Take him to go see it! If students get in free, that’s even better!
14. Go see a movie
Don’t forget your student ID for your discount!
15. Go skating
You both might not be the greatest skaters in the world, but get out there and have a laugh at yourselves! A good time comes from being able to laugh at yourself!
You and your roommate don’t have to be strangers living in the same place. Reach out and make that effort! You never know—you might just find your new best friend.
Questions to Ask Before Deciding to Live with Someone
If you have the opportunity to move out, one of the harder decisions may be finding who to live with. Deciding to live with someone may not be the first thing on your mind when you think of your upcoming independence, but deciding to live with someone will come up when you realize you may not be able to handle the burden of rent alone and need to find other people to share your room or apartment with.
It's hard enough to find someone to live with, but finding your ideal roommate is even harder when they are so many factors that will lead to your final decision. You may think you are the best roommate ever, but finding someone to match your idea of a matching "best roommate" can be tricky depending on your standards.
There are plenty of factors that go into deciding who to live with, such as which of your friends are available, how well you get along with someone, and how clean you are. If you find yourself struggling in deciding who to live with or if the person you are considering to live with is the right choice, here are some starting questions to ask when you are deciding to live with someone.
What is your daily routine like?
This question may seem personal, but it's a good starting point in getting to know the type of person you are going to live with. Deciding to live with someone is a personal choice as you are going to be sharing your personal, living space with them. Asking for your potential roommate's daily routine gives you a first taste as to what kind of person you are considering as a roommate. Many things can be learned from knowing someone's daily routine. You get to know how much time they spend out and about or at home, what kind of things they like to involve themselves with, and much more.
Ask them to describe their typical day. What time do they usually wake up to start their day? Do they take a lot of naps? Do they stay up all night, only to sleep well into the next day? Sleeping schedules are often revealed when a daily routine is described as you can get a general read on their sleeping habits, which may be very important if you are planning on sharing a bedroom with the person. You don't want to have them up all night trying to be productive (and very noisy) as you try to sleep, or be an early riser when you love to sleep in. Finding someone with a similar sleeping schedule will help you avoid later conflict that can come up when you realize you and your roommate run on completely different schedules when it comes to sleep.
Finding out when common routine factors, like showering, can also be helpful when it comes to deciding to live with someone, no matter how trivial it may sound at first. If you both have a similar schedule, down to the same shower times, living together may be less than ideal when your daily fights spark from something as simple as who gets to shower first.
Likewise, the activities they list out when describing their daily routine will also reveal how much time they spend in and out of the house. If they say that they only really go out when needed, like for class, you may want to consider how that would affect you if you decided to live with them. If you like to stay home and have your own personal time, but they are always home, living with them may not be your best bet if you are going to be sharing a room with a lack of personal space.
Getting to know an individual's daily routine prior to deciding to live with someone may save you the trouble of realizing that you and your roommate run on clashing schedules, which can lead to future roommate conflicts.
How do you feel about having guests over?
A common cause of conflict between roommates is on contrasting opinions on having guests over. Before deciding to live with someone, it's important to ask them about how they feel about having guests over - especially if you know that you feel strongly about having guests over.
You can think it's perfectly okay to have guests over, even if it's having a friend inside while you grab something to change into. However, someone else may want to keep their living space extremely quiet and not want any guests over. It's important to find a common ground regarding guests - both daytime and nighttime - prior to deciding to live with someone as you want both yourself and your roommate(s) comfortable in their own living space, regardless of the time.
Make sure you also draw a distinction between overnight guests and daytime guests. Someone may be okay with the occasional guest over at daytime with a heads-up text, but be strictly against having any overnight guests. It may not seem like that much of a big deal, but for those with significant others that want to spend the occasional night or two, not being able to spend time together just may be a deal breaker when it comes to deciding to live with someone.
If you know you hate your roommates having overnight guests over or when people come over without any warning, make sure you make that clear to the person you are deciding to live with. Alternatively, if you know you love to have friends over at your apartment all the time, make that apparent when deciding to live with someone. It's unfair to you if you can't have any guests over at all if your roommate doesn't want anyone over, but it's also unfair to your roommate if you are always bringing someone over without permission, leaving them feeling uncomfortable in their own living space.
When discussing your respective thoughts on having guests over, you may also want to discuss what you think of having parties or larger gatherings at your apartment. You definitely don't want to live with a party animal and only find out when you realize that your roommate has been throwing parties several weekends in a row.
What is your definition of clean?
An even more common cause of conflict between roommates is getting into fights over the cleanliness of your living space. To avoid such conflicts, it's important to ask about someone's idea of clean before deciding to live with someone.
If asking someone if they are clean or not, they can say that they are a clean person and think they are being completely honest. However, once you live with them you may realize that the "clean" they were talking about isn't even close to what you think "clean" should be. Instead, make sure to ask what they consider as clean. Asking this instead will allow you to gauge just how clean, or dirty, you can expect them to be as a roommate.
Having the same definition of clean will make living with each other easier as you both will have the same standard of cleanliness to uphold. You won't have to worry about telling them to clean the countertop, only for them to clear it off without actually wiping it down with anything. It's important for both parties to be honest in this case, if you know you are the type to clean once a week, whenever you find time to clean - make sure your future roommate knows that so that they don't expect you to be cleaning up after yourself as soon as you make a mess.
At the same time, while you may say you are pretty relaxed when it comes to cleaning your own personal living spaces, you may have a different standard when it comes to common living spaces, like your living room, kitchen, and/or bathroom. If you want dishes cleaned as soon as they are used, or for everything in the living room to be neat and tidy at all times, be sure you make those desires known to the person you are deciding to live with. This will decrease the chances of you constantly having to remind them to pick up after themselves or worse, having to pick up after them.
If you discuss cleanliness standards and possible cleaning schedules before deciding to live someone, you will help eliminate the future headache that comes with nagging between roommates regarding cleanliness.
What do you expect out of a roommate?
Just like how everyone has a different standard of cleanliness, everyone has a different idea of what a roommate should be and all have their deal breakers when it comes to deciding to live with someone. Asking your potential roommate what they expect out of a roommate is a great way to figure out the expectations that your roommate holds and can also potentially reveal what you can expect of them as a roommate in turn.
Some people think of getting a new roommate as a great opportunity for making a new friend. They may want to become very close to you, meaning, they'll ask to spend more time with you, whether it's time spent having movie nights in your living room or tagging along with your friend group for dinner. This may sound like an ideal scenario as you'll be on friendly terms with your roommate, but you might want to think about what you want out of having a roommate. If you just want someone to live with and get along with casually, you may find their attempts to incorporate themselves into your life aggravating or troublesome, especially if you want time at home to be your own personal time and they attempt to spend any and all time at home with you.
On the other hand, if you are the type of person that wants to become best friends with the person they are living with, you may want to ask what your potential roommate's idea of a roommate is as they may just want someone to share a living space with, and nothing more. This may mean that you have to prepare yourself to give your roommate a lot more room than you would regularly give your roommate or potentially finding another roommate if you want to be close with the person you live with in order to be comfortable in your living space.
This question will also entail figuring out with your potential roommate's lifestyle choices when they explain what they expect out of a roommate. If they say they don't want to have to keep constant watch of their roommate, it probably means that they want a clean and orderly space, and don't want to have to constantly nag at you to do your share of the cleaning.
If they have a smoking habit, they might expect you to be okay with that, or any other normally undesirable habits (constant overnight guests, partying, etc.). They might reveal this as "I want someone that is okay with all my lifestyle choices" and if they are being vague, you might want to consider asking them for more details or explaining what you are okay with (the occasional overnight guest) and what you definitely are not okay with to avoid later conflicts.
Remember that both of your wants and needs are important, and if both of you have completely different expectations of roommates, it's okay to keep looking for a roommate elsewhere.
These questions are discussion starters to help you in deciding to live with someone. It's important to be honest in discussing the answers to such questions as you definitely don't want to be called out on lying about a clean person when you are clearly not, or for your roommate to reveal a pet that you had no prior knowledge of when you move in together.
While someone may not give you the ideal answer you are looking for, don't completely rule them out of your housing decision. Remember that compromise is always an option and that both of you can work toward reaching a starting line that works for both of you as potential roommates. These questions and their following answers may help you decide on finding your best possible roommate.
Roomsurf hits 1 million users!
Roomsurf has reached 1 million sign ups! Since 2010, Roomsurf has helped over one million students find compatible roommates across the United States. Click "Get Started" to join them and find great roommates at your school.
Coming summer 2017, Roomsurf will get a massive visual and functional make over. Stay tuned, exciting things are ahead.
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We just launched JoinU!
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JoinU has been downloaded over 25,000 times in more than 50 countries! Available in the App Store!
Freshman Five: 5 Essential Safety Tips for New College Students
The transition into college is one of the most exciting – and frightening – times in your life. For the very first time, you are completely on your own. But more freedom also means more responsibility. Not only will you have to be accountable for your studies, but it’s also your duty to look out for your own safety.
With that in mind, take a minute to look over the following safety tips for incoming freshman:
Get to know the campus
It’s a good idea to get to know your way around campus before school officially starts. Find out where emergency contact phones are located and map out the safest routes to all of your classes. You’ll want to use well-lit walkways at nighttime and avoid walking through areas where shrubs, trees or buildings could potentially hide a thief or an assailant.
Make sure people know where you are
Make sure that your family and close friends are aware of your daily routine. Provide your parents with a copy of your class schedule, and, before you go out, always let someone know where you’re going, who you’re going with and when you expect to be back.
Take advantage of campus resources
Every university is concerned with promoting a safe campus environment. In fact, you’ll find that most of them have fantastic safety resources and programs for their students. These may include 24-hour escort services, counseling centers, self-defenses classes and more. Don’t hesitate to utilize these resources if you feel compelled to.
Get in the habit of locking your doors
While it seems obvious, locking your doors is essential to ensuring your safety. However, you would be surprised at how many students simply neglect to do so. By locking your doors, you will not only help keep intruders out, but also help protect your valuables. Remember to also lock your car if you have one on campus. If you live in an apartment or other off-campus student housing, it’s also a good idea to invest in a home alarm system. Check out SecurityChoice if you’re looking for a high-quality system that’s affordable on a college budget.
Be smart about social media
In this social media culture we live in, many young people feel to publish tweets and status updates about their daily experiences. Unfortunately, criminals are beginning to exploit Facebook, Twitter and other social media services to target homes for burglary and commit other illegal acts. Therefore, you should avoid posting live updates about any vacations or trips you’re taking. You should also be suspect of people you correspond with over the Internet. Furthermore, make sure to adjust your privacy settings to limit the amount of personal information you share with others.
