Unless you’re one of the few people in Isla Vista to have the luxury of a single, chances are you’ll be sharing a room with one (or even two) people next year. Now that you’ve signed a lease, it’s time to figure out roommates. The immediate thought for a potential roommate would be the person that you’re closest with. Who wouldn’t want to spend morning, noon, and night with their best friend? But before you decide to bunk with your BFF, you should make sure they fit your roommate qualifications:
Do they respect your stuff? You want to share a room with someone that you’ll be able to share you things with. They have the right to the room just as much as you do, which can sometimes cause tension. Make sure that you chose to room with someone that will show as much respect to your belongings as you would show to theirs.
Are they clean? If there’s one thing that I’ve learned from the dorms, it is that everyone has a different level of cleanliness. The most put together people can have the most disorganized rooms. If you’re a person that is OCD about dust, dirty clothes, and desks, maybe it would be better if your chose a roommate that is equally as clean.
Are they a home-body? Since everyone in your house is likely coming from different backgrounds, each person will have a different style of living. Some people spend a majority of their time in their room, while others are constantly on the go. You should talk to your roommates about their studying and sleeping patterns before you decide if you will be cohesive!
Is it easy for you to communicate with them? You want to room with someone that can constructively (and politely!) express their annoyances. Trust me, if you haven’t gotten in a fight with your roommate, then one of the two of you is keeping their feelings bottled up. It’s better to talk about what’s bothering you, whether it’s their dirty socks, annoying boyfriends, or showering habits.
Will they be around a lot? Every house has the roommate that is always driving home for the weekend, spending the night at their boyfriends, or studying their life away in the library. If you know that someone in your house is going to be MIA a majority of the time, maybe it’s a good idea to snag them as a roommate, and enjoy the semi-single.
Organize To-Do Lists: Now that mom isn’t around to clean up after you, do your laundry, and make her world famous lasagna; chances are that you’re going to struggle. The best way to avoid conflict with your roommates is to designate tasks for everyone. Everyone contributes to the heap of trash in the garbage can, yet no one wants to take it out. Make sure you do your part as much as you want your housemates to do theirs.
Finally, don’t forget why you’re living with them in the first place! Between finals, internships, and the million other extracurricular activities you have going on, it’s easy to take your housemates for granted. Remember the little things they do that make you happy to share a house with them!