How to Pick a Good College Roommate

Living with a roommate while in college is quite common. But there’s always the risk of finding someone who’s just hard to get along with. So what’s your definition of a good college roommate? Before you agree to share your apartment with someone, you’ll need to conduct an interview to ensure you can live in harmony together. 

What kind of personality do you prefer?

Do you want someone who will be friendly and become a best friend? Do you prefer someone who keeps to themselves and minds their own business but pays their rent on time and leaves the apartment clean? You need to decide what kind of shared living arrangement you are most comfortable with. Have a priority list that you can check off when conducting interviews. 

What’s their schedule?

If you are looking for a roommate who you can at least bond with from time to time, it’s important to ensure your schedules don’t clash. Alternatively, you may want a roommate who is not around when you are in the apartment because you want time to yourself.

Reliability is important

A good college roommate is one who is able to fulfill their commitments. For instance, if you agree on when to pay the rent then he/she should have the money on time. Pick a roommate who can also fulfil their end of the deal when it comes to keeping the apartment clean. If you agree on cleaning up after yourselves, a good roommate should respect this.

A good communicator

Communication is very important when you are sharing an apartment with someone. You need to find someone who is free to communicate with you whenever there’s an issue and likewise someone you are able to talk to if you have concerns. If you choose a foreigner, work out how you are going to communicate.  

Shared interests

You need to find out what the other person enjoys. Do they enjoy listening to music, playing video games, socializing or studying? A roommate whom you share interests with will be easy to get along with. You’ll also have someone to talk to whenever you feel bored.

Make a list of expectations

If you’ve never had a roommate before, you need to realize that sharing can be a little tricky. Have very reasonable expectations of your roommate or you’ll be easily disappointed. Understand that people were raised differently and try to be open and honest with each other. At the end of the day, your apartment should be your next home and the last thing you want is to fight with someone you live with every other day.

Choose a matching personality

It’s important to find a roommate with the kind of lifestyle that is in line with yours. You’ll live in misery if you choose a roommate who wants to party all the time when all you need is some peace and quiet. Someone who likes to socialize a lot will have lots of friends in the apartment when you need sometime alone. So consider all these factors when choosing your college roommate.

Posted By: Hayden Commons  http://haydencommens.net