Finding A Good Roommate

By Victoria Hernandez on April 2, 2012

Everyone hears roommate horror stories. I’m sure y’all have some of your own. College Humor even has Roommate Confessions, where readers can share what has happened to them, or what they’ve done. I myself have been blessed enough to not have anything beyond average complaints. But for some of my friends, they’ve had some pretty terrible living situations. That being said, no one can ever have a “perfect” roommate, because let’s be honest, no one is perfect. However, I will try to help y’all avoid something like this:

“My roommate would always bring back these white trash/ hood rat/ disease infested girls back to the room every few so nights and they would always stink up the room or trash it. As revenge I got this haggard ass mattress that my uncle brought back from the Vietnam War and replaced his mattress with it. He just got over having lice, and now has some sort of flesh eating rash. Sorry Dude, but it’s for your own good.

Brad B., School Not Given” -RC issue 121

Here are a few things to think about.

1. Try potluck.

Now there have definitely been times when it doesn’t work out, but from my experience, this has worked.

2. Don’t pick a friend that you think you can have fun with.

I have heard so many stories about friends deciding to room together because they think it’ll be great. The truth is, you have your friends, and you have your oh-my-gosh-why-did-I-ever-decide-to-live-with-her friends. If you really want to live with someone, ask their roommate how it is living with them, or just go to their room and see what their style is like. If you’re a neat freak and her clothes are all over the floor, you may want to find another mate.

3. Pick someone that you know you can trust.

I’m really close with my friend Laura, and I’m excited to live with her. She’s like a sister to me. I can talk to her about anything, and I know she can come to me. We met each other freshmen year, and we’ve been great friends since. We both have similar personality traits, so there shouldn’t be fights over little things. We’ve also discussed what we want in a room, and it was meant to be.

4. Sign a separate lease.

I know you know that neither of you will try and screw each other over. But stuff happens. And you don’t want to be the one left footing the bill. Talk to your future roommate, and make sure you’re you both know that living together doesn’t mean it’s okay to make one person pay for everything.

Now, enjoy, or push through these next two months. It’ll be summer before you know it!

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