Campus housing can be brutal or it can be great. So much of it depends on what you make of the situation you are placed into. While many colleges and universities allow incoming freshmen to request friends as roommates, there are just as many that have a random roommate assignment system. The best recommendation I can give for those of you who are attending the latter type of university is to embrace differences and enjoy an experience you might never have again. My first year roommate was someone who I may never have had the opportunity to meet had we not been placed into the same room, and she wound up being one of my best friends.
Sometimes even if you have the opportunity to live with a friend it might be better to go through the random assignment process. Your best friend may be amazing when you see them for a couple hours a day at school but seeing them 24/7 and having to deal with all of the issues that come along with roommates can be difficult when you have a pre-established relationship.
Lastly, do not judge your roommate based on their facebook page! The first thing that 90% of freshmen with randomly assigned roommates do is to facebook stalk. This can be very dangerous! We have all been taught not to judge a book by its cover and going into a new year with preconceived notions is the worst thing to do. However, trying to get to know your roommate a little in advance can be helpful. Talk about who can bring common items to the room like a mini fridge, a television, a microwave etc. Ask what they like/dislike instead of assuming based on what you see online.
Enjoy the experience!
BRITTANY: Massachusetts-born Brittany is an Economics major, lacrosse player, and rising junior at Brown University. As our only recruited athlete, Brittany will provide an untraditional perspective to the college admissions process.
how do they figure out who to room with who??
Every school seems to have their own method of madness when pairing people up. Some will ask you to fill out a survey of your “living habits” and you get matched up to a roomie with a similar style. Other times they go completely random and believe that “it is all part of the experience.” If you are concerned, you can easily call up any school to see what their policies are. In the end, every school recognizes that not every roomie match is going to be a perfect fit. They will also allow for a switch if the situation is hurting either roommate. That happens in a small, small minority of cases. For the most part, your roommate does indeed become a great friend and alliance in your first year at school. The whole process is quite fun! Look forward to it!
