For all who read my blog post last week about the different options for looking for a roommate, welcome back! This week I would like to expand on that topic and talk about what to look for in a freshman roommate.

First things first, try and find someone who wants to live in the same area as you. With multiple options to choose from (which were mentioned in last week’s post) it is important to know right off the bat that this person has the desire to live in the same part of campus. With so many incoming students you are bound to find that individual who wishes to live in East or Pollock just as much as you do, so be patient.

Freshman year football eve

The next important thing is to have a conversation with the person. If the conversation flows and seems effortless than you are off to a good start. Also, don’t be shy and ask questions! This is the best way to get to know a person and see if they have similar interests to you. Some questions that are a good way to start are “What’s your intended major?” or “Where are you from?” These may seem like simple inquiries but you’d be surprised how well this sparks conversations. You may even realize you live near each other, have a mutual friend or have similar interests in major. Once you get further into a conversation and you think they may have roommate potential then an important question to ask is “What is your sleep schedule like? Are you a morning or night person?” These things may seem trivial but in such a small space it is nice to know that you won’t be woken up by your roommate doing homework in the middle of the night. The final question that is important to know if someone is roommate worthy is “Are you a clean freak or a slob?” Again, this may not seem like something that should determine whether someone is a good roommate catch but it can put a strain on the relationship if one person is super messy while the other is a super neat.

An important note to add is that your freshmen roommate does not need to be your best friend. This typically is a common myth that many freshmen go into college thinking but in reality it is not true. In other words look for someone who you can see yourself getting along with but also wants to branch out and meet others. Some of my best friends in college I met on my freshmen floor and that would not have been possible without socializing outside of my dorm room.

Freshman Floormates

To recap: Look for someone who wants to live in the same area of campus, a student with common interests and aspirations, someone that has similar housekeeping standards and sleep habits and finally, someone who desires to grow as an individual and get the most out of their college experience. As long as you follow these guidelines you will have no problem finding a great freshman roommate!

PS: If you thought you found the perfect roommate but turns out the two of you just weren’t meant to be, that happens. Not every match works out, so if you find yourself in this group, like many students do, you can contact the housing office or reach out to friends about switching rooms (if they do not like their roommate either). Hope the roommate search is going well!