Should I room with a friend in university? Or with someone chosen by the university?

[Quad]

should i room with a friend from school? or should i let the university choose someone based on the interests form everyone fills out? someone once told me that you shouldn't room with a friend, because you won't be friends with them at the end of the year. it's kinda like having close relatives stay with you for a long time.

what do you think? anyone experienced this?

thx in advance

 

[minendo]

My freshmen year I roomed with a guy I graduated with. It was probably the biggest mistake I have ever made. Things were fine for about a month and then we started getting on each other's nerves. If I could do it all over again, I would have the university assign me a roommate.

 

[spazntwich1]

I agree w/minendo. Try and get a room close to your friend, but DO NOT room with him.

Things'll turn ugly.

 

[exp]

I roomed with a friend for two years and never had a problem. It all depends on your personalities--if you are pretty laid back and easy to get along with there will likely be less friction.

 

[pyonir]

put it this way, you may get stuck with a guy that was on my floor of my dorm. He showered i think ONCE the whole school year. you could smell his room from about 20 feet away on either side of it. if he had his door open (when it was hot and air flow was important) he would smell up the entire floor.

THat my friend would be no picnic to live with. If your friend is laid back and easy going, live with him. you don't want to get stuck.

 

[kt]

it all depends on personalities. but just to be safe, i would room with someone assigned by the university. there are 2 advantages to this.. you won't risk the possibility of not getting along with your friend and you get more friends (this depends on how well you and your roommate get along).

 

[minendo]

Originally posted by: exp
I roomed with a friend for two years and never had a problem. It all depends on your personalities--if you are pretty laid back and easy to get along with there will likely be less friction.

For the past two years I have lived with a guy I met freshman year. We get along great and never have any problems. I think the reason we get along is because we did not have a past history. We were not friends in high school and do not know the same people. It is a much better experience to live with someone you don't know because you are forced to meet new people.

 

[sheselectric]

Don't room with him. College is about meeting new people and expanding your horizons beyond those from high school. If you're meant to be friends with this guy you'll keep in touch!

 

[damiano]

got to agree with sheselectric

 

[exp]

It is a much better experience to live with someone you don't know because you are forced to meet new people.

That is true, but unless you are satisfied with having a single friend you will be forced to meet new people anyway. This should happen naturally in a dorm arrangement, particularly a dorm with a living area where students hang out. I found the suite setup (with a central lounge) to be particularly conducive to befriending neighbors, though others have had the opposite experience.

 

[Electric Amish]

Originally posted by: damiano
got to agree with sheselectric

I don't.

amish

 

[pyonir]

hmm seems pretty much everyone says let the uni pick. good luck then, if you get the short straw you are screwed. i'd room with the friend rather than take those kind of chances.

and the people i still talk to from college were not my roommates. i am in one guys wedding next month. my roommate freshman year? he is getting married in July and i haven't even been invited. so just because you are rooming with a friend doesn't mean you won't meet new people outside of that room.

 

[damiano]

why is that?

 

[Electric Amish]

Originally posted by: damiano
why is that?

College is not about meeting new people. College is about learning.

Likd pyonir said, rather choose who you live with than get stuck with a bad draw.

amish

 

[Aceman]

I roomed with a univ. assigned roommate my freshman year and we got along fine. My Sophomore year I roomed with a univ. assigned roommate for one semester and moved in with a friend at the end of the semester because my first roommate drove me nut. My Sophomore (3rd year ) I rented a mobile home with a more distant friend

 

[Alienwho]

I'm rooming with 5 of my buddies. I'm sure i'll have issues with one of them (the dude i'm sharing my room with). We're good friends but get on each others nerves A LOT. But we always let each other know right off the bat what the problem is and don't let anything build up, I think it will be fine.