This article was published to Teen Vogue here
This article was originally written for Fresh U by Melanie Haid. It has been given minor edits before re-posting.
I met my roommate through a GroupMe early on in January, and since then, everything has been smooth sailing. When not one problem has been encountered, it's easy to feel excited about school, especially knowing you already have a friend when you get there. If you and your roommate are meant to be besties, here's some surefire proof.
1. You both know exactly where you want to dorm (and it happens to be the same place).
Picking a roommate who has different ideas about where to dorm than you do can obviously make things complicated. At my school, we have multiple different housing options, and finding someone who wants to dorm exactly where you do made everything so much easier. Even if you can't agree on anything else, at least you're guaranteed to end up in the same place.
2. You have no trouble deciding who buys what for your dorm.
Who brings the TV? Who's bringing the rug? There are a multitude of different ways you can make your dorm yours, and figuring out how to divide up the responsibilities between each other can be a challenge. But if you and your roomie are as perfect for each other as you claim to be, you'll likely have sorted this out quickly and without difficulty.
3. There's minimal awkwardness when you talk.
Obviously, when meeting someone new, you'll have to wait a while before you're fully comfortable with them, but when you've got someone who clicks with you almost immediately, it makes everything so much easier. Especially when they understand your sarcasm... that's always a tough one to move past unless you really get each other.
4. You have similar morals.
They say opposites attract, but sometimes people with different principles just don't mesh well together. There are different kinds of people in this world, and no one said that they can't get along, but sometimes, it can be a challenge. If they're not going to listen to your opinions because they're always right, you're going to run into some unnecessary conflict and things could get very, very awkward.
5. You both feel the same about partying.
Maybe your roommate isn't really a fan of you coming home at three in the morning, or maybe it's the other way around — or maybe you're both doing it, and you both feel the same about parties and staying out. But whether you're both going out every night or prefer staying in, it's good to be on the same page when it comes to something that can make a big difference in your rooming experience.
6. You picked the same color scheme for your dorm without even talking about it.
Aside from the fact that you have the same taste and are probably destined to be friends, having the same idea about what you want your room to look like is already a huge plus. I mean, sure, you can draw a line in the middle of your room and divide up the room by your individual styles, but it's so much nicer when you can coexist in a way that gives your room some flow too.
7. You're both already making plans.
You both want to try out that smoothie place down the street from school, and it would be so great to get breakfast before your 8 a.m. classes. You already have it all figured out, so even with the almost impossible chance that you make no other friends in college, you're good. You've already got a list of fun things to do with your roomie in case you ever get bored.
8. You make rules that you can agree on, and follow them too.
One of the most important parts of happy roommates is setting some guidelines and abiding by them. It's important to be in agreement on important things so that you can both study, sleep and live in a way that benefits both of your habits and needs, so if you've already figured it out, you're in a great place to make this year a successful and fun one for both of you.
9. You're both neat... or both messy.
One of the worst things is sharing a room with someone who leaves their stuff lying around everywhere if you're a neat freak, so it's important that even if you're not both neat, you can establish some sort of ground rule when it comes to cleanliness. It makes things much easier when you both feel the same about neatness, however it can be just as good when you're both good about keeping your stuff put away.
It's obviously easier to room with someone that you get along well with and who really understands you, but if you really don't get along, it could make for a rough year (something you could always change with a conversation, or, if it's really serious, changing your roommate). While living with someone new can be completely scary and weird at times, no matter how you and your roommate get along, there are ways to make the best of it, as long as you put in the effort to make it so.
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