Freshman year of college is a time of great change. You’re leaving home for the first time, navigating a new academic environment, and, perhaps most importantly, living with roommates. While sharing a living space with people you don’t know can be daunting, it can also be a lot of fun. To help you prepare for this experience, we’ve compiled a list of the different types of roommates you might encounter during your first year—and some tips on how to deal with them.
The Overachiever
This roommate is always studying, has a never-ending to-do list, and is generally very Type A. While it’s great to have someone who is so motivated and organized around, living with an overachiever can also be frustrating. They might not be the best at maintaining common areas or respecting your need for down time. The best way to deal with an overachiever is to have patience and try to understand that they’re just wired differently than you are. Communicate your needs clearly and be willing to compromise when necessary.
The Party Animal
We all know (or are) the party animal—the one who’s always going out and seems to be perpetually hungover. Living with a party animal can be fun—they’re usually up for anything and they know how to have a good time. However, they can also be loud and disruptive, especially if you like to keep more traditional hours. If you find yourself living with a party animal, try to establish some ground rules early on about noise levels and coming home late at night. And if all else fails, remember that they’ll probably graduate or drop out before you do, so you won’t have to put up with their antics for too long.
The Best Friend
You hit it off immediately during roommate selection and have been besties ever since. You study together, order takeout together, and even do your laundry together (after all, sharing is caring!). Pros: You always have someone to hang out with and you never have to worry about them stealing your stuff. Cons: With great power comes great responsibility—if you fight, making up is going to be awkward AF.
The Quiet One
This roommate is usually studying or engrossed in their latest project. You might not see them much, but when you do they’re always happy to chat. Pros: It’s easy to keep to yourself when you live with a quiet roommate. No need for small talk when you’re just trying to get from point A to point B! Cons: If you’re looking for someone to watch Netflix with on a rainy Sunday afternoon, this probably isn’t the roommate for you.
The Slob
This roommate doesn’t care about personal hygiene, cleanliness, or really anything that doesn’t involve sitting on the couch watching TV all day. If you have a slob for a roommate, chances are your apartment or dorm room will start to resemble something out of an episode of Hoarders pretty quickly. The best way to deal with a slob roommate is by setting some strict house rules—if they don’t want to follow them, they can find somewhere else to live.
Conclusion:
No matter what type of roommate you end up with, remember that college is supposed to be a time of growth and discovery. So even if your freshman year isn’t perfect, try to take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way—roommate drama included.
