Roommate Checklist

You’re going to have to live with someone new in your dorm or college apartment. The two of you are going to have to adjust to each other’s habits and learn to live together harmoniously. However, you need to keep in mind that no matter how laid-back you might be, there are certain people with whom you’re going to have a hard time living with. It’s best to choose your roommates with care. Use the following college apartments checklist to figure out what type of roommate would be best for you.

Roommate Checklist

1.  Are you more physically comfortable with people of the same sex or people of both sexes?__Same Sex __Both Sexes

When you live with someone, you’re going to have to go about your daily life with them around. Would you feel comfortable taking a shower and coming out in your towel with someone of the opposite sex? For that matter, would you feel comfortable roaming about in shorts and a t-shirt (or whatever you tend to wear at home) in front of someone of the opposite sex? Just because you know people who room with someone of the opposite sex doesn’t mean that you have to do it too. You know yourself best. If you feel that being bra-less in front of a guy would make you uncomfortable, then don’t choose a guy as a roommate.

2.  Do you like being around noise and people or do you prefer silence and privacy? __Noise and People __Silence and Privacy

Some people like to be surrounded by noise all the time. If they don’t have the TV or music on, they might have people over. Others prefer to work quietly in their rooms and socialize only once in a while. If you’re a noisy person, you might not want to be around a quiet one and vice versa. These are things you can come right out and ask someone you’re considering as a potential roommate.

3.  Do you make friends easily or take time to get to know people? __Make Friends Easily __Take Time to Get to Know People

If you’re a generally friendly person, it might be easier for you to adjust to a roommate who isn’t completely like you. You’ll probably find that you learn new things from new people and you’ll be equally happy with a bookworm or a hippie. On the other hand, if you need to take your time to get to know people, you might consider rooming with someone you already know well or even living alone, as long as it doesn’t make you feel isolated.

4.  Are you neat and tidy or a disorganized genius? __Neat and Tidy __Disorganized Genius

Physical surroundings make a huge difference to your mood. If you’re generally a neat and tidy person, it will probably drive you crazy to have beer and soda cans all over the place, leftover pizza lying around and heaps of clothes in every corner. On the other hand, you might be disorganized, but you may know exactly where to find whatever you’re looking for. So having everything in its place might annoy you. Sometimes, you can tell by the way a person is groomed whether they’re neat or disorganized. However, if you’re not sure, try to sneak a peek into their current living quarters to help you figure out if they would make a good roommate (Though be careful with this, as it may be considered by your roommate as an invasion of privacy).

5.  Are you a smoker and drinker or a non-smoker and non-drinker? __Smoker and Drinker __Non-Smoker and Non-Drinker

If you don’t smoke or drink, then having a smoker or drinker around is likely to make you uncomfortable. It’s not just a lifestyle choice, but also the fact that passive smoking can also be bad for your health. Most people are in-between: they’re not teetotalers, but they’re not alcoholics or chain-smokers either. So try to find out where your potential roommate stands when it comes to smoking and drinking before you move in together.

Now, it’s your turn. What are some other categories that need to be checked off, before you will move in with a roommate. Let us know about them in the comment section below.