The Key to the Whole Roommate Thing: Be open minded!

Living in a dorm and having a roommate. My biggest fears prior to actually going to college. It really wasn't the fear of the fact that I had to share a room with someone, or the worry that they would touch my belongings, and know the little tiny personality traits about me that only those that live with you find out about... it was the fear of the unknown. I didn't know who this person was or where they were coming from; what kind of family they had and who they hung out with back at home; what their interests were; political preference? Religious? Who this person actually WAS, who they wanted to be, and how they planned on getting there. It was all unknown to me. Was I going to get someone who was the complete opposite of myself? Did you? If you're not there yet, are you prepared to put up with anyone?

Well that's the key to it. The key to having a roommate; where your first encounter with this person might very well be in the room that you will most probably have to share for the next year of school... be open minded and excited for whatever is thrown at you. It's a scary thought, I know. Instead of asking yourself all these questions about their hobbies, their family, their religious or political preferences, etc. don't ask at all. These questions just scare you before you actually meet the person, and they do so pointlessly... I guarantee you wont find out who someone is by answering these questions by running a comb through their Facebook profile. So don't even try. My recommendation, if you are a prospective student to a University, is to call that person up when your housing assignment is posted, and have a conversation with them. Be more worried about showing them the true you than finding out all the possible problems you could find with them. Be open minded! Forget about Facebooking them, forget about making assumptions about who they and just wait until you get there. I promise they will show you the true them better than a web page online. 

Worst comes to worst, you get there, look them in the face, spend the first week with them, and you realize absolutely everything they do drives you nuts; it's a possibility, yes... but should it happen, get right on it and let your Resident Assistant know, and they will help you take the first steps toward finding someone that you could stand living with. Don't let it wait. Don't spend too much time thinking, "Oh, I'll just get used to this person eventually." It will ruin one of the key parts of your freshman experience. 

With my experience, I have learned that having a roommate has been one of the best experiences I've gone through so far. I was placed with someone that appeared to be very different than me on the surface level; politics, religion, he was very athletic, he was extremely smart, etc. but once I actually got in the room and spent some time hanging out with him, deep down, we are very similar and compatible, and finding out who he really was (is) has made me comfortable in my residence, and allowed me to get a really solid freshman experience. Now, on top of a roommate, I have found a best friend, and someone who has buddied up with me to tackle meeting the rest of campus... this is important. 

When meeting other people, it's always easier to do when you have someone already by your side. Generally, your college will supply that person to you, to help you to adapt to the college atmosphere in an easier manner. So, be open to meeting them, and take advantage of the opportunity that you have!

If you've already attended college or are doing so now, feel free to share some of your own roommate experiences!