Although you may have known your best friend since grade school, it may not be the wisest idea to go to college with them. Some students make the mistake of choosing a college based on their best friend’s choice. They then decide to share a college dorm room with them. However, this can often forecast a troubling future for your friendship.
Here are 5 reasons not to room with your best friend:
1) You think you know every single thing about your best friend, but you may be surprised to learn that she is a total slob. She never cleans up her messes, leaves dirty dishes sitting around, and never puts her clothing away. Her side of the room looks like a disaster. However, because of your friendship, you may find it awkward to point out her faults. You must suffer silently while she destroys your living environment.
2) A large part of the college experience is meeting new people and discovering new things. If you choose to room with your best friend, you may neglect to reach out and make new friends. Perhaps you don’t want to hurt your best friend’s feelings by spending time with other people. Or, maybe your best friend doesn’t like your new friends. You may find you stay in your comfort zone with your best friend and miss out on some of the best parts of college.
3) Since you have had a friendship for so long, your best friend may decide to take advantage of you. Perhaps she expects that you will help her with her homework every night. Or, perhaps she thinks that you won’t mind if she borrows your favorite skirt (then spills beer on it). You may find your best friend doing things without even asking you.
4) Although you have known each other 15 years, you may never have realized some of the annoying traits she has. A few sleepovers throughout high school probably didn’t forewarn you about her loud snoring. You may never have noticed how she likes to get up throughout the night to update her Facebook status.
5) If she has had a boyfriend for several years or even just recently found one, she may think that you are comfortable with them always being in your room. They may spend evenings cuddling and watching romantic movies, while you are stuck in the corner doing homework.
Moving in and sharing a living space with someone can often be one of the most difficult transitions that a college freshmen must make. They could choose to room with someone they know (their best friend) and discover many new things about them. Sometimes rooming with your best friend works out. Other times, your relationship may get too comfortable and bringing up any uncomfortable subjects may cause hurt feelings.
If you choose to get a randomly selected roommate, you will not know the person or their personality. You may run into a few of the same problems. However, because your friendship is not in a comfortable zone, you will be able to broach awkward subjects more easily.
Remember, you have to room with this person for an entire year. At the end of the year, if you do not like your roommate, you can request a new one. However, it may be a little more difficult to find a new best friend.
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