The Best Questions to Ask Your Future Roommate
This post is all about the best questions to ask your roommate before you commit to living together.
Finding a roommate for freshman year of college can be a challenge. You’ll most likely be sharing a tiny dorm room with this person for a year, so you obviously want someone you’ll get along with.
While some people go with a random roommate assignment, you can also request a roommate which is what I did. I started looking for potential roommates during the spring in my university’s incoming freshman class Facebook group. This is one of the best places to find a roommate because most people in these groups are doing the same thing.
Related: How to Find a Roommate for College
I was lucky enough that my freshman year roommate situation worked out well. We got along super well and even lived together again the following year.
But I’ve heard enough roommate horror stories from my friends to know that it doesn’t always work out so well. That’s why it’s SO important to get to know your potential roommate first before you agree to live together for a whole year.
Here are some essential questions every incoming freshman should ask their future roommate before living together:
1. Where are you from?
2. What is your major?
Follow up question: Do you know what you want to do with that?
3. What’s your class schedule like?
4. Are you going to go through sorority rush?
If Greek life is big at your school this is a great question to ask!
5. Are you planning to join any clubs/organizations on campus?
6. How do you feel about having guests over?
Super important! Neither me nor my roommate had guests over too often. I personally wouldn’t have wanted a roommate who plans to have friends/their significant other stay over all the time.
7. What time do you usually wake up/go to bed?
Although keep in mind these habits might change once you get to college!
8. Are you more of a morning or a night person?
9. Do you plan to go home a lot on the weekends?
10. What are your study habits like?
Asking your roommate about their study habits is a great idea and knowing things like if they plan to study in the room, listen to music, etc. is useful.
11. Do you have a job or plan to get one?
12. Where do you fall on the cleanliness spectrum?
A great way to phrase it without asking outright if they are a messy person. My roommate and I were both SUPER clean, which worked out perfectly. For some people this may not be a huge deal but no one wants to live with a total slob.
13. Have you already bought any dorm things?
14. Would you want to split the cost for some items?
A lot of roommates split the cost for things they will both use like a futon, mini fridge, TV, rug, etc. so it’s a good idea to ask about this ahead of time.
15. Do you drink/party?
Always good to know your future roommate’s habits when it comes to going out.
16. What were you involved in during high school?
17. Are you bringing a car to campus?
18. What’s your favorite movie/TV show/band/etc.?
Great getting to know you questions that you should ask!
19. What are your pet peeves?
20. Do you know which dorm you want to live in?
If you have the option of choosing a specific dorm hall or at least putting down preferences, this is a good thing to be on the same page about with your potential roommate.
21. Do you like to listen to music out loud a lot?
22. What do you like to do in your free time?
23. Are you an introvert or an extrovert?
24. Do you fall asleep with the TV on?
This is something that drives me crazy, hence why I would always ask my potential roommate first. 😉
25. Do you have any allergies?
26. How would you like to divide chores?
It’s always smart to have a discussion about how you will divide chores like vacuuming, cleaning, etc. in order to set expectation before move-in day.
27. Do you take showers in the morning or night?
28. What temperature do you like the room to be?
29. Are there any items that you want to share?
30. Are there any rules you want to establish before moving in?
Another good question to ask before move-in day. Communication is key!
So those are the best questions to ask your potential college roommate!
It’s so important it is to get to know your potential roommate before you commit to living together for an entire year.
Even if you don’t end up being best friends with your roommate, you still want to find someone who you get along with and are compatible with!
And you never know, you might end up becoming best friends too. 🙂
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