luckyducky111

Do most students decide to choose their roommates or go random?

I don't really have anyone close I'd like to room with, so I guess I'd have to go random, but I'm really nervous...like, what if I don't like my roommate? What if my roommate doesn't like me? What if we don't get along? blah blah blah. I want to be really close with my roommate, and I don't want any of that drama. This is the only reason why I'm a little nervous about going to college :-/

Protean

a large number of students will go random so don't worry too much about that. Some roommates will become best friends, some will be casual friends, while some will strictly be living mates. You really won't know if you'll be close with your roommates until you start living together so don't go in with the assumption that as roommates you will or should automatically be great friends.

Unfortunately we don't get everything in life so what you get is what you get with your assignment. If they are completely unbearable, which is rare, then you can always request a room change. Most people are reasonable enough to sort out problems so you shouldn't worry too much. Just remember everyone else is going through the same thing so you aren't alone.

docmcconl

I'm about to head into my first year, and the way I see it is, you can spend as much or as little time with your room-mate as you want. If you end up getting along, then you can always go the gym together, eat together, study together -- just generally spend time together and help each other through the first year of college.

If you don't get along as well, if your interests don't match up or whatever, then you can also get away from them. Spend time with your other friends, don't necessarily schedule a time to meet them during meals, and study with your friends in the library rather than in your room.

On the other hand, I understand that rooming assignments are made based on common interests/habits, so if you're the kind of person that stays up 'til 3am and doesn't get up 'til 3pm, then they wouldn't pair you with an early bird. I wouldn't stress out about it too much -- I have a lot of friends in college, and nearly everyone gets to be really good friends with their roommate.