posted
I've already answered all the usual questions:
1. smoking or non (non); 2. what time I normally go to bed (between 11pm and 1am); 3. whether I expect to regularly receive phone calls before 8am or after 11pm (no); 4. how much privacy I need (much); 5. whether I prefer my room neat or messy (neat); 6. whether I play music while studying (I do, but I'm very particular about what type of music, so I put "no." I can always use headphones if I have to); 7. what type of music I prefer (classical, because there is NEVER an option for "instrumental movie soundtracks" or "J-pop", though I also wrote those in underneath); 8. whether I would mind my roommate having a friend or significant other overnight (yes); 9. whether I would prefer a double room even if a single is available (yes);
and I've listed the three of the above that they should be most concerned about (1, 5, and 8).
The hard question is the last one: "Please share any additional information which you believe would be helpful in assigning you a roommate." I have no idea what to put for this - it seems like everything I can think of can be misinterpreted in some way. So...any suggestions?
posted
Be sure to mention that your last three roommates all died in suspicious circumstances, and that you've recently taken up arson as a hobby.
Posts: 37449 | Registered: May 1999
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posted
Japanese pop music, I believe. I just listen to Japanese tv show soundtracks.. I don't think that's J Pop. I have a friend who likes Ueto Aya; she's a pop singer.
And I agree with HollowEarth. In hindsight, it doesn't make much difference. The dorm makes for a valuable experience whether you like your roommate or not. I hope you like her though.
Posts: 1056 | Registered: Mar 2002
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posted
well tell us then pH did filling out your roomate form prevent you from getting this bad roomate or was it in anyway related to the form?
Posts: 1621 | Registered: Oct 2001
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posted
Filling out my roommate form did nothing for me. I had bad roommate experiences until I finally barged into the res life office and demanded a single room. And although I have a roommate in the apartment I'm moving into, it's a two-bedroom.
For me, it's just insanely difficult to share the room I sleep in with another human being.
Posts: 9057 | Registered: Nov 2000
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posted
Honestly, you sound like a tough roommate, Jane
Stuff to avoid arguments is often helpful... like, "talk to me immediately about any problems," or "I hate arguing over IM and e-mail," "leaving a note is fine" or something (probably better worded) around those lines.
Early on, you should learn that while your 'half' might be neat, she should be allowed to be relatively messy on her 'half' as long as it doesn't smell. If she's messier than you, by all means have her take the inner-half of the room if the door is to one side. And then keep any common items on your side (like a fridge) so you don't have to walk through her stuff.
Are you a light sleeper? My freshman-year roommate almost went crazy because I would stay up and type for a while after she went to bed. The typing and mouse clicking was loud enough to annoy the hell out of her.
Posts: 1892 | Registered: Mar 2002
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posted
When I filled mine out, I felt like I was filling out a personals ad. Does that help? I just wrote that I wanted someone christian, not too much of a partier but still outgoing and fun, and some more stuff that I've forgotten. Just pretend you've lost your best friend and you have to write an ad looking for her/him in the newspaper without using her/his name.
posted
Now, this asking for a Christian roommate. Most of the ads for roommates that I had seen at my old college said that too. Why? How can you possibly guesstimate a person's personality based on their religion? Or are you looking for something in particular when you make that reqest? I always found that so sad. I never saw any Buddhist or Jewish or Hindu-only ads for roommates, for example.
Posts: 1990 | Registered: Feb 2001
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posted
I can imagine some Christians being freaked out by some non-Christian roommates. It'd depend in part on how open each was about their faith. Even I might be bothered by someone with pentacles and candles everywhere, though I think I'm fairly open about such things.
Posts: 1114 | Registered: Mar 2004
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Unless you are really adventurous, make sure you don't have a roommate (like me) who has ermmm...exotic tastes in food. A package of eg good homemade kimchee can really clear a room. Let's make that a floor. Or three.
Posts: 8501 | Registered: Jul 2001
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posted
Seriously, what's the appeal of sharing a room vs. having your own? Financial considerations aside.
Posts: 9057 | Registered: Nov 2000
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posted
Some folks get their energy from being around other people (extroversion). I could see those people wanting a roommate. I know several people who opt for a roommate instead of a single. But opting for an unknown person to be your roommate versus single seems like gambling.
There's something very camp-like about having a roommate to chat with.
Posts: 1892 | Registered: Mar 2002
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posted
I love being around people. But I can easily just wander over to anyone else's room in this building. I mean, there are twelve floors of people here, plenty of interaction to be had. Why not reserve a bit of space for yourself? It comes in handy when you wanna have friends over, sleep in the middle of the day, be upset over something stupid, be alone with your thoughts....
Posts: 9057 | Registered: Nov 2000
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posted
If your college permits alcohol on campus, decide if you want it there or not. Request appropriately. If you do not drink then I would recommend setting a policy of no alcohol, because you might get stuck with someone who drinks until they are sick every weekend.
Posts: 1364 | Registered: Feb 2003
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posted
One thing I never thought to request ... are you a prostitute?... of course my roommate didn't have her male friends spend the night... just her customers for two hours or so.
*shudders* I never shared a dorm room again after that experience
Posts: 862 | Registered: Oct 2003
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posted
I requested a Christian roommate on the hope that she will share at least some of my beliefs. I'm also hoping to find someone to go to church with me. That's the only reason I included it in mine. I wouldn't mind a roommate of another religion, but I would prefer someone of my own faith, because (in a perfect world ) we'd have less conflict over moral stuff? Yeah, I dunno. It made sense at the time.
posted
If you don't drink you might mention that...having a roommate that gets drunk...and sick can be bad.
I actually never thought about religion in a roommate until this year. All through my undergrad years, and first year in grad school I either lived with other Christians, or jewish people. Not really by design, but that is just how it worked out. This year I am living with an athiest, and it can be annoying at times because he doesn't just not believe in God, he is offended by the fact that others do...and he does not let you forget about it.
Posts: 1901 | Registered: May 2004
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posted
Jane, I also thought you might want to request a Jewish roommate. It didn't occur to me to do so, but luckily I got one anyway. It made keeping Shabbos and celebrating holidays much easier. I also went to her house in D.C. for Pesach, which was wonderful b/c I couldn't go home. I have been very, very lucky in roommates (not suitemates, though).
Maybe this is too nitpicky, but maybe you should put down whether you prefer a warm or cold room. My freshman roommate and I both liked the room cold, but our suitemates had an epic struggle over the thermostat.
Posts: 3037 | Registered: Jan 2002
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posted
Would a roomate that has a TV on 24/7 bother you?
What about one that is constantly sleeping?
Let the surveyors know if your extremely active, or into games and such (will you be on your computer most of the time). Also write down your hobbies, or sports, or whatever.
*thinks; can't think of anything else to add*
Posts: 271 | Registered: Apr 2002
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posted
You might want to mention your religion. You wouldn't want a roomate who was not understanding about religious practices.
One of my sister's roomates was from the Middle East and fairly anti-semitic. It was fairly uncomfortable for her, even though she was a Christian.
I had a different roomate every year, even though we usually got along well. My first rommate and I were getting along great, until some guy she liked asked me out (she didn't tell me, so I didn't know I was poaching). And then she kicked the hamster (a pet that we actually picked out together). She didn't stay at te same school the next year. Too tough for her.
The second roomate and I only ever had one argument, and that was because she brought a girl to come study before 8am who was kinda creepy and watching me dress and stuff. I mean, girls dress around eachother all the time, but this girl was staring. It was creepy. But that was finals week, and she was going to room with her sister the next year. We stayed good friends.
posted
I've never heard of many issues with religion.
My best friend is a very active Christian (bible studies, adult education, choir, etc), and his first roomate was Muslim.
They had a great time discussing eachothers beliefs. I looked at college dorms as the best way to get a perspective on many different types of people at once.
Posts: 271 | Registered: Apr 2002
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) we'd have less conflict over moral stuff? Yeah, I dunno. It made sense at the time.![[Eek!]](eek.gif)
