Top Law Schools

i'm starting ls in the fall. what i'm trying to decide now is whether or not i'd want to have a roommate for my 1L year.

what's the verdict?

to note...
-i'm really anal about living cleanly and i prefer the minimal/open spaces aesthetic, so clutter is an issue.
-i smoke on occasion.
-i listen to a lot of music.
-i hate bad television and movies.
--
-i've been focused on work recently, and my social life has taken a hit to some extent. i was thinking maybe a roommate would ensure a more active social life?

Is money a serious issue? Truthfully, I think saving money is the only reason to have a roommate during 1L. I actually picked an apartment in a not-ideal area of my city because the rent was cheaper, enabling me to live by myself. I am so thankful I did. You don't want any additional stresses in your life during your first year.

That being said, I prefer to live alone, because I too am anal about tidiness, and because noise that I'm not creating really bothers me when I am trying to get work done. I could see how folks who preferred to have roommates would see things differently.

As for social life, you'll have plenty of opportunities to go out and hang out without needing a roomie to prod you. The best part about living alone during 1L is that party time is party time and rest time is rest time, all on your own terms.

OP, I know that feel and I think there's a happy medium here: live with roommates, but have your own bathroom (like a 2BR/2BA, 3BR/3BA, and so on). This way, you can interact with them in common areas like the kitchen and living room, but it'll feel like you have your own place.

smokyroom26: i'll be in nc, so rent will be somewhat cheap. money is thus not really an issue.

taikofox: did you do that? if so, how was getting assigned random roommates?

PARTY wrote:taikofox: did you do that? if so, how was getting assigned random roommates?

In undergrad, I lived with two guys that I knew beforehand and that was awesome. I'm planning on doing a 3BR/3BA with two incoming students next fall. I haven't met them in-person, but they seem pretty chill after talking over the phone, so I'm not too worried about it. I'd definitely meet potential roommates before living with them for a year (or however long your lease is). Getting assigned random roommates sounds terrifying.

Have you had roommates before? I don't know if 1L is the best time to experiment. I've only enjoyed 1 of 5 years I've had roommates.

PARTY wrote: to note...
-i'm really anal

verdict: no roomies

taikofox wrote:

PARTY wrote:taikofox: did you do that? if so, how was getting assigned random roommates?

In undergrad, I lived with two guys that I knew beforehand and that was awesome. I'm planning on doing a 3BR/3BA with two incoming students next fall. I haven't met them in-person, but they seem pretty chill after talking over the phone, so I'm not too worried about it. I'd definitely meet potential roommates before living with them for a year (or however long your lease is). Getting assigned random roommates sounds terrifying.

Make sure to have a long conversation over the phone, gchat, skype, etc... with your roommate before you say "yes." There are some issues which are deal breakers (ex: smoking.) If you get along and think you can stand living with that person for a year, go for it.

However, if money is not really an option I don't see why you should have a roommate. What you want is a friend. The two are not exactly the same and if your friendship sours then you'll be stuck with dead weight for a year. Not a pleasant thought.

PARTY wrote: -i'm really anal about living cleanly and i prefer the minimal/open spaces aesthetic, so clutter is an issue.
-i smoke on occasion.
-i listen to a lot of music.
-i hate bad television and movies.

Odds are that any roommate you end up with is going to clash with you on at least one of these issues
You want a more active social life? Moonlight as a bartender.

If you're the kind of person who can get upset over the kind of TV another person is watching, you're not roommate material.

Trust me, it's not worth it. There is a very large chance that you will end up hating eachother.

I'm hoping to get a single but either in law school housing or an apartment complex that's particularly popular with law students. That will give me my own space but a general proximity to law students for social interaction. After dorm and fraternity living, living by myself will be nice, but I'll definitely need people nearby. Maybe this could be a good way to boost your social life while not having to worry about a roommate?

Are we not even going to touch on the irony of a person with the s/n "PARTY" worried about needing roommates to have a social life?

No?

OK then, sounds good.

If you've had and enjoyed having roommates before in school/grown up life, then get a roommate. If you haven't, then don't.

Dance with the one that brought you. 1L is no time to mix things up.

Birdnals wrote:Are we not even going to touch on the irony of a person with the s/n "PARTY" worried about needing roommates to have a social life?

No?

OK then, sounds good.

I thought about it the first time I saw his tar.
I decided to be nice

i've had some great roommates, and i've had four separate roommates whom i hope i never see again.

i'm probably going with a single.

If you're anal and 'hate' bad movies/TV, you'll probably clash with a potential roommate. I successfully roomed with an anal person (at least I assume it was successful since I was invited to his very small, intimate wedding two years later), but he was my college buddy so I'm pretty sure he forgave a lot on account of our good friendship.

moonman157 wrote:I'm hoping to get a single but either in law school housing or an apartment complex that's particularly popular with law students. That will give me my own space but a general proximity to law students for social interaction. After dorm and fraternity living, living by myself will be nice, but I'll definitely need people nearby. Maybe this could be a good way to boost your social life while not having to worry about a roommate?

You will find during law school that other law students are the last people you want to socialize with outside of school. All conversations eventually turn to outlines, supplements, professors, jobs, etc. You'll need non-law friends to keep some balance.

I think it depends on the person. When i was younger i was an awful roommate. Last summer i lived with a born again harry krishna (converted from christianity). I found out from his ex girlfriend who sublet the place he was a lunatic and potentially violent. He was also extremely racist against virtually everyone not in the krishna faith, and would always tell me how my people (the jews) planned 9/11 and i should become a krishna if i wasn't a terrorist. Following that i lived with a guy in finance who was awesome. I'd also get more done with him around because he was so driven whenever he was around i always felt like a bum if i wasn't working out or getting paid. I presume most law students will be more like the second guy.

dingbat wrote:

PARTY wrote: -i'm really anal about living cleanly and i prefer the minimal/open spaces aesthetic, so clutter is an issue.
-i smoke on occasion.
-i listen to a lot of music.
-i hate bad television and movies.

Odds are that any roommate you end up with is going to clash with you on at least one of these issues
You want a more active social life? Moonlight as a bartender.

Yeah u seem a bit hypocritical and territorial, which are signs of trouble. Who cares what they watch?

AffordablePrep wrote:

dingbat wrote:

PARTY wrote: -i'm really anal about living cleanly and i prefer the minimal/open spaces aesthetic, so clutter is an issue.
-i smoke on occasion.
-i listen to a lot of music.
-i hate bad television and movies.

Odds are that any roommate you end up with is going to clash with you on at least one of these issues
You want a more active social life? Moonlight as a bartender.

Yeah u seem a bit hypocritical and territorial, which are signs of trouble. Who cares what they watch?

i had a roommate who literally watched 4 hours of scrubs every day. i detest that show.

i also don't care for sports.

basically, i'd rather not be subjected to the crap most people have playing constantly throughout their day.

PARTY wrote:i had a roommate who literally watched 4 hours of scrubs every day. i detest that show.

i also don't care for sports.

basically, i'd rather not be subjected to the crap most people have playing constantly throughout their day.

Did you try to help change him by introducing him to better television? He can't do that all on his own; he's no superman.

have you lived by yourself before?
I hadn't until this year.
I thought, "Im a badass with a job, I should get my own pad"

Now I write on an internet forum about roommates instead of dipping in a spittoon, talking trash and playing fifa. Life is way worse without roommates.

laxbrah420 wrote:have you lived by yourself before?
I hadn't until this year.
I thought, "Im a badass with a job, I should get my own pad"

Now I write on an internet forum about roommates instead of dipping in a spittoon, talking trash and playing fifa. Life is way worse without roommates.

haha so true. Lived alone for the first time this year. Kind of sucks.

Birdnals wrote:
Did you try to help change him by introducing him to better television? He can't do that all on his own; he's no superman.

Nice

PARTY wrote:

AffordablePrep wrote:

dingbat wrote:

PARTY wrote: -i'm really anal about living cleanly and i prefer the minimal/open spaces aesthetic, so clutter is an issue.
-i smoke on occasion.
-i listen to a lot of music.
-i hate bad television and movies.

Odds are that any roommate you end up with is going to clash with you on at least one of these issues
You want a more active social life? Moonlight as a bartender.

Yeah u seem a bit hypocritical and territorial, which are signs of trouble. Who cares what they watch?

i had a roommate who literally watched 4 hours of scrubs every day. i detest that show.

i also don't care for sports.

basically, i'd rather not be subjected to the crap most people have playing constantly throughout their day.

So you are saying you are a weirdo. I would opt for a single.