1L Roommate Experiences Forum

[nealric]

Most of the major problems I've had with college roommates concerned hygiene and sanitation. Fights over who is going to clean the toilet or take out the trash can cause unnessesary drama.

OCD much?

[GobiasIndustries]

Roommates can be quite a strain. Most of the major problems I've had with college roommates concerned hygiene and sanitation. Fights over who is going to clean the toilet or take out the trash can cause unnessesary drama. I am more insanity-averse than I am debt-averse and thus prefer going without a roomie, fwiw

yes yes yes.

My first roommates I had after school were my friends, and they were disgusting. My girlfriend's roommate also makes no effort whatsoever to clean up after herself or keep anything in good shape, which causes a ton of tension/stress because my gf owns the place.

I'll always recommend avoiding roommates of any kind unless you KNOW you're going to get along with them, if you can afford it.

[fwaam]

"In terms of a roommate, I would not recommend it. 1L year is stressful enough; it is risky to live with a stranger. The possibility of not getting along is high, and you will want your home to be a safe haven, where you can go relax. Roommates are great for 2L and 3L year. You can save some money, you get to live with someone who is your friend, and you will know the area better."

+1

Obviously it depends on the person and what you're used to, to a huge degree. Going into law school, nearly everyone has experience having roommates and you know how much roommate conflict stresses you out, what your boundaries are, etc. Some people are very laid-back, get along with anyone, are never bothered by cleanliness issues, etc.--these people should probably have roommates. I'm not one of those people (nor are most of the people I know tbh), and I'm definitely not going to have a roommate as a 1L. While I don't think even a bad roommate situation would have much effect on my grades, it would certainly have an effect on my overall happiness and stress level, which is more important to me than a little bit more debt. Not everything in life can or should be reduced to money.

[Ayeshabelle]

Most of the major problems I've had with college roommates concerned hygiene and sanitation. Fights over who is going to clean the toilet or take out the trash can cause unnessesary drama.

OCD much?

I don't think it is a matter of being OCD. Most people have a level of acceptable cleanliness and get creeped out in surroundings in which the situation falls below that. The difficulty arises when roommates have varying ideas of where that point is. For example, some people are okay with washing dishes once a day, while others get nauseated at the sight of dishes sitting in the sink for over ten minutes. Some people do not feel comfortable unless they recycle paper, plastic, and cans. Some people are so apathetic about the environment that they simply throw trash into the recycling bin when the trash can becomes full because they are "not in the mood" to empty the trash can. Different values and tastes are a fact of life, but when they clash in your domestic situation it can bring trouble.

And its not simply as easy as pre-screening people to see if they share your values. Some people will tell the whole world how much they love the planet and think recycling is "the sex," but when noone is looking laziness will overpower desire to recycle any time.

[rando]

Some people will tell the whole world how much they love the planet and think recycling is "the sex."

What does that mean?

[02122015]

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[Pearalegal]

I hope this doesn't come off sexist or anything, but I think its harder for two girls who are strangers to live together as opposed to guys. Generally speaking, we're pickier.

I'm sure I could be perfectly happy living with someone else, but I've always liked coming home and just being home. I guess I go out a lot, do my studying out a lot and generally am around other people most of the day. When I've lived alone, I've never felt lonely. I feel like I've always made close enough friends that I have somewhere to hang out or someone I could call to come over if I wanted to have a pow wow after work or late at night.

I like going home and just being able to curl up and not have to talk if I don't want to, without worrying about offending anyone or being in her space or her being in mine...and I like to have all my own stuff and the sort of decorating I like, haha.

Maybe I've just been unlucky, but even though I've liked the majority of girls I've lived with...oh lord. One girl would one home and throw up drunk every night, so I'd both worry about her but also not want to go out with her/avoid her when she got home. Another would either scream at her (admittedly shitty) boyfriend on the phone at all hours...or in our living room. Another girl was such a neat freak that she turned bitchy at me for not cleaning up a soup bowl when I had the flu.

On the other hand, I lived with a dude once. We played video games together and had a few beers whenever we'd get home around the same time. It was awesome. He tried to be more feminine by getting a berry candle for the kitchen and smirnoff ice for me once. That second part was gross, but still....effort.

[Mickey Quicknumbers]

agreed pearalegal. No matter your gender there's a possibility for a plane crash, but I think girls tend to take things more personally as a whole. Last year I left my light on once and my roommates unscrewed all my light bulbs and put them in my pillow. My reaction was to screw the light bulbs in and be more conscientious about turning off my lights, we lit the hookah and never thought about it again. I've seen girls go a month not on talking terms for lesser offenses.

[02122015]

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[Langfall]

Idk, I think both genders can have serious issues with their roommates if neither is absolutely honest in what kind of roommate they are looking for. I believe to some degree you have to apply the same amount of rigid standards in a potential roommate search as you would if you were searching out your forever SO. I know personally Im not a neat freak but I like my area tidy so no dishes in the sink before I go to sleep or at least have them cleaned within a day if life gets busy and dont leave hair in the bathtub etc..
There are things I can let pass but I try to be stringent with the qualities that I need my roommate to absolutely have

[Snowdrifter]

I submit that this question ultimately hinges on whether or not you're introverted or extroverted. I'm NOT talking about the stereotypical definitions of an introvert as an asocial hermit, or the extrovert as a drunken wild child.... I'm talking about the simple difference of whether you can recharge your mental batteries by being alone, or by surrounding yourself with people.

If it's the former, I think a separate living environment will be important for you.
If it's the latter, try to find a compatible roommate or 2.

Disclaimer: Just my two cents as a 0L.

[momo_08]

To put in my (late) two cents, i would say that if apartment issues with roommates have no major effect on you and it would help you cut down on cost then absolutely go for it but at the very least try to have your own room. Although I didn't have a horrible UG experience when it comes to roommates, the one i have now has little habits that drive me up the wall like not listening to ANYTHING with headphones even when i'm sleeping/studying, not cleaning until she absolutely has to and absolutely no noise/light in the room when she sleeps (she often sleeps earlier than me and wakes up much later than me)

That being said, I plan on having my own apartment for at least 1L until I meet someone I would like to room with. The lonely part will be tough to deal with especially since I've always lived with my twin plus at least one other roommate but i figure by the time i go home from LS i will want some peace and quiet with no drama or sanitation issues to worry about

[fwaam]

I find it kind of funny that someone started a thread asking other people about roommate experiences, as if that would help the OP decide whether or not to have a roommate. (Just as, when talking to current students and telling them I don't want one, I had to roll my eyes when they--this happened more than once!--responded with, "Oh, I've had roommates and it's no problem." Right, because I'm going to be living with their roommates? Um?)

Really, by the time you go to law school, you should know yourself well enough to know if you prefer roommates or not, and what you're looking for in a roommate. Other people's experiences are not going to help you there.

[sixburgher]

Right. Like the previous poster, this is your decision based on what you know about yourself.

Everything people are saying about the positive social elements are true I would think, but based on previous experience I know it's better for me to just have a place to go back to for dinner and sleep. I lived with one of my best friends in undergrad and it was awesome, but if I came back late at night and he was watching a movie or having a drink it was impossible for me to pass up hanging out for awhile (which could turn into hours).

[motiontodismiss]

Roommates can be quite a strain. Most of the major problems I've had with college roommates concerned hygiene and sanitation. Fights over who is going to clean the toilet or take out the trash can cause unnessesary drama. I am more insanity-averse than I am debt-averse and thus prefer going without a roomie, fwiw

+1. Add to that the fact that I don't like other people touching my stuff. I'd rather have a studio by myself than a 2 bedroom with a roomie. I had roomies all through college-never again. I'm too old for this crap.

If I want to socialize, I'll go out with people. Home is a sanctuary for me and me only. I want to lay in bed in my PJ's and watch movies while eating ice cream with a shovel with no regard to how a roommate might feel about it when I come home after a particularly bad day.

[The Dan]

Drinking alone is generally frowned upon, so I think it's important that I have a roommate.

[JordynAsh]

I feel like someone made this thread for me!!! lol It's been pretty bad, and definitely not worth the ~200 a month that I saved. I met my roommate at ASD. I lived alone before law school for about 7 years, so I am sure that at least a minor factor, but I never really had major roommate issues before. I lived in a house with 8 girls in college....

My main problems have been:
*judging me based on my "lifestyle" and the way in which I spend money
*racist/anti-Semitic comments in regards to myself and my boyfriend
*rudeness towards my father when he came to visit (demeaning his profession to his face)
*making fun of me for studying so much
*making fun of me/telling me I don't have my priorities straight for wanting to work BigLaw
*cleanliness in common area
*clutter in the common area
*crappy furniture/sewing machine/baby chickens in the common area
*not willing to use heat to save money
*not warning me that they are having parties/loud people over on weeknights, even when I ask them to do so so that I can stay at the library

?? Elaborate on the baby chickens plz.

[Blindmelon]

No one I know in LS has roommate issues beyond a little drama here and there. If its 900$/month studio, and 650$/month for 3bdr, I'd save the 250$ a month.

You need to save $ - debt is evil. Live eh now so you can live decently when you graduate.

[fwaam]

?? Elaborate on the baby chickens plz.

They decided to raise chickens. Although I thought this was odd, I didn't object. I asked where the chickens would live, and the answer was in a chicken coop outside, so I said OK. However, this did not include the period in which they were too small to go out in the cold, and had to live inside in a bin. In the living room. If I would have known this, I would have said no way from the start, not until I move out. That's bad enough, just considering sanitary issues (the smell was terrible) and noise (constant tweeting), but who knew I was more than moderately allergic to chicken dander. Still recovering from skin irritations, and getting up the courage to wear a short sleeve shirt or a skirt again.

I do think it is true that in most cases, problems are minor. But I have to admit - I think it would be hard to go back to living with people after living alone for so long, even if the people are OK. Esp. when if you are yuppie, bougie, and older.

Wow. Definitely a roommate horror story.

I have a friend who had a roommate who asked if it was okay if she got a hamster. My friend said okay. The roommate wound up getting several rats, which not only made a lot of noise, but stunk, since the roommate didn't clean out the cage nearly often enough.

[motiontodismiss]

I could never have a roommate. I like to keep my place cold-no warmer than 65 degrees fahrenheit and I've been known to go down to 60. I've been known to turn on the A/C even in the middle of the freaking winter. Actually an extremely effective tool for getting rid of humidity. I like my ambient air bone-dry.

I'd rather commute an hour and a half each way than have a roommate. And not just because the current one somehow likes to keep the room so hot as to be some kind of disgusting, boiling oven, and then uses the a/c unit as his headboard. What a jackass.

I'm going to say right now that all roommates are evil. I don't care how compatible you are, I don't good how good of friends you are (especially if you're best friends), I don't care if you think your roomie's your soul mate. They're evil. Period.

[T14_Scholly]

I find it kind of funny that someone started a thread asking other people about roommate experiences, as if that would help the OP decide whether or not to have a roommate. (Just as, when talking to current students and telling them I don't want one, I had to roll my eyes when they--this happened more than once!--responded with, "Oh, I've had roommates and it's no problem." Right, because I'm going to be living with their roommates? Um?)

Really, by the time you go to law school, you should know yourself well enough to know if you prefer roommates or not, and what you're looking for in a roommate. Other people's experiences are not going to help you there.

I was going to say it more harshly but then I saw this guy's post so I guess that's sufficient.

[TCScrutinizer]

Can this be a "bad roommate" thread now? Out of the seven college roommates I've had, three were drug addicts and five were alcoholics; two of them nearly killed each other, and one of them barely avoided assault charges for running around naked, drunk, and tackling women.

[RickyMack]

no room mate for me! i like to hold naked sundays, only myself and attractive members of the opposite sex are invited.

[calapp09]

I have a great roommate I met on craigslist. We went out to lunch a few times before committing to a lease to make sure we were compatible, and living with a non-law roommate has turned out to be the best thing ever. Not only is it great to save money, but its nice to have someone to talk to outside the law school bubble so you don't lose track of reality. It's also a relief to have someone else to do the housework during finals. We do have separate rooms and bathrooms, which is important when you get too busy to keep things tidied up because you aren't inconveniencing someone else. Go for a roommate if you can have your own bathroom and personal space.