Living Situation as a 1L: Roomies or solo? Forum

[prosen5808]

Just wanted to see if anyone who has been through 1L had any opinions on what living situation works best. Would having a roommate keep you from going insane, or is it a distraction? Also, would having a law student roommate help because you can relate to each other, or would it be better to have a non law student roommate to take your mind off school while at home? Of course it depends on what kind of person you are, but I was just interested in seeing what others prefer.

[ran12]

I would live alone if you can. It's important to have a place where you can just be left alone.

[Lwoods]

I have a non law school roommate and love it. I don't like to talk to my classmates about grades, but I do like having someone to brag/rant/cry to. In general I like living with people, though.

[mattviphky]

I wanted to live alone, but the cost compelled me to seek out roommates. However, I'm pretty sure I don't want to live with law students. Not that it would be a bad deal, but I would rather live with people that I can connect with in different ways. Plus, it might lead to extra tension when finals roll around. I almost lived with two 3Ls, though.

[094320]

..

[snowpeach06]

Depends on your preferences. I personally need to be able to come home and talk to someone - so I opted for a roomie and it turned out great. Some people would rather be alone. Some people got roommates and it's been a disaster, others lived alone and got lonely. Know yourself - and if you do go the roommate route, I strongly suggest asking a lot of questions to make sure you two will get along. Ex, if they are messy and you are clean, if they have people over all the time and you don't want that, ect.

[Bildungsroman]

I live with a fellow 1L (and we'll be living together next year as well) and it's been great. Most law students and prospective law students are objectionable people and I can understand the instinct not to want to live with one, but there are law students out there who aren't shitty.

[FlanAl]

the few 1L's who live with 2L's seem to have gotten it figured out. they pay less rent and get all kinds of advice from upper classmen that other kids get, but not on a regular basis. Totally depends on your personality, I lived alone but I prefer to live that way.

[prosen5808]

I lived with 9 girls in one house for the past two years of UG and learned to truly love it, but in general I like personal space and have a feeling I'll be needing it during 1L... especially during finals... just wish it wasn't so expensive to live alone in San Francisco.

[Titleist]

I'm living with my s.o next year. Hopefully we do not kill each other.

[Worker and Parasite]

I've got a question: do people still split rooms or is that still an undergraduate thing?

[Dany]

I've got a question: do people still split rooms or is that still an undergraduate thing?

No one I know does this and it seems like a terrible idea.

[llachans]

I'm living with my s.o next year. Hopefully we do not kill each other.

[cinephile]

I've got a question: do people still split rooms or is that still an undergraduate thing?

I know three girls who live in a one bedroom. One of them curtained off an area of the living room and has a really nice, if not private, room. And another is living in what might be a large walk-in closet. Like she only has room for a twin bed and directly across from her bed is a dresser, and that's the whole room. But it's affordable. That's a bit extreme, but I know a lot of people in Boston who save on rent by living in the living room.

[snowpeach06]

At this age you can't possibly so cheap as to not even spring for your own room. I mean... common. Law school is stressful, who wants to live somewhere where they literally have no option of getting away from people? And what if you have someone over? Do you want to have sex in the living room with your roommates there? It's just absurd to me to not spend an extra few hundred dollars to not have your own space. With all the money you are spending on law school, it's just a drop on the bucket anyway - and to avoid that sort of inescapable disaster, seems very worth it.

[dowu]

At this age you can't possibly so cheap as to not even spring for your own room. I mean... common. Law school is stressful, who wants to live somewhere where they literally have no option of getting away from people? And what if you have someone over? Do you want to have sex in the living room with your roommates there? It's just absurd to me to not spend an extra few hundred dollars to not have your own space. With all the money you are spending on law school, it's just a drop on the bucket anyway - and to avoid that sort of inescapable disaster, seems very worth it.

This... Fuck it! I have a roomie now and I absolutely can't stand it. I went out of town this last weekend and he had a party. Basically, I came home to a house that smelled like shit and there was throw up smeared (from his attempt to clean) in the laundry room. I wanted to rip his head off and shit down his throat. I'm still debating on beating the shit out of him. I'm moving out 2 months early just to get the fuck away. Going solo from now on, no matter the cost.

[quiver]

It will depend on 1) your preferences, study habits, finances, etc. and 2) who your roommate is. I had a roommate for 1L and no roommate for 2L but there has been practically no difference because he would just study in the library till midnight and I'd study in the apartment. We literally had like 8 hours of interaction per week.

[AreJay711]

I live with several other people and love it but my first semester I was in a sublet by myself (Michigan summer starter). You get more work done living in your own place but that didn't affect my grades. I think it comes down to whether you like living with people or not more that anything intrinsic to law school.

[joeshmo39]

I like roommates. Law school is stressful and misery loves company. It's like making the voyage to America in the absolute cheapest, dirtiest, darkest, lowliest cabin during the late 1800s. It sucks, but it probably sucks more making the voyage completely alone.

[Jacky D.]

Finding a good roommate: go to ASW, go out with law students, find one at the same level of intoxication, sign the lease.