Going to college. roommates?

Question

I'm going to college next fall. What should I do about roommates?

I'll be in marching band, and this college has band dorms. That is one option, but I'm not so sure I want to live with a stranger. So, two or three of my friends and I think we should rent a small house or big apartment and live together. Problem #1, they're all guys and I'm a girl. Problem #2, I don't know how arrangements would work. Obviously, I'd need my own room and bathroom, and I'd definitely pay more for it. But what about cooking and cleaning? Plus #1, They're all my friends and are extremely trustworthy. Plus #2, two of those friends are in my band now and would be in band with me in college.

I'm not worried at all about the "propriety" of it. Also, I'm not a trusting person, but these guys all have my absolute trust; my judgement's not in question here.

Any advice about rooming with these friends or about rooming in general?

Answer 1

Trust me, you will not be friends for long if you are rooming with a bunch of guys. But if you do this, establish the house rules before you move in. This includes rent & utility share, who'se responsible for the lease, cleaning the common areas, kitchen duties, food sharing, TV control, guests, overnight guests...you get the picture.

Answer 2

Girls and guys rooming together, as friends, isn't terribly unusual. The tricky part would be finding an apartment where you'd have a private bath - most student apartments have shared baths even though they might have private bedrooms. And even then, either all three guys would have to share a bedroom, and most wouldn't have room for that, or else one of them would also have a private bedroom, and you'd all have to work out who paid what.

And since you would be the only girl, it wouldn't be surprising if their sterotypes took over and you were expected to do way more than your share of the cooking and cleaning.

If you go to the dorms and take pot luck with a roommate, you could end up with someone you become lifelong friends with, or someone you can't stand - that can go either way. But you should be meeting new people at college, not just hanging around with your current high-school friends, or you miss out on a lot.

Good luck.

Answer 3

i recently graduated from college, and i would say to try the dorms for a year. if you're going to a new college, this is the best way to make new friends, and venture outside of your usual 'click'. Rooming with a complete stranger can be nerve-racking, but i would say 8 times out of 10 the other person is alright. Take a chance, this may be your only time to experience dorm life. I thought it sucked at the time, but now that i look back on it, i would do it all over again in an instant.

Answer 4

Watch Judge Judy and Judge Mathis. Everybody needs to understand, when you sign a lease, you are not promising to pay 1/3 (or whatever) of the cost. You are EACH promising to make sure 100% of the costs are paid; the landlord isn't there to settle disputes between you, they just want their money. It is a legal contract. As for cleaning, do you really think the guys are going to care as much as you about that stuff?

The dorm wil be noisy but at least you won't have any worries about your overhead. And living with a stranger isn't so bad, it's just another kid like yourself.

Answer 5

Most importantly read the lease you are going to sign, for most likely no matter what happens during the school year you all will be legally bound by the lease for the whole year

If you have a problem you will not be just be able to break your lease, also if your roommates do damage to the place the landlord will hold you all responsible

Answer 6

Your call on the safety issue, but whatever you do if you do get roommates you need to have them on the lease and in addition to the lease you will need a room mate agreement between all of you. Short of that you'll regret it.