1. Are they looking for someone to live with or a new best friend?

Everyone is different and making sure you’re on the same page with this aspect is important. It can be very awkward if one person wants to hang out all the time and the other person wants to do their own thing. If you’re looking for someone to be close with, make sure they are too.

2. Be honest.

Please, I’m begging you, do not sugar coat or hide things because you want them to like you or because you’re trying to make this work. You need to be exactly who you are and be honest about everything. This will be the person you spend the next year of your life with, in a very small room. If you’re having to convince yourself that it might work out it most likely will not.

3. Similar Interests vs. Similar Personalities

There’s a big difference between liking the same type of music and living a similar lifestyle. Just because they played the same sport as you in high school and watch the same Netflix shows does not mean they are like you. Ask deeper questions, really get to know who they are and what they stand for and then you’ll see if they really are similar to you or not.

4. Be patient and don’t settle.

There is a very very small chance that the first person you talk to will be the person you room with. It’s okay to talk to a lot of people and see what works best for you. It might be frustrating but by doing this you can get a better idea of what kind of roommate you need. Please do not room with the first person you talk to just because you are afraid you won’t find anyone else. It might take some time, but I promise you it will be worth it.

5. How do they feel about guests?

If you want to have your friends stay the night it’s important that your roommate is okay with it. On the other hand, if you don’t really want other people to stay in your room, you need to make sure that you find someone who isn’t going to have people in your room whenever they feel like it. This is especially important if one of you has a significant other because you need to decide how often you want them over.

6. Talk about the little things.

What temperature do they want to keep the room? Are they messy? Do they have a specific diet (ex: vegetarian) and if so are they gonna respect how you choose to eat? It’s the little things that we sometimes forget that can cause the most issues. Find out where they plan on studying, when they go to bed, when they wake up, how clean they are, etc. These things can make a big difference in someone who is a good fit or not.

7. Religion/Beliefs

This is a big thing because it can make a person who they are. Be honest, talk about your religious beliefs and make sure that the person either shares the same beliefs as you or is willing to respect the things that are important to you. If your roommate can’t respect your morals or beliefs, then it will be very difficult to get along.

8. “Going out”

This is probably one of the biggest things when it comes to choosing a roommate. College to some people is one big party while to others it is a place solely to get an education. Discuss how much you plan on going out and make sure that you find someone who is similar to you in that aspect. This can cause a lot of conflicts if you don’t find yourselves agreeing on this. The most important thing is that you discuss this so you know what to expect.