Most college students are stuck with a random roommate their first year and live with the friends they've made for the rest of their college time. My experience is quite the opposite. My first roommate was random, but we came to be really good friends. After she transferred schools, I went with random roommates this year. Though I get along with them well and am happy with my living situation, we're really not friends, and that's OK.
Having lived these two experiences, I've noticed many differences between what it's like to live with your friend versus random people. Here are some of them.
1. Knowing where they are
Friend: Emily should've gotten home from her math class 20 minutes ago. Is she getting food? Is she studying in the library? I should text her and make sure she's OK.
Random: You know, I don't think I've seen my roommate for like, a week. Hope they're doing well.
2. Knowing facts about them
Friend: She grew up in a small town that's 30 miles outside of the state capital. She's majoring in psychology and wants to go to grad school. Ultimately, she'd like to be a school counselor in a small to mid-sized public school. Oh, and her favorite color is pink, and she has a golden retriever named Waldo.
Random: I think she's from this area based on her location tags on Instagram. I've heard her talk about a biology class before, so is biology her major? Or nursing maybe? Who knows??
3. Knowing their habits
Friend: She likes to study with noise, so she studies in the student union or listens to music. She's a night owl, so she's often up pretty late. She doesn't do drugs, but she enjoys a glass of wine every once in a while.
Random: I really don't know their study schedule, what time they go to bed, what they do for fun, or anything else really.
4. Spending time with them
Friend: We spend every evening watching TV together, unless one of us has a lot of homework. On the weekends we'll go shopping or to a restaurant to have some more quality time together.
Random: I've never done anything with them, which is fine because we have our own friends.
5. Sharing belongings
Friend: "Can I borrow your navy sweater with the white stripes? It'll go really well with my skirt, and I have a presentation today. You can wear this t-shirt of mine that you love if you want!"
Random: We share the hand soap in the bathroom and that's about it.
6. Cleaning the room
Friend: We should devise a cleaning schedule so that we are doing a fair share of the work and rotate responsibilities so that we're not always doing the same things.
Random: What's a schedule?
7. Talking with them
Friend: When I get home from class, I'm going to vent to her about how much I hate this professor. I also want to hear about her day, because I know she was up all night studying for that chem test.
Random: We'll make small talk if we happen to see each other, but we don't have conversations.
8. Decorating the room
Friend: Let's color-coordinate our bedding, wall art, and everything else so that the room is aesthetically pleasing.
Random: Let's just buy our own stuff and not care if it goes together.
9. Level of privacy
Friend: You don't really have any since they're always there.
Random: Since we don't spend time together, I'm always alone so privacy is rampant.
10. Level of drama
Friend: I'm used to talking to Emily every day, but she hasn't talked to me yet today. Did I do something wrong? Is it because I didn't get her anything at Starbucks when I was there this morning?
Random: Can't have drama when you don't hang out!
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