The 7 Types of Roommates You Might Have in College

Is going off to college something that's in your plans for the near (or near-ish) future?

If so, you have a ton of things to get excited about. From decorating your dorm to meeting new people who will quickly become lifelong friends, your college years really are different than any other era of your life. One major thing that's likely going to be new to you, though, is living with a roommate.

Most college students live with roommates during the entirety of their time at their university, whether it be in a dorm setting or an off-campus apartment. Either way, though, you might end up rooming with some interesting characters along the way. With that said, here's a look at some of the types of roommates you might have in college:

1. The One Who's Never There

In terms of the types of college roommates you can have, we've got to say that this kind might just be the best. Whether you know where they go when they're gone or their life continues to be a mystery to you, this type of roommate allows you to enjoy the freedom of having your own space more often than not. The only downside is the shock of seeing them when they actually are home!

(via Unsplash)

 

2. The Messy One

We've all heard horror stories about messy roommates in the past, and unfortunately, that's because this type of roommate is extremely common in a place like college. After all, some people come into college having never picked up after themselves before, meaning they have no idea how to keep their space (even a shared space) clean. If you're going to end up having conflict with any roommates in college, there's a good chance that it's going to be with this one.

(via Shutterstock)

 

Also read about: 4 Benefits of Living in a Dorm in College

 

3. The One Who Unofficially Has Their Partner Move in With You

At first, you thought it was sweet to see your roommate have their partner over, then you started to wonder if you had a right to say anything about them being over too much, then you started feeling like you have an unofficial roommate that you definitely didn't sign up to live with. The story goes on, and unfortunately, it happens all too often. If it makes you feel (understandably) uncomfortable having your roommates partner around, it is 100% okay to speak up and let them know how you feel. You'll want to do so in the gentlest way possible, however, as coming at it wrong can make your roommate shut down and start acting differently towards you, if not even retaliate against you. If the situation gets bad enough, though, you can always resort to bringing in your R.A. or the leasing office (if you're in an off-campus apartment) to help you find a solution—frankly, there are rules about having guests over no matter if you're on campus or not, and this type of roommate is definitely breaking said rules.

 

4. The One Who Sleeps All Day

Everyone in college can be guilty of sleeping in a bit too late (seriously, how did we ever wake up so early every single day for high school, and yet an 8 a.m. class in college feels like it should be illegal?), but some people take this concept to the extreme. At some point, you might come across the kind of roommate who doesn't emerge from their room until noon, 2 p.m. or even 4, when they'll just creep into the kitchen for a snack before retreating once again.

(via Shutterstock)

 

5. The One Who Never Sleeps

On the opposite side of the spectrum is the roommate who doesn't seem to sleep a wink, whether they're up late studying before getting up early for class in the morning or just always out with friends, then working out the next day.

 

6. The Noisy Roommate

Often combined with the roommate who never sleeps is the roommate who knows no boundaries when it comes to noise. Whether they're playing video games, FaceTiming their family back home, having friends over or just watching the TV on full blast, this person will start to affect your sleep schedule for the worse if you don't eventually speak up.

(via Shutterstock)

 

Also read about: 7 Things You Learn When You Move Away From Home

 

7. The Friend Who You Start to Have Conflict With

You might think it's the perfect setup to live with a friend during college, but the reality isn't always so sweet. There's a "honeymoon phase" with roommates just like there is with a relationship (for roommates, it tends to be about six weeks), and after this phase ends you can start to notice more and more things that bug you about this person or their living habits. Maybe they overstep boundaries, don't keep common spaces clean or always eat your stuff without asking, but whatever it is these issues will eventually come to a boiling point. All too often, a friendship can see itself fall out when the friends decide to live together, but there are exceptions and only you can decide for yourself if it's a good move or not.

 

Don't worry though, not all roommates in college are bad ones. If you're still curious about what to expect from the roommate life, click HERE to read about what you need to know about having one during college.