Ok #Hope2018! As seen on the Hope Facebook app, people are committing to this wonderful school and are making their deposits. Naturally, the next thing to do is… find a roommate! Well, as students, we make make this a priority, but it’s important to remember a few things when it comes to rooming. Before I speak some more, here is a REALLY GREAT VIDEO on roommates I found on YouTube. Seriously, watch it. I watched it, and even made my apartment-mates watch it. This video is definitely worth your time, especially if you want to live in a good living situation!
Okay, so now that you’ve watched that, here are the requirements for Rooming 101 (RMG 101).
- Acceptance to Hope College
- Be in the class of 2018, or a transfer student!
- Have an open mind
- AND BE EXCITED ABOUT A NEW CHAPTER IN LIFE!
Now that the cheesy part is out of the way, lets dive in right away. I have noticed that people want to get to know each other, which is super awesome. This is the first step in finding a roommate, I guess. As many of you know, Admitted Students Day (ASD) is April 12th. This would be a GREAT time to meet up with potential roommates, but more importantly, new friends! I strongly encourage you all to meet up over coffee, or just even chit chat for a little. A simple conversation is where it starts!
In rooming situations, it is important to look into the future, as having a roommate is a long-term kind of commitment, unless there is a pressing issue. This is why you should get to know potential individuals that could be your roommate. In my own opinion, choosing a roommate for your freshman year is just a little less adventurous. Given that you want to be surrounded with people you like and are comfortable with, you should take the time to explore!! I chose to go in “blind,” which is what many college students do. This entails that housing, based on your criteria, will match you with a roommate. And guess what, my roommate freshman year, Austin, and I are very close friends. You never now what might happen!
What I am saying is that when you are looking for a roommate, you should be picky to the point in which you know you can find someone. Second, if you do find someone to room with, make sure you communicate with each other. Talk about your interests, hobbies, and such, but also talk about the hard stuff – expectations, ground rules, etc. Another important thing to remember is that you are starting afresh. Be open! Step out of your comfort zone. Hope College housing does a phenomenal job with pairing you up with a roommate. It’s really awesome. If things are meant to be, they are meant to be. If not, then they’re not! Make sure you are flexible in your thinking. If a rooming situation does not work, it’s not the end of the world.
Lastly, as the video stated, stress between roommates is a critical issue. Stress in college is bound to exist somewhere, but trying to prevent this stress can really help you in school. So, if you have met people trough Hope on Facebook for rooming, great! Make sure you make an effort into communicating and meeting them sometime soon. If you decide to go in blind, an adventure awaits!
I just wanted to post on rooming, because I felt that it was important to! If you have any questions at all, please do not hesitate to ask! Shoot me a DM on Twitter at @HopeMarvin15! Or if you like using the Hope on Facebook page, shoot me a message that way! I hope this helps and prepares you for rooming!