Spring Break
Be upfront with roommate concerns
JUSTIN CREWS
Issue date: 11/5/09 Section: Athens Living
Finding a place to live in Athens is hard, but finding someone you get along with well enough to sign a contract with just might be harder.
Whether they're friends, acquaintances or just a randomly selected roommate, there are some things you might want to consider when looking for a roommate.
Locating
The method freshmen are introduced to initially is the Dawghouse system. Here, participants are listed based on similar questionnaire answers. But users communicate mainly through e-mail, making it less than ideal for the two people to get to really know one another.
There is also Facebook, which has a several groups and the "marketplace" feature where roommate listings can be posted. This method might be the easiest, but the downside is that with the volume of posts, yours can be easily overlooked.
Compatibility
Let's face it, no matter how cool a person seems on their Facebook profile, rolling over at 2 a.m. and blocking out the sound of Guitar Hero with thoughts of an 8 a.m. test the next morning doesn't work.
A helpful hint: don't live with a best friend simply because you like hanging out with him or her - that isn't what makes a good roommate. No matter who the person is, friendship does not always equal compatibility.
Before any contracts are signed, you should sit down with your roommate-to-be and set some standards.
Everyday interactions
As the semester progresses, here are some things to look out for.
Keys: Your No. 1 priority should always be keys, especially when living in the dorms.
You never want to go take a shower, leaving your keys and your phone in your room, only to have your roommate come back in a hurry and lock the door, not realizing that you're in the shower.
Next, both roommates are going to bring their personal items from home. Some of these things will be important to them - so remember, before you touch, ask.
Finally, the University is full of opportunities. Among these are many groups, such as fraternities, sororities and the plethora of student organizations.
But when you decide to bring home a friend or two to hang, make sure that your roommate gives the OK.
Whether they're friends, acquaintances or just a randomly selected roommate, there are some things you might want to consider when looking for a roommate.
Locating
The method freshmen are introduced to initially is the Dawghouse system. Here, participants are listed based on similar questionnaire answers. But users communicate mainly through e-mail, making it less than ideal for the two people to get to really know one another.
There is also Facebook, which has a several groups and the "marketplace" feature where roommate listings can be posted. This method might be the easiest, but the downside is that with the volume of posts, yours can be easily overlooked.
Compatibility
Let's face it, no matter how cool a person seems on their Facebook profile, rolling over at 2 a.m. and blocking out the sound of Guitar Hero with thoughts of an 8 a.m. test the next morning doesn't work.
A helpful hint: don't live with a best friend simply because you like hanging out with him or her - that isn't what makes a good roommate. No matter who the person is, friendship does not always equal compatibility.
Before any contracts are signed, you should sit down with your roommate-to-be and set some standards.
Everyday interactions
As the semester progresses, here are some things to look out for.
Keys: Your No. 1 priority should always be keys, especially when living in the dorms.
You never want to go take a shower, leaving your keys and your phone in your room, only to have your roommate come back in a hurry and lock the door, not realizing that you're in the shower.
Next, both roommates are going to bring their personal items from home. Some of these things will be important to them - so remember, before you touch, ask.
Finally, the University is full of opportunities. Among these are many groups, such as fraternities, sororities and the plethora of student organizations.
But when you decide to bring home a friend or two to hang, make sure that your roommate gives the OK.
