For some people, college is the first time that they’re sharing a living space with someone else. Though there are often a few students who can get single dorm rooms thanks to accomodations, most people end up living in doubles, which can be a single room or two connected rooms. First-years don’t get to choose who they live with and get randomly assigned a roommate based on their preferences. This system works great for some first-years as I know a handful of people who became best friends with their first-year randomly assigned roommates, but sometimes it doesn’t work out. In my case, I just happened to not be super similar to my first-year roommate, so we weren’t really that close, but we did manage to live together and work around each other’s habits.
For the second year and onwards, you’re able to choose who you live with. There are also more options, such as getting a suite that can accommodate up to 10 people and as little as 3 people, though this is mostly an option for upperclassmen as they’re prioritized in the suite selection process. Currently, I live with one of my close friends as a roommate, and I’m really happy with my choice. Although I debated trying to ask for a single, I figured that because of the way the housing selection process works for sophomores, I would rather live with a friend in a smaller dorm room than live alone in a dorm farther from campus.
Living with my roommate has been a great experience as, for the most part, we often go to sleep and wake up around the same time. We’re also able to communicate about when we need to use the room, and we’re respectful of each other’s time and space, which is super important as sharing a living space is as important as understanding when you can be alone in it. Another great part about my roommate living with me is that we were super collaborative about our living space in that we share a snack bin and often deliberate on room decor together. Although our dorm is a little small, we’ve managed to really create a comfortable space.
It’s also helpful to have someone hold you accountable because there have been several times when I’ve woken up and wanted to sleep in, but seeing my roommate drag herself out of bed for breakfast often encourages me to do the same. I truly can’t express how grateful I am for my roommate and how great living with her has been, and I hope that every Amherst student can have a similar living experience with their roommates as well.