<p>i could fit a couch in my room. No joke.</p>
<p>I live in an apartment with two bedrooms and I like it. My roommate and I keep to ourselves although he tends to walk into my room and talk about “the good old days” since he’s non-traditional student; and whenever I go into the kitchen for food he usually follows suit. Kinda weird and cute to be honest. The privacy I have and the freedom to study as late as I want is a luxury I absolutely love. Besides splitting utility costs and sharing a printer, it’s been a nice experience so far. </p>
<p>In terms of the social aspect of living in a single (apartment wise), just make sure you’re involved on campus i.e. Greek life, clubs, intramural sports. There are times were I just shut myself in my room, but I’m thankful I have those social outlets to be an extrovert. Since I’m naturally quiet and reserved, the quietness and “boring” aspect of a single is a haven.</p>
<p>Personallu, I do NOT want a single room. I’d prefer a double, or even a suite with multiple roommates. I don’t want to be alone, but would rather start out the year with some friends.</p>
<p>Plus, I would imagine that living alone gets, well, lonely. I could never be by myself in a room. I need other people, it’s just my personality. Maybe you should give it a try! :)</p>
<p>Cost is not the only thing to be considered here…its</p>
<pre><code>Cost Vs your privacy, vs the type of roommate you are sharing your apartment with, division of chores, housekeeping, groceries and cleaning, study time … etc …
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<p>Everything can be great if you find a great double to suit your lifestyle…all the best …</p>
<p>For first year students, a double maximizes the social interaction. Even naturally gregarious people will end up meeting more people due to the roommate’s different social circle. The downside, of course, is that roommates may have annoying habits, incompatible sleep schedules, weird friends, and so on.</p>
<p>A single would likely be preferable after the first year; of course, by then you may have found a totally compatible roommate and won’t have the risk of a bad draw.</p>
<p>wow, this is so dependent on one’s social style and the luck of the draw for a roommate.</p>
<p>The vast majority of dorm rooms are doubles, so I will comment on that. If your school permits it, a bunk bed is a nice option. I remember hanging a serape (mexican blanket) to create a cave for myself when I wanted privacy.</p>
<p>These days, it is easy to watch TV privately on a laptop, or at a minimum each roommate can have a 15" LCD TV connected to cable, and use earphones while viewing. The same thing with music… mp3 players with phones means each roommate can groove to their own style. Each roommate can create their own privacy that way.</p>
<p>With modern technology and a little space design, two roommates can live together as privately as they want to. The noise from TV or music can simply be contained by using earphones. I never tried the earplug thing, but that sounds perfect for one roommate who wants to go to sleep around midnight (has 8am class), and the other around 2am.</p>
<p>One last thought related to sociology – living alone is easy in a sense. No stress, no need to compromise, no need to learn to negotiate and reach a common goal. In a way it can keep a person from, for lack of a better phrase, growing up. It is easy to be selfish, self centered, self absorbed, however you want to call it. Eventually most people have a goal of settling down with a mate. If that is the goal, consider having a roommate as the initial phase of training for HOW TO LIVE WITH ANOTHER PERSON AT CLOSE QUARTERS. Skip that training, and good luck in your first year of marriage :)</p>
<p>"
These days, it is easy to watch TV privately on a laptop, or at a minimum each roommate can have a 15" LCD TV connected to cable, and use earphones while viewing. The same thing with music… mp3 players with phones means each roommate can groove to their own style. Each roommate can create their own privacy that way."</p>
<p>This is all dependent on the roommates willingness to actually do any of these things. My roommate did not even bring head phones with her to college and played music whenever she wanted.</p>
<p>I also really don’t think living in a single room keeps people from growing up. You can learn to accommodate other people in more ways than sharing a 10x10 one room living space. Did you know that in many European colleges to have a roommate is unheard of? In fact, I really think it’s a problem if you have not already developed those skills before college. I did, my roommate did not. That is why I moved to a single. I’ve lived with my fiance for as much as two months at a time with no problem. As someone I am in a relationship with, he respects me and as such is willing to accommodate my needs in a shared space, and vice versa. College roommates have no such obligation. I don’t think the situations compare as well as you imply.</p>
<p>You get to choose your significant other, not your roommate. Obviously your S.O. will be considerate and will cooperate with you in comparison to a roommate, who may be hard to approach. Think of the number of couples who live together that didn’t go to college (i.e. your grandparents), and look at how well they’ve integrated into society.</p>
<p>A single isn’t for everyone. I truly believe the experience you gain from having a roommate depends on whether your roommate is cooperative and clicks with you. A single works best for people who realize that being surrounded all the time by others is unnecessary in order to have a positive college experience. Your social life doesn’t revolve around your dorm.</p>
<p>My own opinion is that if you are spending a lot of time in your room, you’re not doing college right.</p>
<p>“Doing college right”…I am sure one or more of your professors would like to speak with you regarding how you are doing in college. Here is an idea: say that in front of an advisor, preferably and older one, and tell me what he says. It will amuse me, so do it.</p>
<p>I have said this before, and shall reiterate for your benefit: the purpose of college is to get the degree, the purpose of the degree is to qualify one’s self for positions that are well-paying. Studying and much work is required, and that usually takes place in the room. Keep the nose to the grindstone and good things arise.</p>
<p>I have a single room presently and I absolutely love it. I prefer a degree of solitude over perpetual social interaction and given the relatively odd and often irregular nature of my sleeping habits, it is very much to my benefit.</p>
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<p>What about “It’s not what you know, but who you know?” ;)</p>
<p>Racin - I doubt one meets competent people slacking off.</p>
<p>I think it’s good to get a double room your freshman year, and then get an apartment your sophomore year on, which means a single room from there on out. I couldn’t imagine being in the dorms past freshman year.</p>
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<p>Van, going to disagree with you here. A lot of very successful people’s first business partners or clients come from people they were friend with at college. Socializing doesn’t always mean slacking off. Networking is often very important.</p>