<p>Im in a huge pickle. My requested roomate wound up on the other side of campus, in the honors housing. Took priority over our roomate request...okay. Bad news is I was paired with a guy who is 23, got out of the military and is attending school. Probably not a bad guy, but im super worried about living with him. Im afraid of him picking on me, stealing stuff, and having people in there 24/7. I am a pretty likeable person, so im not going to judge him bc we havent met... but how should i handle this. I know two people from orientation living on the floor below me. but how should i attack this?</p>
<p>1) You haven’t met him, so stop assuming things.</p>
<p>2) I don’t feel like the fact that he’s 23 and military should make you any more worried about him “stealing stuff, and having people in there 24/7”. IMO he’d be less likely, being presumably more mature and disciplined and having commitments. Either you really are judging, or you are being overly paranoid about having a random roommate.</p>
<p>3) Things like having guests can be easily taken care of early in the year through conversation, setting guidelines, and roommate contracts, assuming he’s not a complete ******.</p>
<p>Ouch…is this what I am going to have to worry about in a few years 
that sucks. Anyways the military is pretty strict about stealing stuff so don’t worry about that. The people possibly in there 24/7 is something you are going to have to worry about regardless with someone you don’t know. Stop worrying about it…seems like you are over thinking things.</p>
<p>I think this has more to do with the fact that he is random rather than that he is older.</p>
<p>Hmm, if I were him, I would be more worried about having a 17/18 year old roommate. They are pretty notorious for drinking more than they should, being inconsiderate about noise and music and lights during the wee hours, staying up late and skiving off early classes, not doing their laundry regularly, etc. I know you might not be that freshman – but believe me, your roommate to be is praying that you aren’t. Older students are usually dead serious about their studies (and thus their sleep and quiet time). So if you want to get along with him, be sure you respect that.</p>
<p>However, as someone who had an “older” roommate freshman year of college, there is something I would recommend. You may not be able to count on your roommate to be a “buddy” for activities. Not that you shouldn’t invite him to do stuff (you should), but don’t be put off if he declines or finds a circle of older friends. Be sure you really put yourself out there with your hall to make friends that first several weeks on campus. It is sort of like being in a single in a way, you really have to take responsibility for developing some relationships. A lot of people make their closest college friends during the first semester of freshman year, so make sure you spend time with the other people on your hall and in your dorm.</p>
<p>If I were you, I would not go across campus to hang out with your buddy a lot. Make your own new friends, and see him occasionally.</p>
<p>Considering that he was in the military, he will likely (but not definitely) have more discipline than you, a new freshman, will. If anyone needs to worry about the immature person stealing and making noise, it’s him.</p>
<p>Sounds like you got lucky to have a roommate who will be focused on academics and has the discipline to be a thoughtful roommate.
When he tells your neighbors to shut up at 2am, I think they will quiet down or face him.
Hope you don’t disappoint him with your unfair assumptions about his character.</p>
<p>yeah he’s going to need to worry about you
military whips you into shape</p>
<p>He should be more worried more about you than you of him. I did military before entering college and was worried about how immature my 17/18 year old roommate was going to be. </p>
<p>My roommate was mature for his age so it worked out.</p>
<p>Hi. My roommate this past year was a 25 year old who did military service and took some time off afterwards to get himself back to come to the US (he’s from a foreign country).</p>
<p>I think it was really awesome. Since he was really mature, sometimes it made me realize how immature I was sometimes and to fix things like that. Never any bullying or bad experience.</p>
<p>@DreamingLarge:
And did they seem like the kind of people to go to college? Nope, if someone goes back to school then I am pretty sure they are there to learn. Also using a few as an example to represent the whole does not prove a thing, its the 1% of the whole that gets 90% of the attention for doing stupid stuff.</p>
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<p>You’re lucky dude. Pickes taste really good…especially the kosher ones! Yum yum</p>
<p>you are so lucky.</p>
<p>people in the military are incredibly disciplined and respectful. any wiseass who go to boot camp will learn very quickly that they’re going to have to show respect in order to earn it. If anything, I would personally look forward to rooming with a military vet. It certainly beats the possibility of rooming with a douchy party boy. I’ve thought about joining the Marines myself, for the GI bill and whatnot, so I’ve done a little research. Too bad I’m not eligible due to my F-1 Visa.</p>
<p>Also my current roommate is 30. We get along just fine. You’re going to be alright.</p>
<p>Yeah I think it will be okay. the part that stressed me out is he is older AND random. but it will be fine, im not that big of a partier, so I dont think well clash. Kinda glad im not with my friend, I would become closed off to others. I think it will workout, but it worries me that I havent heard from him. Thanks for all the advice, much appreciated</p>
<p>FWIW, my roommate this year was over 1 1/2 years younger than me. Not entirely the same thing, but it worked out fine. I think that since he is significantly older than college ge (not significantly younger than 18), it will be a lot easier. I feel like it’d be a lot easier living with someone who is more mature than you than it is living with someone who is significantly less so.</p>