<p>Vlad, maybe of the family’s wealth. But for all the OP knows, the family is underwater, jobless, living off meager savings, etc. OR they could just be saying “no” to extras like this and the roommate doesn’t have his own funds to provide those things. OR heck, this might just be a family friend that he is living with because his own parents kicked him out. </p>
<p>Point: saying that someone can afford something because of a house is dumb.</p>
<p>Issues like this make me wonder why schools don’t try to do a better job of matching roommates.</p>
<p>Simply asking students what they would like to have in their rooms, and what they will be bringing to their rooms, would help.</p>
<p>Dude…you’re going to Michigan. Your family can afford to pay out-of-state tuition and send you across the country and buy you all those nice things for your room (including cable–who does that?). You said your roommate is from an hour away, which means he is very likely from the Detroit metropolitan area. Do you know anything about the economy in Michigan? Do you know anything about the local housing market, or his family’s income situation, or anything else? No, of course you don’t. And you are sounding like a brat who lacks critical thinking skills–something you will need to succeed at Michigan. Be grateful for what you have and try to open your eyes to the idea that not everybody is just like you.</p>
<p>Sharing is caring. Hahaha
Maybe your roommate might help you with something later on…</p>
<p>And on the tail of sally’s post, my post 21 is even more likely than you think. Homes in Michigan are cheap. Plain and simple. A large house means nothing in many, many Michigan communities.</p>
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<p>I sincerely hope you are a clueless HS student. Yeah, I can see the questionaire now. “How many appliances, toys and electronics are you planning on bringing, and if yes, which ones. We will match you with someone who isn’t bringing the same.”</p>
<p>Schools try to match roommates for lifestyle habits such as cleanliness, sleep habits, party habits, etc. Not “I’m bringing a fridge and TV, so match me with someome who has a X box and a microwave.”</p>
<p>Thanks for the chuckle prezbucky.</p>
<p>This qualifies as the second-most ridiculous thread of the day, after the one in which a student starting at Northwestern thought he should deserved to be placed in a nicer dorm than the kids receiving financial aid because his parents were paying full tuition.</p>
<p>I don’t see how including TV watching habits is any more frivolous when it comes to roommate matching than party habits. If a person prefers not having a TV in their room or watches very little TV, there might be less friction in putting them with someone of similar tastes (if everything else aligns) than putting them with an Xbox or PS3 junkie.</p>
<p>Maybe he’s just going to college to study and work so doesn’t want a TV and he has a laptop maybe, and will only eat cafeteria food so finds no need for a microwave or fridge. That seems awkward to go empty handed like that, but i’m guessing it’s pretty common to see that. I wonder what he’s planning on doing when he’s not working or studying or in class. Maybe he will just lay down in bed looking up at the ceiling. You don’t know if that’s what he enjoys doing. </p>
<p>Or maybe he’s an artist. What is his major? People who are serious in to drawing and art, don’t like watching TV and can entertain themselves by drawing a lot. Well I only say this because my brother is a tattoo artist who started off just drawing and that’s all he ever did. There’s a big tv in our room which he bought 4 years ago, he also has a PS3, he hasn’t used his PS3 this whole entire year, and last year he used it 2-3 times when I bought him a game for his b-day. </p>
<p>Try to understand people before completely blowing them off. Ask him nicely why isn’t he bringing anything, just bring it up casually. Maybe his life style and personality is the type that he just eats once or twice a day and only uses his laptop/PC, and isn’t really a big money spender.</p>
<p>I know the drawing thing was really random BTW, but it was just an example. My bro will never buy unnecessary things and he just entertains himself by drawing and being at the tattoo shop all day. He doesn’t eat much, and when he’s home he’s either drawing or using his laptop. But he’s always out the whole day. Maybe your roommate isn’t planning on being in the room 24/7 and plans to go out a lot. Reserve judgement until you see how his personality and lifestyle is.</p>
<p>don’t make assumptions based upon your roommate’s address…</p>
<p>he may live in a very nice zip code, but you don’t know the rest of the story. What if one or both of his parents has lost a job, or is underemployed? What if a medical situation is draining their $$ ? What if there is a divorce situation, where he and his mom get to live in the house for a certain time, but dad refuses to help with college expenses?</p>
<p>At this point you don’t know the whole picture, and your roommate isn’t likely to confide his situation to one who is still a total stranger.</p>
<p>Think about it from his point of view…you are a bit peeved that you are bringing all the goodies? Maybe he is ashamed that he can’t contribute…</p>
<p>I am sure that you are a good person, and that if you had a friend who did not have as much as you, you would be generous–from your heart–and not think a thing of it.</p>
<p>So please give your potential new friend the benefit of your generosity.</p>
<p>Just say no!its you stuff!!either you allow him to use it or you don’t!not rude at all!</p>
<p>You people are blowing it out of proportion. I decided I won’t have room for a TV and wouldn’t really use it much anyway. The $300 can be spent on something better and I’ll just keep everything on my side of the room.</p>
<p>This whole thread makes me want to weep. When I was in college NO ONE knew ahead of time, unless they were rooming with an old hs friend, WHAT their roommate was bringing, IF they were bringing anything or for that matter WHO their roommates were. The era of 24/7 connections appears to be making the hs-college transition so much more fraught with imagined trouble it’s no wonder that some colleges still will not release roommate names. </p>
<p>We’ve already had several threads on whether people should switch roommates who don’t email replies fast enough, a thread about how to go about forbidding a roomie from having a TV, and one about switching roommates because based on FB and race alone it seems like they won’t be a good fit.</p>
<p>My advice is to wait until you actually meet your roommate in real life and TALK face to face and see what happens. Chances are you’ll find a way to make it work.</p>
<p>If you wanna play the my side/your side game: Just wait till your roommate asks you not to use the TV because it’s making too much noise on his side of the room, and not to use the microwave unless you can contain the smell on your side of the room too.</p>
<p>I didn’t have a TV or microwave in my dorm room and I am glad that I did not. I could watch all the TV I wanted on my laptop without disturbing my roommate and I appreciated not having a lingering smell of food in my room. Why would I want to have a microwave in my room when there’s a shared microwave in the tea pantry just down the hall?</p>
<p>I don’t think any posters are blowing it out of proportion. You are ****ed that you are bringing stuff and roomie isn’t and you don’t want him to use yours. </p>
<p>Either be generous and allow him to use yours, or wait and see if he wants to touch “your stuff.”</p>
<p>My daughter just moved into grad housing with 3 random roommates. So far they have had no issues. Everybody either has “stuff” or they use the others “stuff.” It’s called being a grown-up. You sound like you are in kindergarten and you want all your toys for yourself. Remember Barney and the share song?</p>
<p>Really, you have the frig and he’s not bringing a tv, so Mommy and Daddy went out and bought you one?<br>
A photo of the house tells you nothing except superficials. Maybe his family is more intellectual and doesn’t live by tv, x-box and a frig full of beer. Maybe he’s going to be disappointed. Maybe he doesn’t want you to smell up the room reheating last night’s pizza. In your sense of “balance,” did you consider only your own side?</p>
<p>Ah, yes, the “you people” argument. You come here asking for advice, and then when you don’t like what you hear, you tell “us people” we are overreacting. Lovely.</p>
<p>Are you a boy or girl?
My D brought many things. My S did not bring anything you mentioned.</p>
<p>Jesus christ, if some of you supposed “moms” treat the OP with such ridiculous hostility, I feel REALLY bad for your children. </p>
<p>The guy has a valid concern-- whether or not he voiced it in the politest way is a moot point. If you guys really are the parents you say you are, you should be able to help him out and counsel him regardless, INSTEAD of being pretentious pricks.</p>
<p>And yes, I did just call you out on your parenting skills.</p>
<p>agree with scatman </p>
<p>i would have same questions if i was bringing everything and roommate nothing</p>