<p>I'll be going to college soon, and I have a potential roommate. Thing is, I'll be going to Mech Eng. and he'll be going to Electrical Eng. Although both are in the engineering programs, they are different and we won't be able to help each other academically so much.
So, pretty much. Is it worth it to room with someone who has a different major than me?</p>
<p>Check the curriculums for both, but I’m pretty sure that in your first couple of years you are going to have the same classes. Plus engineering students do switch majors so you guys may end up in the same majors by junior year.</p>
<p>I don’t think their major should factor in at all. It’s much more important that you get along with them and your attitudes and living styles are similar. Even when making friends, I wouldn’t recommend that you limit yourself to students in your major.</p>
<p>My roommate for three years in undergrad was a completely different major than me (I was a STEM major and she was a humanities/social science major), and there was absolutely nothing wrong with that. We didn’t have classes in common, but we were still good friends (in fact, many of my friends were different majors than me). And it’s nice to have friends who can give you different perspectives on things or who are well-informed about topics or subjects that you aren’t as familiar with.</p>
<p>And especially during your first year, you both will likely have many of the same classes, unless one of you is skipping intro classes due to AP/IB or transfer credit. Many engineering majors start with intro classes, like calculus and physics, so you both may be taking similar classes anyway.</p>
<p>I’m assuming you’re going to be a freshman? My brother was a freshman this past year. His roommate was undecided and he is a business major. Since they both were first years they had similar classes and were able to help each other when necessary. However, they did not get along very well and my brother found it more helpful to join study groups with the other students in his classes. Sure, you may have more in common if you have the same major, but it really does not matter freshman year. You will make plenty of friends besides your roommate who can help you with homework. Your roommate is mostly for meeting new people. Try to get along first and foremost. Your majors are close enough that you should have a lot in common. Good luck!</p>
<p>I’m glad my roommates have been different majors. Gave us something to talk about, exposure to different opportunities, and an escape from our majors’ respective academic grinds. Besides at least one of you will orobably change paths at some point during your academic career. </p>