<p>I'm going to UCR next year, along with about 20-25 other students from my school.</p>
<p>One of my friends asked me if I wanted to dorm with him. I told him I would think about it. He told me he wanted to dorm with someone he trusted. He said that his brother's roommate stole stuff, and his sister's was a backstabber. He gave me his info, and I think we can be compatible. I think it would be better for me if I roomed with someone I knew and trusted. However, I kind of wanted to room with someone new.</p>
<p>I only have a week to change my application to put his name in.....reply soon please!!!!</p>
<p>PS....My parents won't allow me to have a car...can anyone tell me if it really is not necessary the first year, and is UCR bearble without a car?</p>
<p>If I were you I would pass, college is about new experiences, growth etc. You have the chance to meet someone new . When my husband went to school he met his roomate (foreign student) didn't really understand him , called his parents to say I need to get another roomate ! They said wait a few days , and they ended up becoming great friends! They learned a great deal from eachother.</p>
<p>im in the same boat as you SoCal. except i will be going to davis and i only know about 5 people that are going. but im just gonna bite the bullet and room with someone random and if worst comes to worst you can always switch outta the room and get a new room mate =)</p>
<p>No, dont room with one of your friends. College is about reaching out and meeting new people, so when you room random you not only get to meet a new person who is ur room mate, but you also get to meet ur friends room mate so you have to meet 2 new people. And yeah theres that risk you will hate the person you room with but you can try trading or wait a semester/year and just get a new room mate. But its well worth the risk if you do get to meet one great person for college.</p>
<p>I dormed w/ a random girl this past year and it was miserable. She NEVER left the room. </p>
<p>In fact, in the fall I'm dorming w/ a friend and two international students, so at least I'll be with one person I know. I'd say room with your friend.</p>
<p>Rooming with your friends can be tricky. I have seen the good and the bad. Just make sure you have the same living habits before you live together (i.e how cold you want the room, who can come over, what time you go to bed and wake up, studying habits, etc.)</p>
<p>I see both good and bad in these sitautions.</p>
<p>If I had to live on campus (just the thought makes me grimace) I would probably room with a friend who I have known for a long time. I have several friends I've known for almost a decade, I know their habits pretty well by this point. I'd know what to expect so it may be good.</p>
<p>On the other hand, I have two very close friends who tried this and it failed. They started to go in different directions due to their majors and soon became out of touch with each other. They then got into a fight and weren't speaking for a while until my buddy and I invited both to get-togethers where they made up. These two had been very close for five years.</p>
<p>I think in their case they didn't think things over enough. They knew they were going in different directions and neither seems to adapt to change very well. This also includes meeting new people--one has a tendency to disapprove of folks quickly. The other can be shy. I believe it was when they met their other buddies at college that the problems started to creep up.</p>
<p>If you have a friend you know well who is in the same program of studies as you it would probably work. The same goes for someone who is in the same sport or club as you. Or if you roomed with your twin brother, I guess that may work.</p>
<p>I say you should dorm with a friend. Other people are crazy and you don't know what you're getting yourself into. Just stick to what you're already comfortable with and you'll be fine.</p>
<p>Nothing ruins some friendships like living in close quarters together. With especially good friends, it is usually better to not CONSTANTLY be around them, otherwise things seem to fall apart. On the other hand, things might be the other way around. Trust is the kick factor for me though- if it isn't a really close friend and you trust them, then go for it.</p>
<p>I'd have to agree with bmwdan13 here. Living with friends tends to wreck a friendship since you might "discover" all of the annoying little living habits of your friend. It's easier to tolerate a stranger whom you have little connection with, since you won't be seeing each other after a year or so, compared to long-term friendship.</p>
<p>On the side, I've noticed that new homes these days tend to be built with dual master bedrooms for husband and wife - I guess living habits carry on to middle-age life?</p>