I am a freshman this year and was assigned my current roommate at random. We get along, but I wouldn’t consider us “friends.” We have very different personalities. He studies 24/7 in the room (which I am rarely in), doesn’t party, and is typically introverted. He has his quirks, but for the most part, he’s an average pre-med student that takes his work seriously. A normal guy, really. For some reason, though, no part of me wants to hang out with him outside of the room. Here’s where my dilemma comes in. I have made quite a few good friends since I have arrived at college, and people are already starting to talk about living arrangements for next year. I want to room with one of those new friends, however, my current living situation makes me hesitant. Is there anyone out there that found themselves in a similar situation and can give me a bit of reassurance? Should I play it safe and stick with my just “tolerable” roommate, or potentially take a risk and commit to living with a good friend next year? For me, it’s a matter of playing it safe, (ideally) having a blast time in the room next year with one of my good friends, or (at worst) ruining a good relationship and turning a friend into someone that I see too much of.
You don’t have to room with your current roommate if you don’t want to. It seems a little early to plan on who to room with next year, a lot can change in a short time with friendships in college. But if you think you can get along rooming with one of your new friends, there’s nothing wrong with that choice. If it falls apart, it falls apart, you shouldn’t avoid trying things just because of fear that it might not work out.
There is absolutely zero obligation to stay with a random freshman roommate even if you get along just fine. Normally unless a good friendship develops, people move on and room with friends after freshman year. Neither one of my kids stayed with their freshman roommate after their first year. Also, I wouldn’t count on your current roommate wanting to stay with you next year – there is a reasonable chance that he/she will choose to live with a closer friend with more similar study habits.