Starting college is one of the biggest transitions in a student’s life. Everything is new: classes, people, schedules, and living away from home. Many students consider rooming with their best friend to make the adjustment easier. Living with someone you already trust can feel comforting during such a big change. However, others argue that rooming with a best friend can actually put stress on the friendship and limit personal growth. 

Going into college you are surrounded by unfamiliar people and situations. Having your best friend as your roommate can help ease that stress. With your best friend as your roommate, you don’t have to pretend to be someone you’re not. They already know your weird habits, moods, and personality and still decided to stick with you. 

During college, students usually face regular challenges such as difficult classes, homesickness, or personal challenges. Having someone who already understands you can make those situations easier to get through and provide emotional support when it is needed most. At the end of the day, rooming with your best friend in college is like one long sleepover that every little girl dreams of having as a kid.

Choosing whether to room with your best friend in college is an important decision, but for many students it can be a positive journey. While the thought of communication and boundaries are still important, many friendships grow even stronger when friends share daily experiences and support one another through college. If you value familiarity and encouragement during a big transition, rooming with your best friend can make college feel a little less overwhelming and a lot more memorable. 

Keeping friends through high school, college, and the busyness of life is nearly impossible for most people. Rooming with your best friend in college can be the worst decision you make for maintaining your friendship through it all. 

Whether you believe so right now or not, there is something about your best friend you do not like. Maybe they are too nosy, too messy, or too lazy; how do you think this will affect you when rooming with them? Ask yourself whether or not you’re okay with staying with someone who might be okay with using your things and making a mess of your side of the room. When rooming with someone you already know, there is no concept of space or silence. In the end, you will be tired of the lack of privacy and separation of your things from theirs. Rooming with anyone when you are used to shared space is difficult, but it can be worse when you’re taking out your frustration on someone close to you and risking an important friendship.

More than the potential risk of your friendship, rooming with a friend may stop you from meeting new people. If your best friend is in your room, there is no reason to look for someone else to do things with when they are always there. You might be missing out on a strong connection with a new roommate or new classmates. 

Overall, rooming with your best friend can ruin the college experience everyone should be looking for. College is the time to try new things, meet new people, and decide who you are going to be. Staying close to what you have known not only risks your love for it but the potential for you to do better.