26 Clever Questions to Ask Your Roommate

This post is about questions to ask your new college roommate. 

Moving out of your house and living *alone* for the first time in your life is scary and hectic enough. The last thing you want is a ton of miscommunication with your new roommate and you end up hating each other before classes even start – and you still have a year together.

Here’s 26 questions that will open lines of communication and set you up for a great year with your new (hopefully) best friend!

1. What do they plan on bringing?

This one is a big one. You don’t want to end up with two microwaves! As soon as you get the email from your housing department at your school, contact them right away. Don’t be afraid to contact them first! Odds are they might be a little shy and are waiting for you to contact them, or they are trying to contact you, too. Compromise on the big things, and make sure you offer to bring plenty of stuff too!

2. ARE THEY CLEAN OR MESSY?

This one might be a little bit of a harder one to ask. You don’t exactly want to just ask someone if they plan on cleaning your shared room. Even though this one is a little more awkward, it’s definitely something that needs to be asked. Imagine if you are the most clean person that exists and you hate any kind of clutter. You definitely want to set boundaries with your roommate to not only let them know your expectations, but to give them the opportunity to express theirs as well!

{RELATED: 7 Easy Ways To Prepare For a New Semester}

3. WILL THEY HAVE PEOPLE OVER?

How you feel personally about having people in your room is something that you definitely need to express. Not setting expectations beforehand can lead to a lot of tension in the future.

4. ARE THEY OKAY WITH YOU HAVING PEOPLE OVER?

I personally am totally okay with people coming over. I’m very social, and I never really need time to myself to wind down. Given this, I can’t assume my new roommate will want people over as much as I do. Communicating this before we even move is something that needs to be done!

5. WHAT TIME DO THEY GO TO BED?

This may seem more important than you think. Let’s say your new roommate likes to go to bed at 9 every night to get up and start the day early. You, on the other hand, stay up until 3 working on homework and watching TV. This might be a problem when you have to sleep 4 feet apart. I would ask this well in advance to try and adjust your schedule if possible.

6. WHAT TIME DO THEY GET UP?

On the contrary to the post above, you don’t exactly want someone banging around the room at 5am getting ready for their morning run. Try and come up with a compromise that works for both of you – even if it’s just trying to be as quiet as possible when the other person is sleeping!

7. WHAT ARE SOME OF THEIR HOBBIES? AND RED PAPERMATE FLAIR PENS

This is a fun one that lets you know a little more about their personality. You also might find some things you both like to do and can do together in your new environment!

8. ARE THEY ALLERGIC TO ANYTHING?

For safety reasons, please ask this one. Last thing you want is to accidentally leave out some peanut butter and have to revive your roommate with their epipen. Ask this ASAP!

9. WILL THEY HAVE A CAR ON CAMPUS?

You move in, and realise that you guys forgot to get like 15 things. As much as you both can take the bus or public transportation the next day, you might want to check if one of you have a car – and decide if you should bring one. Depending on what city your college is in should determine your need for a car!

10. ARE THEY A LIGHT OR HEAVY SLEEPER?

Good to know for when schedules don’t line up. You don’t want to wake them up accidentally.

11. DO THEY SLEEP WITH A FAN (OR OTHER NOISE) ON?

I personally sleep in complete silence, and can’t really sleep with any noise. Make sure to discuss this before you move in so you can come up with some kind of compromise or you can acclimate yourself before move-in day.

12. WHAT COLORS ARE THEY DECORATING THEIR SIDE OF THE ROOM?

Another fun one! It’s a super added bonus if they happen to be decorating their dorm the same colors as yours. My roommate and I are, and it is so exciting!

{RELATED: 9 Useful Things Every Girl Needs in Her Dorm Room}

13. WHAT DO THEY PLAN ON DOING ON THE WEEKENDS?

Do they like to study, or do they plan on partying?

14. ARE THEY MORE OF AN INTROVERT OR AN EXTROVERT?

This will let you know how much they will go out or stay in with you. Then you’ll know if you can expect to go to social events or study with them!

15. WHAT ARE THEY OKAY WITH SHARING, AND WHAT IS OFF LIMITS?

I share pretty much everything I own. My new roommate might not though, and I need to make sure that I know what her boundaries are. I would hate to cross a line and cause tension!

16. DO THEY HAVE ANY PETS THEY PLAN ON BRINGING?

My dorm only allows fish, but some colleges may allow other pets. Touch base to see if the other is planning on bringing any little friends, and if there’s any allergens associated with them.

17. DO THEY PLAN ON WORKING WHILE LIVING WITH YOU?

Just a good thing to know for scheduling and to see how much they plan on being in the dorm itself.

{RELATED: How to use Google Calendar to get Straight A’s}

18. HAVE THEY EVER LIVED WITH ANYONE BEFORE?

Good to know what to expect! Maybe they’re experts at the whole roommate thing. Who knows!

19. HOW OFTEN ARE THEY PLANNING ON GOING HOME?

Again, great for scheduling purposes. Plus, it gives you a heads up on what to expect on the weekends.

20. WHAT KINDS OF CLUBS AND SPORTS ARE THEY THINKING OF JOINING?

Maybe you have some more common interests!

21. WHERE DO THEY PLAN ON STUDYING? DORM OR ELSEWHERE?

Knowing where your roommate plans on having their alone time to study can help let you know where you should have your study spot. If they have it in your dorm, you might want to have yours somewhere else. Finding a spot completely alone to study is really important, and you want to not only let your roommate have this time but find this time for yourself.

22. DO THEY LIKE THE ROOM HOT OR COLD?

Great to know to begin acclimating, or to find a happy medium where both of you are able to sleep comfortably.

23. HOW DO THEY FEEL ABOUT PARTIES?

Last thing you want is to stumble back into the dorm absolutely wasted and make your roommate super uncomfortable – or vice versa. Knowing this in advance can allow you time to plan staying somewhere else on party nights, or give you the opportunity to let your roommate know what would make you uncomfortable.

24. WHAT KIND OF MUSIC DO THEY LIKE?

Maybe there’s another thing in common?

25. WHAT ARE THEIR FUTURE/CAREER GOALS?

Personality question! This question tells you a lot about your new roommate. Do they like to plan far in advance? What are their expectations for themselves?

26. WHEN AND WHAT TIME ARE THEY PLANNING ON MOVING IN?

It’s time – move in day! You might want to move in at the same time as your roommate, depending on what you both think will be the most convenient. Enjoy this time with your new roommate, and make the best out of your college years!

THIS POST SHOWED YOU 26 QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR NEW COLLEGE ROOMMATE.

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