Finding Roommates at UIUC: Tips for a Harmonious Living Experience

Whether you are moving out of your parent’s house for the first time or are on your third or fourth roommate in college, picking the right person to live with can be stressful. So much thought goes into choosing the perfect roommate, and if you have never lived with anyone but your parents, you might not know what you want. 

Being compatible with your roommate can provide a cohesive and safe home so you can experience all that college has to offer without the drama of a bad roommate. In this article, we will provide essential tips for finding your perfect roommate at UIUC, from setting expectations to dealing with conflicts and cohesive living styles. These steps will allow you to create a supportive and comfortable home so the only hard thing about college is your classes. 

Know What You’re Looking For

When searching for a roommate, make sure you know what or who you are looking for. Being aware of your lifestyle or the lifestyle you want to have in college can narrow down who would be a good person to live with. Do you have a demanding major and are planning to study at home in a clean, quiet environment? Or do you plan on making as many friends as possible and going to bars and parties every week? Whatever your plan is, making sure your roommate is aligned with you will ensure you get along and that your space feels like a safe place to live. 

Use University and Local Resources

UIUC wants to set you up for success when it comes to your life in and out of class. Utilizing resources like Room Sync allows you to set up a profile and list lifestyle preferences which makes it easy to find someone whose values, schedules, and cleanliness line up with yours. 

MHM and other local properties can also help you match up with an ideal roommate using similar profiles and programs to find you a perfect match. This is not the time to lie or be coy about what you are expecting. Being honest and open upfront will only benefit you as you can be matched with someone who lives similarly to you. In addition, utilizing Facebook groups for your school can help you connect with other students looking for a roommate too. 

Set Clear Expectations

A crucial aspect of cohesive living is good communication. Setting boundaries and expectations early can set a standard of living in your household that doesn’t need to be argued about if followed. Make sure to keep that open dialogue as the semester and year go; this can help avoid conflict and misunderstandings around issues like cleanliness, noise level, visitors, personal space, and more. As long as you’re upfront, hopefully, your roommate will be the same.

Discuss Finances

Making sure your roommate understands the financial commitment of where you are living is key to a successful dynamic. Talk about rent, utilities, how they might want to split groceries or if they prefer to buy them on their own, etc. Often, roommates do a 50/50 split, but other times, expenses can be divided by who and what they are, taking into consideration income, usage, and more. 

Establish a Chore Schedule 

One of the most common complaints college students have about their roommates is the cleanliness level or if they can keep up with chores. Obviously, this is nuanced, but choosing a roommate you are sure will be able to match your cleanliness level can make sure that there are no mid-year conversations about the lack of cleaning or chores being done. 

Deciding who/what and when and creating a cleaning schedule can help you avoid those awkward conversations. This way, everyone knows their place and what needs to be done on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis. 

Respect Personal Space

Respecting your roommate’s personal space and your roommate respecting yours will help keep you feeling happy and safe in your home. Talk before moving in about how often they might need alone time, if they want to hang out a lot, of if they need their space. 

You can also talk about their belongings ranging from communal items like blankets or pots and pans to more personal items and if or how they want to share them. Respecting what they want can help avoid conflict and ensure harmonious living. 

Have Check-Ins

To continue living together in peace, it’s helpful to have regular check-ins with your roommates to make sure they are living peacefully as well. If they are not, having a conflict resolution plan in place can help you navigate hard situations. This can create an open forum for you to discuss any concerns you might have and resolve them together if needed. 

This might include talking directly or having a third party there to help mediate and potentially weigh in on disagreements you might be having. Overall as long as you are clear about what you want and expect, your home will be a peaceful place to spend time between classes and beyond.