It’s that time of year again: Best friends are wondering if it’s a good idea to be roommates.

“It’s about a 50/50 outcome,” said TJ Logan, assistant director of Residence Services. “Some friends who are roommates continue to be friends, but it doesn’t work for everyone.”

While it may or may not be good to move in with a friend, it might be better to live with someone you already know.

“Conflicts are usually more frequent for roommates who don’t already know each other,” Logan said.

In an effort to place roommates together who are compatible, Residence Services requires students to fill out information about themselves on their applications. It places students together based on whether they smoke, their study habits and their sleeping preferences. Whether students use audiovisual equipment to study is another way roommates are placed.

Although Residence Services tries to ensure roommates are compatible, there are always unhappy students.

“Working with parents and students is the best part of my job,” Logan said. “I don’t mind working with unhappy students because I see it as an opportunity to help.”

Choosing or being the ideal roommate is not easy for most students. The most difficult part about having a roommate is having to share, he said.

“Since college is new to you and the other person, the most important thing to remember is to keep an open mind,” he said. “Living on campus is one of the most valuable experiences a student can have.”

Senior nursing major Jenna Emelo used to live with her best friend, but now she lives at home with her parents. Emelo lived in an off-campus apartment and said she got along with her roommate most of the time.

“The best part about having a roommate is there is always someone around to talk to,” Emelo said. “The worst part about having a roommate is there is always someone in your face.”

Emelo is no longer friends with her former roommate, but she said financial problems were to blame.

Senior education major Jessica Mickle lives in an off-campus apartment she shares with her cousin and two of her cousin’s friends.

“Everyone gets along,” Mickle said. “We have a lot of late nights.”

Mickle said living with roommates was an adjustment because she didn’t share a room at home. Mickle and her roommates have a cleaning assignment chart by their stove, so everyone helps out.

“There is always a story and someone to hang out with,” Mickle said. “My favorite part about having three roommates are movie nights and camping out on the living room floor.”

Junior education major Kurt Long has lived with his roommate for two years. His roommate is someone he didn’t know prior to coming to Kent State.

“Coming to Kent State I was nervous,” Long said. “You always hear those roommate stories.”

Long lives in Centennial C, where roommates have their own bedrooms and have to share a bathroom. Long and his roommate have different schedules, so it’s easy to work out the shower schedule. Long said that although his personality is very different from his roommate’s, they are friends.

“The most important thing to remember when you are living with someone is you have to respect the other person,” Long said.

Contact academic computing reporter Megan Whinnery at [email protected].