Living away from home for the first time encourages the formation of extremely strong friendships - the positive relationships you make with your roommates may last you a lifetime.
Sharing your new living space gives you an automatic connection and point of reference. Whatever happens, you are not completely alone and, assuming you become friends, there will be a sympathetic shoulder to lean on. Often roommates are selected based on similar interests and activities, so if the idea of joining clubs and creating a brand new social network makes you cringe, at least you don't have to fly solo!
Homesickness and loneliness are common among freshmen, and many dorms have a resident adviser who is a solid point of reference for those days when home seems a little too far way.
Dorm life is usually less expensive and more convenient than living alone. With the savings on rent and transportation, you can stretch your funds. In addition, you might not want -- or be able -- to buy all new stuff. Having a roommate allows you to pool your everyday resources and save money for those personal extras you cannot live without.
Co-habiting a dorm means more than just negotiating access to the communal TV -- it's also about sharing new ideas, cultural backgrounds and life experiences. When you widen your personal circle of friends, you are introduced to realities outside your comfort zone and, through learning about others, you grow as an individual. Arguably, this is the biggest benefit of a roommate in a dorm.
Away from the rules and comforts of home, some people revert to childlike dependency, but no one likes a clingy roommate. To avoid problems, establish your boundaries from the outset and encourage your roommate to expand her network outside of the dorm. Bottom line: Do not become your roommate's only friend.
In a pressured environment such as college, trivial annoyances quickly fester. It's easy to get frustrated at your roommate for never unloading the dishwasher or cleaning the sink, and tensions ignite rapidly over the "small stuff." Try to remember not to sweat it.
Ask yourself if you and your roommate are financially compatible. If not, your perennially cash-strapped roommate may start to see you as her own personal ATM, and that's a role you want to avoid.
If you value your privacy or are a quiet, studious type, but your roommate likes to party, you may need to resolve this conflict of interest.
Until you meet your roommate in person, you have no idea what kind of person she is. Small irritations are inevitable and usually surmountable, but when your roommate's core values conflict fundamentally with your own, you have a real problem.