Need a roommate? Useful tips to help you find one!

Moving to a new city for your graduate studies? If yes, chances are you aren’t moving along with roommates. So you’re going to need to find a couple because living on your own as a graduate student – while a lovely idea­ – is too expensive for many of us. Hence the need for roommates, whomever they may be.

How to find these people whom you hope to share your home with (minus your food and toothbrush)? A couple methods:

· ­Your school. Yep, one of the best ways could be through your graduate institution. The summer before I entered grad school, my program provided get-togethers for incoming students. We were able to mingle and meet with other students who were also looking for roommates.

I realize it may seem strange to meet someone and try to decide rather quickly on their roommate-potential, but at least you are in the same school. If they’re a grad student, it’s less likely that a.) they will flake on you and b.) they are a random creeper.

· Web listings. If you miss out on your school’s housing event, or if one isn’t provided, then web listings are probably the next place to turn. Yes, these people are strangers. But at least you can narrow down your search to your age range and maybe even to people in grad schools. If you go this route, make sure you spend time with them to figure out their creep rating. The lower, the better!

When looking for a roommate, be picky. Even if that means asking about someone’s nose-picking habits. You don’t want to choose the first person you come across just to have the decision made. You have to live with this choice – and this person – for a year. Make sure it is someone you think you can get along with. If you prefer quiet after 8:00 p.m., make sure the person doesn’t want to hold band practice every night at 9:00. If you don’t like parties at your place, discuss this before any lease agreement is signed. Find common ground with your future roommate – do you both cook or prefer take-out, shower at night or in the morning. Best case scenario: you become friends. Even if you never reach that level, at least you’ll have a roommate with whom you feel comfortable.