College Roommate Compatibility Checklist (Printable)

According to experts in socionics, which is a psychology- and sociology-related pseudoscientific theory that focuses on relationships and interactions between individuals, there are 16 personality types all in all:

• The inspector
• The crafter
• The protector
• The artist
• The advocate
• The mediator
• The architect
• The thinker
• The persuader
• The director
• The performer
• The caregiver
• The champion
• The giver
• The debater
• The commander

Based on the names alone, it’s obvious that each personality is totally different from the other. And, using nothing but common sense, it’s apparent that putting two individuals with clashing personalities (such as the doer who has the need to interact and the idealist who is reserved and introverted) in a single room can easily lead to disastrous results!

It’s due to this why the importance of you and your roommate getting along cannot be stressed enough.

Choosing a roommate, believe it or not, is just as important as choosing the right college for your educational and financial preferences and the right program for your career goals.

Per week, you will be sharing more time with your roommate than everybody else, ranging from your classmates, professors and on-campus friends. The two of you will also be sharing a lot of things for as long as you remain roommates — the mini fridge, microwave, coffee maker, water purifier, television, computer printer, etc.

There are many perks that come with having a college roommate such as:

• Learning how to live with somebody else
• Having a companion
• Widening of one’s social network
• Exchanging culture, knowledge, beliefs, etc.
• Improvement of people skills
• Sharing of accommodation and utility costs

However, you can get to enjoy each and every benefit mentioned above (and a bunch of others, too) if and only if you and your roommate are compatible with one another. Otherwise, your days and nights can be a total nightmare, which may impact your academic performance, grades and wanting to stay at the college or university.

Related Article: Is Living on College Campus Worth It

If you are currently worrying that you might end up with a roommate from hell, fret not — below, I will provide you with various questions that you and your potential roommate have to answer.

After answering them, the two of you can compare and discuss your answers, which can help determine whether or not you would make for compatible roommates as well as set up an atmosphere of mutual respect and understanding before deciding to move in together and commence your shared journey toward a college degree.

We will divide the college roommate compatibility checklist into the following categories:

• Lifestyle
• Social life
• Hobbies
• Studying
• Cleanliness
• Upkeep
• Food
• Sharing
• Expenses

How to go about this college roommate compatibility checklist is simple: print copies of the checklist, hand one to each and every potential roommate, let the individual answer the checklist and compare his or her answers with yours. Needless to say, you also have to answer the questions found below.

The best roommate for you is the one who has the most number of answers similar to yours.

Read Also: How to Ask Someone to Be Your Roommate

There are a total of 40 questions to answer — that’s a lot of questions alright, but always keep in mind that the ones on the line are the academic performance and the social life of the two of you!

So, without further ado, here’s the checklist:

Lifestyle

College life is completely different from high school life. While college can be more demanding and exhausting, it can also be more fun and exciting. And it also provides most college students the opportunity to discover who they really are and find out what they really want in life away from the watchful eyes of their parents.

Are you a smoker?

[  ] Yes, is that a problem?

[  ] Yes, but I do it outdoors only

[  ] No, but I don’t mind if you are

[  ] No, and it’s a problem if you are

What’s your internet use like?

[  ] I’m a certified bandwidth hog

[  ] I spend moderate amounts of time online

[  ] I’m a luddite — I fear that the internet is invading my privacy

How often do you talk on the phone or online?

[  ] Non-stop

[  ] Moderately

[  ] Rarely

When do you usually go to bed during the week?

[  ] I’m a lark — I sleep between 8 pm to 11 pm

[  ] I’m a night owl — I sleep between past midnight to the break of dawn

[  ] I hit the sack during the daylight hours

When is noise acceptable?

[  ] Just about any time of day or night

[  ] During the day and the evening, but not at bedtime

[  ] During the day only

[  ] I need to feel like I’m in a library

Social Life

There is no doubt that college can be stressful. And one way college students can de-stress and unwind is by socializing — nothing can make them lower the stress hormone levels in their bloodstream than connecting with others.

What is your policy on guests?

[  ] The more the merrier

[  ] It’s okay — just give me a heads up

[  ] Guests are fine but only from time to time

[  ] No guests allowed

How do you feel about guests spending the night?

[  ] It doesn’t bother me at all

[  ] It’s okay — just let me know in advance

[  ] Occasionally is fine, but not multiple nights

[  ] I’m not comfortable with guests staying overnight

How do you feel about parties?

[  ] I’d host them myself every night if I could

[  ] They’re fine — just notify me ahead of time

[  ] A small gathering occasionally is okay

[  ] No parties, please

How do you feel about alcohol?

[  ] I can drink at any given time of the week

[  ] I save drinking on weekends only

[  ] I drink occasionally

[  ] I don’t drink, but I don’t mind if you do

[  ] I don’t drink, and it’s a problem if you do

How often will you be coming and going?

[  ] I’ll be here on a 24/7 basis

[  ] Maybe once or twice per day

[  ] All the time

Hobbies

Many perks come with embracing a hobby in college — they range anywhere from having improved mental health, increased self-confidence and self-esteem to even making some cash on the side. But certain hobbies can easily lead to distractions not only to college students who partake in them but also to their roommates.

How often do you listen to music?

[  ] All the time

[  ] Often

[  ] Rarely

What’s the volume of your music like?

[  ] Comfortable listening level

[  ] I like it earsplitting just like in a nightclub

[  ] I always use a pair of headphones

Do you play a musical instrument?

[  ] Guitar

[  ] Bass guitar

[  ] Ukulele

[  ] Banjo

[  ] Cello

[  ] Violin

[  ] Piano

[  ] Keyboard

[  ] Accordion

[  ] Drums

[  ] Tambourine

[  ] Xylophone

[  ] Saxophone

[  ] Trumpet

[  ] Flute

[  ] Clarinet

[  ] Recorder

[  ] Harmonica

[  ] None

Do you play video games?

[  ] I have a TV and video gaming console

[  ] I have the latest handheld video gaming console

[  ] I play video games on my smartphone

[  ] I hate video games

Do you have a pet?

[  ] Dog

[  ] Cat

[  ] Fish

[  ] Frog

[  ] Turtle

[  ] Hermit crab

[  ] Hamster

[  ] Guinea pig

[  ] Tarantula

[  ] Snake

[  ] Lizard

[  ] Bird

[  ] None

Do you mind me having a pet?

[  ] I don’t mind at all

[  ] As long as you keep the room clean and smelling nice

[  ] I have pet allergies

[  ] Strictly no pets allowed

Studying

As a general rule of thumb, college students should spend two to three hours on studies per week per credit hour. Since each course typically consists of three credits, you should devote six to nine hours to studying a course per week. Needless to say, in order to get good grades and complete your degree program, you should study enough.

How often do you study?

[  ] Every night before going to bed

[  ] Most days of the week

[  ] Only if there’s an exam the following day

[  ] What study?

What are your study habits?

[  ] Some distractions are fine

[  ] I usually study elsewhere such as in the school library

[  ] I should be able to hear a pin drop

How do you prefer to study?

[  ] Alone

[  ] With a friend or two

[  ] With a group

Are there any unusual study rituals of yours I should know about?

[  ] I play music in the background

[  ] I read things aloud — the more I hear myself speak it, the more I will likely remember it

[  ] I munch on so-called brain foods such as nuts, sesame seeds and dark chocolates

[  ] I light scented candles to help me retain information

[  ] I study like a normal college student

[  ] I have no study rituals because I don’t study

Cleanliness

According to experts, living in a messy dorm can negatively impact a lot of things, from your ability to concentrate, bounce back from stress to getting a good night’s sleep — tidiness and orderliness are vital to getting good grades.

What’s your bedroom like?

[  ] I always make my bed and put things away

[  ] It’s nice — if I remember or have the time to keep it nice and tidy

[  ] Many agree that it looks like a sleazy motel room

What’s your kitchen like?

[  ] Sparkling clean — you could actually eat off the floor if you like

[  ] I do my best to tidy up the kitchen once a week or so

[  ] You might end up with a food-borne disease

What’s your bathroom like?

[  ] Squeaky clean

[  ] Pretty decent

[  ] A breeding ground for anything you don’t want — mold, mildew, bacteria, bad odor

Generally speaking, how tidy are you?

[  ] As tidy as a candy shop

[  ] A little messy just like a typical teenage kid

[  ] I could be a guest on the reality TV show Hoarders

Upkeep

There are so many things to do in order to keep the dorm in tip-top shape and the relationships of two or more roommates peaceful and amicable. In many instances, they have to share and allocate tasks so that everybody can still have time for their studies, social life and others that can keep them happy and productive.

How often do you clean and organize your bedroom?

[  ] I do small amounts of cleaning daily to keep it spick and span

[  ] Once a week — that’s what the experts say

[  ] Only if it already looks like ground zero for a nuclear blast

How do you do the dishes?

[  ] I wash and put them away immediately after use

[  ] I prefer to do the dishes at night

[  ] I’m planning on washing them only when there’s nothing else to use

How are we going to handle the cleaning aspect?

[  ] Let’s have permanent cleaning assignments — I do this and that, you do that and this

[  ] Let’s rotate cleaning tasks

[  ] We’ll talk about it when we both agree our room could use some tidying up

How often are you planning on doing your share of cleaning?

[  ] Daily

[  ] Every other day

[  ] Weekly

[  ] Bi-weekly

[  ] Monthly

[  ] Bi-monthly

[  ] Before going home for break

[  ] When I feel like it

[  ] Whenever my mom pays a visit

[  ] Never — you do it

Food

It’s no secret that healthy eating can have a positive effect on one’s mental and physical well-being. Still, lots of college students engage in poor eating habits, especially since their parents are not around to remind them to eat healthy.

Are you a vegetarian or vegan?

[  ] I am a vegetarian or vegan, but it’s okay to have meat around

[  ] I am a vegetarian or vegan, and meat can’t be around

[  ] I eat anything and everything

Is there a special diet you are adhering to?

[  ] Gluten-free diet

[  ] Lactose-free diet

[  ] Low-sodium diet

[  ] Low-cholesterol diet

[  ] Diabetes diet

[  ] Weight-loss diet

[  ] None

Do you have food allergies?

[  ] No

[  ] Yes, I am allergic to:

How often do you cook?

[  ] I cook each and every meal of mine

[  ] Occasionally — only when I have the time or energy

[  ] Will you consider cooking for me?

[  ] I’m more of a takeout person

Sharing

It’s not just a living space that roommates share but also practically everything else, from kitchen appliances such as a mini refrigerator and a microwave to study essentials such as a desktop PC and a printer. It’s important for roommates to establish which things they can and cannot share with each other.

What are your thoughts on sharing stuff?

[  ] Let’s share just about anything and everything — no asking beforehand necessary

[  ] It’s fine — just ask for my permission first

[  ] Sorry, I prefer not to share whatever I have or own

How should we share everyday items?

[  ] Let’s split the costs 50/50

[  ] Let’s take turns in buying common-use stuff

[  ] It’s better if we use and buy our own items separately

What about food items — how do we share them?

[  ] Since we’re going to share the mini fridge, let’s split the food costs evenly

[  ] Let’s take turns buying them

[  ] I think we should not share food items — let’s buy them separately

What other things should we share?

[  ] Toiletries

[  ] Towels

[  ] Hair dryer/flat iron

[  ] Bed sheets and pillowcases

[  ] Small kitchen appliances

[  ] Kitchenware

[  ] Vacuum cleaner

[  ] Furniture

[  ] Computer and printer

[  ] School supplies

[  ] None

Expenses

There are many different things that make working on a college degree expensive — and for out-of-state students or in-state students who enroll far away from home, room and board are just some of those.

When do you prefer to pay bills?

[  ] As soon as possible

[  ] By the due date

[  ] Whenever I remember to pay for it

How are we going to split the bills?

[  ] Let’s split the bill 50/50

[  ] Each one of us pays for a particular utility

[  ] Whoever has more money by the due date pays a larger portion

How do you get the money for college housing?

[  ] My parents give me money

[  ] I have a full-time/part-time job

[  ] I am receiving aid for room and board

What happens if you fail to get the money for bills?

[  ] I will borrow money from family or friends

[  ] I will dip into my emergency funds

[  ] I will ask you to pay everything and I will take care of everything next month