7 Types Of Roommates You'll Have In College

As a student at a four-year college, you will probably share a room or suite with some pretty colorful characters. When teenagers are tossed into the chaos of living on their own for the first time, the floodgates of crazy open up, and some quirks begin to manifest themselves, and as the roommate, you'll be on the front lines when the going gets tough. There are about a million different types of roommates you could end up with — but some are more common than others, and as you get ready to start a new school year, it's important to know what you're up against.

Of course, not all roommates are going to be bad — even the crazier characters can have wonderful qualities. When you're moping in your pajamas after a breakup or a fight with a friend, it can be really helpful to have an incorrigible wild child outside in a cab, meter running, telling you to get up and shake it off like T-Swift. The forced close living quarters provide an essential piece of the college experience. You learn right away that your initial impressions of people are going to be way off, and that your own personality might not read exactly the way you think it does.

You might live with someone who you think you share nothing in common with, and that person turns out to be your best friend. On the other hand, you might live with someone who you consider to be a friend, and that person ends up being a big, inconsiderate jerk. Seriously, roommate relationships can be as complicated as romantic ones.

Have you lived with any of these characters? If not, chances are you will before your college days are over.

1. The Shakespearean Tragedy

Everything with this roommate is going to be dramatic. Midterms, boyfriends, and choosing what to wear will all be cause for spiraling into an hours-long funk. This type of roommate will speak longingly of how she was really destined to live in London or Paris, but some wires in the universe must have gotten crossed. The Shakespearean Tragedy may get to be a little exhausting after a while, but at least you can always count on her to put on a good show.

2. The Party Girl

With this one by your side, you know you're going to have a good time. The Party Girl will not allow you to be in a bad mood — ever. Her energy is endless, and you can't help but be impressed by her stamina, even if it kind of intimidates you at times. The good news is that you can pretty much guarantee that the Party Girl roommate has something going on every single night, meaning if you want the room to yourself, you have it. But if you're feeling up for a little adventure, this is your girl. Put on your YOLO tank top, and get on her level.

3. Casper The Friendly Ghost

Casper's stuff lives in your place, but you never, ever see this person. Aside from the few minutes she spent making brief introductions the first day of the semester, this roommate has not set foot into your shared living space in weeks. It's great, if you really want to live alone, or if you're the kind of person who hosts a lot of late night parties. Be as loud and as wild as you want — there's no one around to complain.

4. The Two-Headed Roommate

Sorry, Charlie. You're gonna be the third wheel every night if you live with the two-headed roommate. Maybe you set them up, or maybe you'd never met the guy before he unceremoniously took over a drawer in your room. You should probably go ahead and set up a warning system if his shiny hind-parts are going to be pointed in full view of your front door on the semi-regular. At least you can commiserate with your hallmates about the random guy who sometimes shows up in your shared women's bathroom.

5. The International Woman Of Mystery

Living with an international student is a great way to expand your cultural horizons. Some of her cultural customs — like owning a hookah, or knowing how to whip up amazing hummus in 10 seconds or less — will be immediately awesome. Take advantage of your living situation by learning about your roommate's native language, the political situation in their country, and what it's like to grow up somewhere outside of the U.S.

6. The Bookworm

The Bookworm sits at her desk and studies until her eyeballs fall out. You'll find her asleep on a pile of engineering notes at 2 a.m. on a Saturday. The Bookworm will never be the one encouraging you to procrastinate on writing that paper, because if she's not in class, she's doing something to boost her already perfect GPA.

7. The Best Friend

You didn't know going into your living arrangements that you would be getting a friend for life out of the deal, but that's exactly what happened. You two clicked from the second you met each other, and you rarely hit up social occasions without your partner in crime. Living with your BFF roommate is like having a sleepover every single night. The best part is that no matter which "type" of roommate you happen to end up with, they can easily turn into a BFF roommate. And if you have lived with someone who you became besties with, make sure to give her a call or a tweet, and thank them for making college so awesome.

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