As a father and a former high school counselor, I have seen results from both sides of this situation. This is a question that I think has no definite answer, but it has some considerations both for and against.
Here are some pro-con considerations from a Huffington Post article “The Pros and Cons of Rooming with a High School Friend in College” by Katie Naymon.
Pros:
1. You can discuss the rooming situation in person. Because you live close to each other, it will be easy to get together and plan what you need to bring to college for your room.
2. You’ll already have common ground. You both know your hometown and the culture that you lived in.
3. There is no awkward “getting to know you” period. You know each other’s personalities, so it will be an easier transition to living with someone.
4. You won’t get a weird random roommate. By taking your chances in a lottery system of matching roommates, you avoid the bad luck of getting someone who is totally different that you in your sleeping habits and studying. This assumes your high school friend will be similar to you in this area.
Cons:
1. It can be awkward to turn down a classmate who asks you to room together. But you need to be honest and let them know your reasons. Your true feelings will likely come out later anyway.
2. It might be harder to meet new people. Part of the college experience is to make new friends. Sometimes rooming with a high school classmate will reduce a circle of new friends.
3. There is such a thing as “too much of a good thing”. It is different having a good friend versus rooming with someone 24/7, and it can cause additional stress in a relationship.
4. You might not feel comfortable confronting her/him. When conflicts come about, it is usually harder to confront the person who you have a history with from high school.
Rooming with a high school friend can work and not work. The key is to think it through and have the courage to choose what is best for you. If you do room with a high school friend and it does not work, then most colleges will allow you to switch roommates at the semester. Realize that the new and unfamiliar environment of the college will only last a short time, so a high school friend might be a security blanket that you won’t need. Just think it through.
Steve - ICAN Council Bluffs Center
