Friends is all about the many different personality types sharing very close quarters- something all college roommates can relate too. Even though Friends premiered twenty-five years ago, it is still living a full life on Netflix. We all know that Ross and Rachel were on a break, that Monica has eleven categories for her towels, and that it’s not smelly cat’s fault.
Since all the Friends characters lived with each other in one form or another, there’s a lot we can learn from them about roommate dynamics. There are characteristics of the Friends crew in all of us, so if you’re still trying to figure out your college roommates, or you’re wondering what kind of roommate you are yourself, this article will help you figure it out!
If your roommate is like Rachel Green, they are current with all the trends. They know what slang just went out of style, what happened last night on Bachelor in Paradise, and they are always willing to help you get ready on a Friday night.
Living with a Rachel certainly has its perks, like free fashion tips and a closet to raid whenever you need it. This roommate will also keep you updated on all the tea within your friend group- plus some drama about people you don’t even know. They’re up to date, what can they say.
However, as trendy as Rachel is, she also had a lot of growing up to do on the show. So if your roommate is anything like her, they might still be adjusting to life on their own. This might be the first time they’ve had to do things like do their laundry or make dinner for themselves. College roommates like her may get preoccupied with their own life now and than, so when this happens, remember all the times they’ve been generous in the past, but remind them that your needs as a roommate are just as important as theirs.
If you have more experience with independence than this roommate, try to be understanding. Take all the gossip, makeup tips, and pop culture updates that you can, and make sure that they have an alarm set to get to class on time in the morning. You guys both have things you can learn from each other.
How you doin’? If your roommate is anything like Joey Tribbiani, their love life is, more than likely, very active. You’ll get plenty of sex and dating tips, and you’ll get to meet all of the interesting people they bring home.
Since you guys share a wall, or maybe even a room, you might have to do a little more than meet them. Whether you choose to close your door and put in some headphones, or take yourself out for coffee, remember that you’d want them to do the same for you, and they want you to have just as much fun on the dating scene as they do.
These college roommates are also the life of the party. They might want to make your dorm or apartment the place to be on a Saturday night, and they’ll be more than happy to introduce you to everyone who comes in as their awesome roommate. Let them expand your social circle and be your avenue for making new friends!
Joey was an aspiring actor, and we saw him with quite a bit of downtime on Friends, and he used it very creatively. This roommate knows you work hard, and chances are when you come home at the end of the day, they’ll have come up with a fun new way to unwind.
If your roommate is like Joey, they might have some pretty big dreams that seem a bit unattainable at the moment. Try to be supportive! Help them with their psych homework, and remember the lofty goals you’ve had in life.
If you live with a Monica, your space will be clean, that’s for sure. These college roommates like to keep things a certain way, and might be unhappy if you don’t do things their way. This could get frustrating if you’re not the most organized, so make sure you find a space in your room that’s fully yours that you can keep just the way you like it. When that happens, keep in mind all the chores you’ll never have to do because your roommate does them first!
Monica wasn’t just emphatic about cleaning, though. She was competitive in all aspects of life, from football to ping pong. If your roommate is like her, they love to play games, but might tend to be a bit of a sore loser. Try to keep things light with this roommate and remind them not to take things too seriously, but know that they would fight for you just as hard if it came to it.
When you go to visit a friend and see the messy, disorganized way they live, you’ll appreciate living with a Monica!
If you live with a Chandler you’ll be laughing- a lot. This roommate loves to make people laugh and might be known in your friend group as “the funny friend”. At the same time, this roommate may be hesitant to go out of their comfort zone and likely appreciates the comfort of your home.
As we saw on Friends, there were things behind Chandler’s jokes that were a lot more serious and he rarely wants to talk about those things. Similarly, these college roommates may have more going on beneath the surface than meets the eye, and if they open up to you, that’s a big sign of trust.
Be supportive if this happens, and encourage them to step out of their comfort zone, but mostly enjoy all the laughs and quality time you can have with this roommate in your dorm or apartment.
Is anyone really like Phoebe Buffay? Probably not, but your college roommates could be pretty close, especially if they’re constantly taking you by surprise. If you’re living with a Phoebe, they don’t care too much about the state of your room or apartment and have a very “go with the flow” attitude.
If you’re more like a Monica yourself, you might want them to take some more initiative with organization, but you might want to take a leaf out of their book every now and than. This roommate likely has some unique interests and is just going wherever life takes them. If you spend enough time with them, you’ll pick up some pretty uncommon skills and knowledge.
If your roommate seems a little out there, they’re just being themselves, and that’s as endearing as it is rare. Just like Phoebe, if your roommate is very confident (maybe bordering on overconfident), don’t burst their bubble- just clap along to that coffee shop serenade.
Spending time with this roommate will likely help you become your best self, so don’t take them for granted. Even though they might occasionally need some help with some odd problems, they ultimately want you to be just as sure of yourself as they are.
On the surface, living with a Ross might not sound too appealing. Ross was someone who consistently struck out on the dating front, was often stubborn or insecure, and had a pretty boring job. If your college roommates are like him, those might be things you”ll have to address somewhere down the line.
Despite the minor pet peeves you may have, Ross was also extremely passionate and caring. So if you just can’t figure out why your roommate cares so much about something so uninteresting, try to appreciate the enthusiasm they’re able to have for something so mundane.
And know that their overall caring attitude applies to you too! This roommate will be a loyal friend to the end, so when you’re cheering them up after a bad day, know that they’d do the same for you. Plus, when you need help prepping for a class or some honest advice, your roommate will be more than happy to give it to you.
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