Peace and quiet become something completely different when you created them. Let me be frank, there is something special about being able to control everything: the thermostat, Netflix queue, dishes, rent payments and the existential dread at 2 AM. 😅
But let us start talking about finances. A small studio near your university costs a kidney, but living in a three-bedder with total strangers takes your sanity. You need to think whether the savings are worth the risk of opening your fridge and finding some mystery meat inside. Financial stability sounds nice, but you will find out that you finance the electric guitar lessons of somebody you do not know.
There is also the question of academic research to consider. The work on your dissertation is hard enough without being in complete solitude. You find yourself talking to your plants just for the sake of communication. Having a roommate guarantees that you have at least some conversations and discussions.
Nevertheless, living with a roommate means maintaining diplomatic relations. You are doomed to face the problem called “the passive-aggressive note on the milk”. You need to deal with the habits of other people when you are tired after all the seminars. You need to return home from work and spend time doing absolutely nothing. 🤯
So here we are: your ideal image of friendship with your roomie is unlikely to materialize. You roommate will either be your best friend or the person eating your fancy yoghurt. In any case, the second variant is more probable. Putting yourself at the risk of losing your emotional stability is not the smartest decision ever.
Living alone makes you more independent and responsible. From now on, you will take care of yourself. Killing spiders and changing the Wi-Fi router become a part of your life. This independence becomes extremely useful when Friday evening arrives. You get your own place to relax.
On the other hand, your roommate prevents you from losing your sanity. They make sure that you spend your evenings not in front of your computer, but eating your taco and drinking wine. This kind of relationship becomes especially important under the stress. We are social beings; even introverts need someone to communicate with. 🌮
Commute also turns into an unexpected factor in this choice. Living alone means that you move further and further away just to be able to afford the payments for the apartment. So you waste time which you can never get back. Your roommate helps you staying close to your university and saves you from using public transport.
Noisiness is one of the factors you should never compromise on. You cannot write your dissertation while your roommate plays Call of Duty right now. You need silence to concentrate. Do not sacrifice your sleep and grades.
In the end, your decision will determine the whole future of your academic career in this university. It is not only about saving money, but also about preserving energy. Make sure you weigh the pros and cons and choose the environment allowing you to graduate. 🎓
The thing is that there is no ideal solution to this question. You might find yourself hating the silence as much as the noise. Be honest with yourself before making the decision. Also try to hide the good cheese.