Most roommate search advice says to "just have a conversation." But a vague conversation gives you vague information. The right questions — asked directly — surface incompatibilities before they become dorm room arguments.

Sleep & Schedule

  1. What time do you usually go to sleep on weeknights?
  2. Do you need the room to be dark and quiet to fall asleep?
  3. Do you use an alarm? How many? Do you snooze?
  4. What's your schedule like? Early morning classes or late ones?
  5. Do you nap during the day? In the room?

Cleanliness & Shared Spaces

  1. How often do you do dishes or clean up after eating?
  2. What does "clean room" mean to you?
  3. Do you have a cleaning routine, or do you clean reactively when it bothers you?
  4. How do you feel about clutter on shared surfaces?
  5. If something was bothering you — like I kept leaving dishes out — would you tell me directly?

Social Life & Guests

  1. How often do you plan to have people over to the room?
  2. Do you have a partner who might stay over? How often?
  3. Do you go out a lot on weekends, or are you more of a stay-in person?
  4. Are you okay if I have people over, or do you prefer the room stays mostly private?

Studying & Noise

  1. Do you study in the room or mostly at the library/common areas?
  2. Do you listen to music or have the TV on while you work?
  3. Are there times you'd need the room quiet for focused work?

Practical Logistics

  1. Do you run warm or cold? Any strong thermostat preferences?
  2. Are you okay sharing things like snacks or toiletries, or do you prefer to keep everything separate?
  3. If something came up and you were stressed, how would that show up for you at home?

There's no right or wrong answer to most of these. The goal is alignment, not perfection. A great roommate isn't someone who does everything the same way you do — it's someone whose habits don't cause friction with yours.

A Note on How to Ask These

Don't turn this into an interrogation. Have a normal conversation and weave these in naturally. Share your own answers first — it makes the other person feel safe being honest. "I'm an early riser, usually up by 7. What about you?" lands very differently than a cold "What time do you wake up?"

If you're using RoomieU, you'll have already answered many of these in the compatibility quiz — which means you'll walk into the conversation with a baseline match score and can focus the discussion on the nuanced stuff.