College Q&A: Should I Dorm With My Sister?

By Candy

Got some college questions? Unsure of a decision? Making the big college transition? Just wanna chat it up with some really awesome chics? We’ve got the girls for you. Hit them up in the comments or shoot them an email with the subject “College Q&A”! They’ve got all the answers you need, no matter who you are.

Question:
My half-sister and I (by dad) are going to the same college. My dad wants us to share a room so he can buy one TV and one fridge. Cheap. Anyways I was just wondering if I am wrong for speaking up for myself about not wanting to live in a dorm my first year of college with my sister?! I mean, come on now; first of all she annoys me, second she’s messy, and third she annoys me. As consequence for not wanting to live with my sister my dad is giving everything (TV, fridge, etc.) to her and not to me.

Am I wrong for wanting to have a good freshman year without having to bitch at my sister and sacrifice our relationship over stupid things I know for a FACT were going to argue about?

GPA Girl:
I’m not going to say you should live with your half sister, but I do think you should adjust your expectations a little bit. Getting a random roommate definitely does not guarantee you a “good freshman year” and may actually make your year pretty nightmarish. However, I assume that if that happens, you’ll accept responsibility and have the decency not to complain about your roommate to your half sister or your dad. In the meantime, no, you’re not being unreasonable for wanting to live with someone else. This is your first time out on your own, and you’re well within your rights to have a say in the person with whom you share a small room. It sucks that your dad is not being cooperative, but cut the dude some slack – dorm supplies ARE expensive. Here’s my advice: Once you’re assigned a roommate, talk to her and see what she’s bringing. If she doesn’t have major supplies covered, such as the fridge and the TV, offer to split the cost of them with her, or see if you can buy them secondhand from graduating seniors. It won’t be the end of the world if you don’t live with your half sister, and your dad will get over it, so there’s no need to treat this as a big deal. Good luck!

Party Girl:
Speak up, girlfriend! Yes, you might have to fund a fridge and a TV yourself, but it’s worth it to have the freshman year you want and deserve. A few dorm room essentials aren’t enough to set yourself up for what you already know will be a pretty disastrous living situation. Especially when you consider how much your sister will be able to use against you when you guys get in a fight (and you will). Is a brand new TV really worth having your dad find out how late you come home? Or how often you don’t come home at all? You are an adult now, so speak your mind, let your sister get all the stuff and pray for a roommate that comes with a TV and fridge. And if she doesn’t, there are plenty of deals out there that are more than worth the peace, fun and independence you’ll have when you’re family- (and drama) free your freshman year.

Busy Bee:
Wow, that is really unfair. I’m wondering, did your sister have any objections? Or was she just trying to please your dad? I think you should say something! I mean, I know that they are funding most of your college education, but this is favoritism at its finest. I’m sure living with your sister saves a bundle of benjamins, but you can count out any fun college experiences if you go that way. I say you go up to your parents and tell them that this is wrong. You deserve a REAL college experience, trust me.