Transitioning from the comfort of home to college life with a roommate can be a little scary for anyone.

The idea of living with someone they had never met was definitely a source of anxiety for first-year students Lyn Sugita and Christine (Minjae) Lee.

“I had never been with a roommate, so living with other people was a completely different thing for me,” Christine said. “I was kind of worried about how we can vibe together, how our lifestyle [would] match … I was concerned.”

Lyn agreed, saying she’d never had to share space and “really couldn’t imagine” herself living with other people.

Christine and Lyn decided the best way to combat their nerves was to take charge of the process. They began searching for potential roommates through the Patio app (class of 2026 for them) and then through Instagram.

And that’s how they found one another.

Christine sent a direct message to Lyn through Instagram, thinking the two of them “could share a similar bond.”

Through their chats, the pair decided to become roommates. It was the beginning of a friendship that continues to blossom months later.

Much to their surprise, living with one another has been easier than expected – and fun!

Christine said the adjustment to life with a roommate “wasn’t that hard. I thought it would be, but luckily, I really like having a good time with her. We have a really similar lifestyle and interest, so for me it wasn’t that hard to adjust.”

She said the two of them have become really close, sharing their stories, eating together when they can and spending a lot of time together.

“Because both of us are international students, we share different cultural backgrounds, and we speak different languages as well,” said Lyn, who is from Japan. Christine came to the university from South Korea. “So that’s also another thing I really enjoy, because I’m learning her culture, and she’s learning about me, too. That’s a really interesting exchange. Now I know some Korean phrases, and she knows some Japanese phrases.”

Beyond being roommates in their shared living space, Lyn and Christine make a point to spend time together socially as well. 

Their favorite memory made so far has been a trip to downtown Champaign. The pair hopped on a bus and enjoyed pastries and tea at the Literary, a “bookbar” located on North Neil Street. 

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“Talking about both school and [stuff] outside of school with her is always comforting,” Lyn said.

Open, proactive communication – from their first message through Instagram until the present – has been the key for these two roommates and friends.

“We talked about our lifestyles, what time we usually sleep and what time we usually wake up, how often we clean,” Christine said. She said the two wanted to have an idea if their lifestyles matched before they agreed to become roommates.

It’s smart advice for any two people – whether you already know the other person or not – who may consider being roommates: Talk to each other about your preferences and living habits.

Chibu Asonye, a University Housing residence hall director, says it is important for roommates to discuss whether they are comfortable sharing things, be it food, clothing, accessories or anything else. 

She also encourages roommates to discuss each other’s comfort with the presence of invited guests – including how many people at one time, how often people may come in and for how long – and visits from one roommate’s significant other and “what that looks like.”

For incoming and returning students who would prefer to be paired up with a roommate, there is a Roommate Matching Profile built into the housing contract form. The form asks each student a series of questions about lifestyle issues, similar to the questions Christine and Lyn asked each other.

Each student’s honest responses help identify potentially well-matched roommates. The University of Illinois website also offers suggestions to help students find roommates and tips for living with roommates.

Asonye said occasional annoyances and minor conflicts are inevitable, but when roommates address it right away, “nine times out of 10, they’re chill.”

She also noted that for residents who are nonconfrontational or nervous about having honest and direct discussions, an RA can be a helpful resource and could “roleplay with you, offer tips for conflict resolution and work through the anxiety.”

Like anything, living with a roommate is potentially a learning experience. For Lyn and Christine, it’s been a positive one!

“I learned to just talk if there’s anything you’re worried about or you feel uncomfortable about,” Lyn said. “Just sharing your thoughts and ideas really help you to engage and get to know each other better … also [show] you’re caring about the other person, and that’s something I’m also learning right now.”

Christine said the biggest upside to having a roommate is making a true friend.

“We can be really close, and we can talk about other things and be best friends,” she said.

With such good chemistry and open communication between them, these roommates are already looking ahead, with Lyn adding that she’s “very excited” to live with Christine again next year!

Have a roommate success story you’d like to share? Email us at marketingdept@housing.illinois.edu with a brief description of your situation, and someone from our Housing Information & Marketing team will follow up.

For more advice about finding a roommate, check out this helpful video!