First of all, it's only $500 for a single room? What a deal! I pay around $1700 for a double right now, and it will be even more next year if I get a single (which I want).
I prefer having my own room, but there is a way to have the social interaction, help, and facilities with the benefits of your own room: suites!
That is what I am trying to get for next year. The room is a little smaller, but you it's the best of both worlds.
Here are my problems with a roommate/s:
1.Laziness-my roommate stays up and wakes up a lot later than I do, so most nights I have to struggle to sleep with his stupid desk light shining in my face. Good thing I like sleeping with the covers over my head.
Then when I get up, I have to tip-toe around the room and keep the lights off. It is really annoying. So, I think single rooms are better for morning people.
2.Noise-This hasn't been a problem for me (at least not between my roommate and I), but I can see how it could be an issue. If you go to bed early, a noisy roommate could disturb you; and if you sleep in, you might be disturbed by your roommate/s who don't have the luxury of sleeping in. On a related note, I usually read/study with headphones on, so even if my roommate was making noise, it wouldn't disrupt my learning.
3.Space-Space runs out quickly as the number of people increases. Why not have it all? And having a disorganized roommate (which I do) can be annoying, especially when you have to step over their clothes. Earlier in the year, my roommate would hang his jacket on the door, and I would always brush it and knock it over (unintentionally). Then I would have to put it back, wasting my time and testing my patience.
4.Security-What if your roomoate leaves the door unlocked, and someone steals your laptop? I always remember to lock the door when I leave and when I sleep at night, but I can't be sure that my roomate does the same. If you are good about remembering this sort of thing, then having a roommate could be a liability.
Also, my roommate is studying Architecture, and I am studying Philosophy, so he can't really help me with my work. The only other advantage I can see is that if you forget/need something, you might be able to borrow it from your roommate, although this problem disappears if you live in a suite.