Getting Along With Your Roommate

Living on campus as a first-year student can often prove to be a rocky experience. As a resident, you are housed with another student (or potentially, other students) and are expected to spend a significant portion of the day interacting with them. Now, if your roommate ends up being the coolest people you have ever met, then you won’t have much of a problem in this regard.

But of course, it’s not that simple for most people. Your roommate may very well have grown up in a manner radically different from your own, which can lead to a clash of lifestyles. Many a college student can attest of “horror stories” where they shared a room with someone they considered themselves severely incompatible with. However, many people fail to do all that they can to ensure they not only survive their rooming experience, but actually enjoy it.

HOW TO GET ALONG WITH COLLEGE ROOMMATES:

1. Introduce yourself – Before you jump right in and attempt to establish “ground rules”, give your roommate a chance to get to know you and you to know them. The more familiar you are with each other, the easier it will be to communicate.

2. Don’t make rules, do negotiate – Don’t attempt to tell your roommate what will or will not fly with you. Instead, try to come to a common ground to establish a living environment that is mutually acceptable for you both.

3. Communicate – Nobody can read minds, so make sure you speak up if you are uncomfortable with one of your roommate’s actions. It’s easy to assume your roommate is doing something to purposefully annoy you, but they may simply be acting upon a habit that they have grown accustomed to. Air your concerns with them so that the problems don’t pile up.

4. Be realistic – Some people are lucky enough to find a new best friend in their roommate, but keep in mind that many people do not grow incredibly close to their roommates. While it is a good thing to be friends with your roommate, there is also nothing wrong with simply sharing a space with them.

5. Invest in some good headphones – Many a roommate conflict is sparked by a roommate playing or listening to audio at a level considered much too loud by the other. Use headphones to watch your favorite TV show on your computer, or to block out your roommate’s unconventional musical taste.

6. Find ways to appreciate them – Instead of focusing on the negative aspects of your relationship with your roommate, try to highlight the good parts. This will help you to appreciate them for who they are, as opposed to trying to make them conform to your standards of a good roommate.

7. Make other friends – Sometimes, you just need a break from your roommate. The more time you spend cooped up with the same person, the more likely it is that you will begin to get on one another’s nerves. Be sure you have another group of friends you can spend time with to prevent driving your roommate up the wall.

8. Talk to your RA – RAs, or resident assistants, exist to not only to ensure you are healthy and safe on campus, but also to act as a mediator between roommates. If all else fails, discuss your situation with your RA instead of going to war with your roommate.

These are just a few tips to make the best of your first-year dorming experience. By incorporating them into your interaction with your roommate, you may find that you no long resent having “that other person” in the room. Instead, you may develop a friendship that will last through your college years and beyond.