How To Be A Great Roommate

It's easy to have nightmares about getting stuck with a horrible roommate, but imagine this: you walk into a room with someone you hardly know, and walk out four years later with a best friend you can't imagine your life without. Sharing a tiny space with another person helps you get to know them better and faster than you ever thought possible. Take advantage of this opportunity for a lifelong friend, but first, to help form this friendship, you have to learn how to be a great roommate.

1. Take time to talk about your roommate contract (cheesy, but helpful)

A roommate contract is a document from your RA that lays out rules and expectations roommates have for one another about issues such as chores, cleanliness, and sleeping habits. You may find it cheesy or uncomfortable to sit down and make rules with someone who is your own age, but it really helps eliminate conflicts before they arise.

2. Extend the invite; if you're going somewhere invite your roommate

All first-year students want to make friends. So why overlook an easy-to-make, built in friend; your roommate. It’s simple. If you are going somewhere, invite your roommate to join. I guarantee you they will appreciate it.

3. Get ready as quietly as possible when you have early classes

No one enjoys being woken up in the morning, and that includes your roommate. If you have an early class, try to get ready as quietly as possible. Hopefully they will return the favor next semester if they’re up before you.

4. Eat your own food and wear your own clothes, unless you ask

Living with a roommate is different than living at home. At home you may share food or clothes with your family, but with a roommate you have to remember that not everything belongs to you. Your roommate may not mind sharing their things, but it is important to always ask first and respect their answer if they say no.

5. If you're going to be gone or have people over, let them know

Remember your dorm is a shared space and communication is key. Your roommate needs to know if someone is coming into their home, or if you’re going to be gone for an extended period of time. Since there are no parents around anymore, your roommate is the one looking out for you. Make sure you let them know if you aren’t coming back for a few days so they don’t start to panic.

6. Share chores; clean up after yourself and your friends

Create a list of chores that need to be done and make a schedule to alternate them between roommates. This helps to ensure no one gets stuck doing everything, and makes sure chores actually get done. But, there is an exception to this rule. The alternation of chores does not include your own messes. Make sure you are cleaning up after yourself and your friends. You wouldn’t want to clean up after your roommate’s friends, so make sure they aren’t cleaning up after yours.

7. Spend time getting to know your roommate; building a relationship takes time

Building a relationship with your roommate is the best way to have a pleasant and comfortable home. If you form a strong relationship, you're more comfortable around each other, which leads to more honest communication. The easiest way to build a relationship is to make sure you are spending time together outside of your room, such as planning dinners together or hanging out on the weekends.

8. Stagger move-in times

Move-in day can be an exciting, pleasant day, or it can be a frustrating, hot, traffic jam. If everyone is trying to move in at the same time, there are too many people in the room and not enough space to move around. One way to avoid a negative experience moving in is to reach out to your roommate beforehand and plan to stagger move-in times

9. Pre-move-in meet

Moving in to college can be a nerve-racking experience. You may not know a single person on campus and that can be a very intimidating feeling. A great way to feel more comfortable is to set up a time to meet your roommate before the day you move in. That way, when you are officially moved in, you have at least one familiar face on campus and can feel more at ease in your new home.

10. Address conflict right away

Sharing one tiny room with another person is sure to bring some conflict. The best way to limit that from happening is to mention that something is bothering you right away. It is better to let your roommate know there is a problem so you can work to solve it, rather than wait until it escalates into an even larger one.

11. Ask about general sleep schedules and weekend routines; find a balance

College is a very busy time, which makes it easy to get caught up in your own schedule and forget about those around you. It is important to share your schedule with your roommate to ensure you are being respectful of each other. For example, having friends over the night before your roommate has a big test is sure to lead to some conflict.