Not Everyone Instantly Hits It Off With Their College Roommate, And Here Are A Few Tips For Getting Along That Will Make Your Time In The Dorm A Bit Easier

Pixel-Shot - stock.adobe.com-  illustrative purposes only, not the actual people
Pixel-Shot - stock.adobe.com- illustrative purposes only, not the actual people

For most teenagers, going to college and living on campus is their first experience with a roommate. Sure, some people consider their siblings or relatives their “roommates” from home, but living in a dorm with a stranger is often our first taste of the real world.

Unfortunately, not all college students immediately hit it off with their roommates. Sometimes personalities clash and lacking experience with having roommates can make issues harder to solve. 

So, here are some basic tips for getting along with your college roommates that can help make your time in the dorm a bit easier!

Get To Know Your Roommate

When first moving into your dorm, it’s a great idea to invite your roommate out to dinner or coffee so you can get to know them outside of your shared space. Even if you don’t become best friends, it’s a great opportunity to observe their personality and figure out what their interests are.

Give Them Your Schedule Right Away

It’s best to inform your roommate about your living habits and expectations early to avoid future conflict. For instance, if your class schedule includes a lot of early morning classes and you’ll need your sleep, let your roommate know and ask that they keep it down after a certain hour at night. If you’re in a suite with a shared bathroom and like night showers instead of morning showers, let them know so you can build a cohesive morning routine.

Put Away Your Valuables

Even if you build trust with your roommate and form a great relationship, it’s always best to keep the things you care most about out of their way. Dorms are often tiny spaces, and if your roommate accidentally bumps into your space and breaks something valuable, it could hurt your relationship!

Pixel-Shot – stock.adobe.com- illustrative purposes only, not the actual people

Establish safe and special places for your valuable items and make a mental note of where everything is so you don’t have to worry about your roommate interfering with them.

Do Your Part In Keeping Things Tidy

Keeping a dorm room or on-campus suite clean will only work if everyone is involved. Do your part in making sure your space is clean enough so that it’s not bothering your roommate.

For instance, try to at least keep your dirty clothes all together in a hamper so that they’re not in the middle of the floor and drifting into your roomie’s side of the dorm. 

Be sure to clean up any food or garbage to prevent attracting bugs, and keep your bed and surfaces as tidy as possible. If you live in a suite with a shared bathroom and kitchen, split up some weekly cleaning chores amongst your roommates so everybody can have a designated role, keeping the process fair.

Address Any Problems Right Away 

If your roommate is doing something that really bothers you, don’t wait around to let them know. This will only create more tension and will likely lead to passive-aggressive arguments.

For example, if your roommate leaves a light on at night while you’re trying to sleep, gently ask them to remember to turn it off as soon as you notice it instead of letting your frustration bubble up night after night.

Your roommate might not recognize when they’re doing something that bothers you, so be direct and let them know as soon as possible so you both can figure out a compromise.

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Be Mindful Of Guests

Bringing too many guests into your dorm room can make your roommate uncomfortable, especially if they don’t know these guests. Always check in with your roommate before bringing someone back to your dorm, and leave at least two to three nights a week to be guest-less.

After all, your dorm belongs to you and your roommate only, and your roommate might be too shy to ask you to stop bringing people around as much. 

If your roommate brings around a lot of guests, be sure to speak up and ask them if you can set some boundaries on how often and how many people they bring over.

Be Kind

Finally, it’s always important to be kind and have an open heart when it comes to your roommate. Even if you don’t get along, unless they’re doing awful things to you, you should do your best to be considerate and compassionate toward your roommate.

You never know what someone else is going through. They could be homesick, they could be struggling to make friends, they could be having a hard time in their classes, etc.

You don’t have to become your roommate’s therapist, but it’s never a bad idea to let them know you’re there for them if they need help.

While having a roommate for the first time can seem really intimidating, it can be very fun, and some people stay close with their college roommates for years beyond graduation. Go have fun!

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