How to Live With Your College Roommate

A roommate can be your best friend or your worst enemy. Be considerate.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Cordless Phones With Answering Machines
• Corkboard
• Dry Erase Boards
• Phone Message Pads

1. Get in touch with your roommate before school starts, if you don't already know him or her, and decide who should bring what. Make an effort to accommodate your roommate's needs.

2. Remember that looks can be deceiving, so avoid making snap decisions the first time you see your roommate.

3. Determine how you each want the room to look and come to agreements that meet both your needs.

4. Discuss housecleaning and bill-paying before they become problematic issues.

5. Come to a reasonable agreement about visiting boyfriends or girlfriends, including arrival and departure times.

6. Set up schedules for kitchen use, study times, bathroom times and party nights.

7. Determine what belongs to you and what belongs to your roommate. Check before helping yourself to his or her groceries, clothing, CDs or toiletries.

8. Keep things that happen in the room confidential.

9. Be patient with your roommate's choice of music, clothes, food and friends.

10. Respect your roommate's family.

Tips & Warnings

• Friendships rarely happen instantly. Give them time to grow.
• Consult your resident advisor if you find yourself in an unlivable situation. He or she can try to find you a new roommate.

Who Can Help Sponsored

• Earn your degree from industry experts at University of Phoenix. Take the next step in your career.

[honeykoh24]

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[sivalik]

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on 8/8/2006 I told my roommate when I was a freshman in college that she wasn't allowed to touch my stuff, especially not my computer and clothes. First semester was alright, but then my clothes got dirty when I hadn't worn them, a lot of possessions went missing, she used my computer and got so many viruses on it that it became unusable. Worse though, was that the RA of the dorm we lived in was her best friend and sided with her in every argument that we had without hearing my side of the story! If this happens, definitely go to someone else with your concerns.

on 8/8/2006 There is no way you can live with someone you don't trust. It doesn't matter if you're sharing a room or a house. If you don't trust your roommate (ie: you have to lock your door, hide money, etc) you shouldn't be living with them. Request a roommate change or move out. I lived in the res halls with the same roommate for two years and never had a major problem. I would leave money out on my desk and it never disappeared. Currently I live with 3 girls in a house and I never lock my door or am worried about things missing or them going through my stuff. As soon as trust is an issue, everything else will be too.

on 6/30/2006 When I was a freshman I was told there was no more room in the dorms, so me and 4 other girls got a two-room suite with a bathroom. Sounds great- huh? not so much- they all like to talk tough and since I had purple hair I was labeled as a freak. After two weeks of coming home to my room with my food being eaten or my clothes worn, I requested a change and moved out. Luckily, we all knew we didn't want to be roommates, and I moved in with a girl across the hall. All those girls failed out, and I had a great roommate for the following 3 years. My tip is: it will get better, and stay calm, hide your valuables, stay friends with the RAs, or better yet, become one yourself...you get your own room! I became one, and ended up getting the Teamwork Award my last year!