It's your first year in college. There are tons of changes you're going to have to get used to. Cafeteria food, communal bathrooms, quiet hours... These are just some of new things you will experience.
The biggest change for most of us, however, is sharing a room for the first time. And if you're lucky enough to be in an Efficiency Triple, a double turned into a triple, then this is the article for you.
Though everyone has their roommate horror stories, there are ways you can prevent them from happening.
Be Considerate
If order to create a healthy atmosphere in your room, you and your roommates need to have equal consideration for each other.
Be respectful – If your roommate is trying to sleep, make sure to keep the noise level down. Take your toothbrush to the bathroom to avoid running water in the room and try to keep the lights off. If you need to light, be courteous by using your phone's flashlight instead. Make sure your actions reflect how you would want your roommate to treat you.
Ask Before Using – If you want to borrow something of your roommate's, make sure you ask first. It's hard to have privacy when you're sharing your room with someone else, so respect each other's space and possessions. Asking also avoids having conflicts over things later.
Try to Keep Things Clean – Again, you're sharing a room. So do your best to keep things clean. No one is perfect, but if you keep your mess to your area, you will be able to avoid so much conflict with your roommates. Also, by keeping your room clean, it makes the room look so much more spacious.
Set Ground Rules
While most colleges have you create some sort of agreements with your roommates, it is really important to set your own ground rules. Is it okay to talk on the phone at night? When is it okay to bring visitors? How will you divide up the chores? When should we have lights off? All these questions are important to being able to hold each other accountable and make each roommate feel respected.
If All Else Fails, Get Help.
Colleges have resources such as Resident Assistants and Resident Directors who are there to help you. Utilize them! That is what they are there for. They can help you discuss with your roommates better ground rules, or if need be, other living options if you find it impossible to live together. It is also very important to seek help if you feel unsafe in your roommate situation.
Having roommates for the first time probably won't be easy, especially if you have never shared a room, but it is not impossible to have a good roommate situation. So avoid the horror stories by utilizing the advice above and your resources!
