So this is my second year of college, and for both years I’ve lived in triples. A lot of stuff goes down in college to begin with, but living with two people can be a hassle. As someone who has done it twice, allow me to list out what you can expect from living in a triple.
1. Tight Spacing
It doesn’t matter if it’s a regular triple that’s made for three people or a converted triple made for two, there’s never going to be enough space. Last year my roommates and I tried to make some space in the room but at the end of the day, three freshmen with an overload of stuff meant that it was never enough space. Even if everyone who lived in a double said it was a lot of space, it never was. This year I’m living in a converted triple, which is a room made for two but housing three, and we damn sure don’t have any space. One of my roommates is splitting her wardrobe between the two closets that’s already been taken. It’s not a problem, but very poor planning on the school’s part. Should have given some heads up.
2. “Bonding”
It never fails. With three people in the room, more times than not two people are going to be much closer to one another than they are to the other person. For a very short time last year it was me and the roommate I had been talking to on Facebook over the summer, though the bonding dynamic shifted at some point in the year. This year my two roommates are much closer to one another than they are to me. This isn’t an intentional thing, and to be clear you don’t have to be best friends with your roommates, it’s just something that happens. If you’re bothered by it at first, you can bring it up to someone and say you want to feel more included, and if all else fails, you’re in college. There’s plenty of people you should have something in common with, you’ll make friends if you put yourself out there. I promise.
3. Side Taking
Now this isn’t something I’m happy to share, but it happens. When you’re living with other people there’s going to be arguments, and it happens a little too often where the roommate who isn’t involved in the conflict takes sides, whether it’s openly or privately when the opposite fighting roommate isn’t around. The roommate I had been talking to on Facebook and I got into a fight, and our other roommate openly stayed out of the conflict, but in private she sided with me. This year it’s too early for there to be fights, and I’m hoping there isn’t any, but I wouldn’t hold my breath against side taking.
Living with other people is not easy, especially if you’re being crammed into a space that isn’t suited for the number of occupants. The best advice I can offer is to communicate with everyone in the room, it’s the best way to make sure everyone is comfortable and on the same page. No one wants to spend the next nine months being uncomfortable.
