Going to a new school can be difficult, especially when it's college. In most cases, you'll be living in a building with a bunch of other students, and sharing your room with a complete stranger. This can be difficult for a lot of people, but here are a few things new students can do when moving into college:
1. Introduce yourself to your roommate as soon as possible.
Meet the person, help them move in, and try to be friendly and welcoming if you arrived first. When moving in, try to make conversation and learn a little background information about your roommate, like basic orientation topics. You might be very different people, but you have one thing in common, you are both college freshmen.
2. Befriend your roommate and try to get meals together.
If you made friends at summer orientation, introduce them to your roommate. Maybe they will introduce you to some of their orientation friends. This is a great way to meet new people and expand your network of friends. Some of his or her orientation friends might end up being your future best friend, or maybe even your future boyfriend or girlfriend.
3. Talk over any issues.
It's so important to really focus on the first two steps because having a close relationship with your roommate, even if you don't hang out all the time, makes it easier to share your opinions and resolve issues. Don't bottle up any emotions toward your roommate, and respect their opinions. Just be considerate and try to meet each other halfway.
4. Establish what things will be shared and what things are private.
It's important to set these boundaries early in order to avoid accidents and assumptions. This applies to everything including the TV, refrigerator, food, and even clothing. You don't want to see your roommate rocking your favorite sweatshirt on campus when you haven't been able to find it for a week.
5. Try to find a common ground or interest.
Discovering that you both like the same sport or that you both love a certain TV show opens up all types of conversation. Feeling comfortable when talking to your roommate makes it a lot easier to discuss any concerns or topics outside of small talk.
6. Go to a school sponsored event.
With a group of friends like bingo, or a dance, or casino night, or something more than just lunch and coffee. This allows you to find things that interest you on campus and meet more people at these events.
7. Steer clear when the going gets tough.
If things get really difficult and moving isn't an option, then try to distance yourself from the problem. Try studying with friends instead of hanging around the room. Try doing things off campus with your friends and keep yourself busy enough to forget about the problems. Only use this as a last resort because there are plenty of resources available. You can always talk to your RA or RD, or a counselor on campus.
8. Try to plan ahead.
If you can, try to exchange numbers or learn their schedule so you can better understand what they have going on if you plan to study in the room, or if your roommate is about to get back from three consecutive classes. It's a lot easier to be proactive than reactive and change your plans when they're already in action. Maybe you decided to make four buckets of popcorn and invite a bunch of people over for a movie and your roommate just wants to nap.
9. Don't feel obligated to always be with them.
Feel free to venture off on your own and meet new people, especially in the first couple weeks of school. It's important to be yourself and make a good first impression. If you're already with someone who is more social than you, they may try to speak on your behalf, or inadvertently create an image of you that isn't true. Make sure whether you stick with your roommate or do your own thing that each of you feel comfortable.
10. Go to a new place together.
By exploring your surroundings with your roommate, you can discover new things together and have a unique experience that brings you closer.
