DO: Get in touch with your roommate before moving in | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Education

If You're Nervous About Your New Roommate, Here Are The Dos And Don'ts To Pass 'Roommate 101'

If you have to live in a shoebox, you should at least get along.

179
girls and sunset

Living in a dorm the size of a walk-in closet with a stranger is a uniquely odd experience bestowed upon many freshmen. Often times students are asked to fill out a roommate-matching survey, however, others don't have this luxury. Whatever your case may be, this guide of dos and don'ts is to help cope with any anxieties that come with moving in with someone you are expected to bunk with for a year.

DO: Get in touch with your roommate before moving in

Send your roommate an email, a text, connect with them over social media, and introduce yourself! This will let you get to know your roommate better and it'll ease any uncertainties you might have. Who knows, you might just end up in a conversation about your favorite conspiracy theories.

DON'T: Be passive aggressive about things

Living with someone means getting to know their habits — not all of which you are going to like. You might be diligent at keeping your living area clean while your roommate thrives in a little disorganization. If differences between you two become an issue, it's best to address them and reach a compromise than to gossip about it to other hall mates or be passive aggressive and live in complete annoyance with your roommate — it'll not do your mental health or your relationship with them any good.

DO: Make plans to hang out

You don't need to be best friends with your roommate — no matter how many people may think so. If you find you're both not doing anything on a Friday night, make plans to go out once in a while, even if it's just to get coffee or to see a movie. Having a close relationship with your roommate is a plus, however, it's not required by any means.

DONT: Force a friendship if there isn't one

If you find your roommate always turning down your offers to hang out, it's not the end of the world and you are not doomed to be friendless. Your dorm has hundreds of other people living in it that you can get to know through mixers and hall-wide events, you will have classmates whom you share interests with, and you have four years to make all the friends you want, so don't be discouraged by rejection! Just remember to keep things civil between you and your roommate.

DO: Go over your Roommate Agreement

Don't brush off the roommate agreement at the beginning of the year--it'll help you down the road. We often get caught up in the excitement of move-in day and living independently that we forget to discuss the nitty-gritty with our roommates. Should I text my roommate before having friends over? What groceries are we comfortable sharing? How are the chores going to be divided up? It's better to go into the school year knowing your boundaries than to have disagreements afterward.

Go forth with this knowledge and conquer the school year!

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Does anybody know how to study
Gurl.com

It’s here; that time of year when college students turn into preschoolers again. We cry for our mothers, eat everything in sight, and whine when we don’t get our way. It’s finals, the dreaded time of the semester when we all realize we should have been paying attention in class instead of literally doing anything else but that. Everyone has to take them, and yes, unfortunately, they are inevitable. But just because they are here and inevitable does not mean they’re peaches and cream and full of rainbows. Surviving them is a must, and the following five phases are a reality for all majors from business to art, nursing to history.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

How To Prepare For The Library: Finals Edition

10 ways to prepare for finals week—beginning with getting to the library.

1883
How To Prepare For The Library: Finals Edition
Photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash

It’s that time of year again when college students live at the library all week, cramming for tests that they should have started studying for last month. Preparing to spend all day at the library takes much consideration and planning. Use these tips to help get you through the week while spending an excessive amount of time in a building that no one wants to be in.

Keep Reading...Show less
girl roommates
StableDiffusion

Where do we begin when we start talking about our roommates? You practically spend every moment with them, they become your second family and they deal with you at your best and at your absolute worst. They are there to make you laugh just a little harder, cry a little less and make each day a little better. We often forget to thank them for the little things that they do to make college even a tiny bit easier and more fun. This list of 26 things are what you should thank your roommates for right this minute and every day that you live with them.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

20 Thoughts While Studying For Finals

I may or may not be stressing right now.

2388
Thoughts While Studying For Finals
StableDiffusion


That time of the semester has arrived once again, finals. The worst week ever. Who thought it was a good idea for all your classes to have exams all in the same week? Definitely not me. Here's 20 thoughts you may have studying for finals.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Disney magic for New Year!

The "Happiest Place on Earth" has a lot of characters with some pretty great advice.

7160
Disney magic kingdom castle on new years
StableDiffusion

Disney movies are well known and very popular in today's world. Although many people appreciate the plot and the storyline, not many people appreciate the wisdom these characters possess. Every Disney movie has unique advice that can be applied to everyday life. Here are 11 Disney quotes to help start your New Year off right:

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments