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Roommate Considerations | 2,664 Views
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| Living with a roommate can be one of college's most awkward challenges. Unless you and a friend are fortunate enough to room together, you may have to figure out how to share space with a total stranger. There are some things you can do, however, to make this transition smoother. Housing Questionnaire |
| Most schools group students together based on a housing questionnaire. This form asks you questions that are designed to help those in charge of housing select roommates who are well suited to one another. Here are some common questions that might appear on a housing questionnaire: |
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Photo by rhl.tcu.edu |
- Do you smoke?
- Would you mind if your roommate smoked?
- Would you be ok with your roommate inviting guests to stay in your room?
- How do you like to keep your living space? (very clean, somewhat clean, messy, etc.)
- Are you a heavy sleeper?
- Do you get up early? Do you stay up late?
- What's your attitude toward alcohol?
You should answer these questions honestly and as accurately as possible. Your answers can go a long way toward putting you in a favorable roommate situation.
Be a Good Roommate
One of the best ways to make sure you get along with your new roommate is to be the best roommate you can be to them. As they say, “it takes two to tango.” If you're a good roommate, the chances that your roommate will be a good one too are much higher. Here are some qualities of a good roommate:
- Good communication skills – Talk to your roommate about your expectations. For example, you might want to agree on a lights-out time or rules about guests. If you're having a problem with something your roommate is doing, it's best to discuss it with him or her (in a calm and mature manner).
- Trustworthy – You should be someone your roommate can trust. You should both be confident that you would treat each other and each other's space and belongings with respect. You shouldn't have to worry about leaving your roommate alone in your room.
- Friendly – Whether you're best friends or not, you should be able to treat each other with civility. If you enjoy each other's company, your school year will be a lot better.
- Considerate – Everybody would want their roommate to be considerate of them. Don't blast your music while your roommate is studying, and help keep your room clean.
What to Do About a Bad Roommate
If, despite your and your school's best efforts, you end up in a bad roommate situation, most schools offer you a way out. Find out if there's a way to switch roommates. Generally, you'll have to fill out some paperwork and have all parties involved sign it. There may also be a deadline for room switching. Find out about this process ahead of time in case you need to make use of it.
If all else fails, you may need to just tough it out until the semester or school year is through. Find a friend you can stay with if tensions are running particularly high. Hopefully, when the time comes to figure out rooms for next year, you'll have some new friends who you can pull in as potential roommates.
In most cases, rooming with someone you don't know is a adjustment. However, a lot of times, people develop life-long friendships with their roommates. Whatever the case, you're sure to learn a lot about yourself and living with other people.
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