This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at OK State chapter.
When choosing a roommate you are chosing someone you want to spend a whole year with and no one really likes the thought of going potluck. We love the idea of being on our own, and on top of that, being on our own with our friends who matter the most. But the ultimate question is rooming with friends always a good idea? They sometimes get too comfortable with the idea that you guys are friends, so everything that is yours ends up being theirs, and asking to borrow something goes out the window.
Here are some tips to ensure that rooming with your friends will not be the worst decision ever made.
- If you all are exactly alike, then it may not be good idea to room together. If your ideas and thoughts are exactly the same, you guys will possibly have a falling out over who is right and who is wrong. Sometimes opposites really do attract!
- If you have to second guess your living situation, then it is a bad idea.
- Think about your friendship before making a hasty decision. If you feel that by the end of the year your friendship will be in jeopardy, DO NOT DO IT! Friendship is way more important.
- Set boundaries: establish from the beginning what can be shared and what is off limits.
- Develop house rules: have a set schedule for trash take out, cleaning and etc.
- Respect each other’s privacy: Sometimes a little space is good for the soul. That will give you time to yourselves, catch up on work and keep tension to a minimum.
- Discuss a problem when it first arises: while making the first move may be something you dread, letting an issue build up may only result in further misunderstandings and an argument that gets way out of hand.
- Knock before you enter and keep noise to a minimum. Everyone may not like loud noise and music 24/7.
- Maintain mutual respect: treat your roomie how you would want him or her to treat you. It is the goldent rule.
- Great communication equals great relations.
Whether you decide to go potluck or room with your BFF, these are just a few tips that will ensure a great living situation!