There are a lot of hard things to do in life, and one of them is learning to be a roommate in college. Whether you are sharing a room or sharing a living space, here are some things you should and shouldn’t do. Trust me, I’ve learned from experience and have heard TONS of crazy roomie stories. Let me tell you, DON’T BE ONE OF THEM.
Let’s start off easy! DO, set boundaries/rules. Be honest and upfront. Talk about having guests over, sharing food and kitchen stuff, how loud your music is, things you are and are not comfortable with, and just every little thing you can think of. DON’T decide on these things with your parents around, the best way to do this is to talk before move-in or after when it is just yourself and your roommates alone. Why? Well, sometimes our actions and decisions tend to be manipulated when our parents or friends are around, so it is easier to open up and set the rules straight in a mutual environment.
- DON’T stay quiet
-
What I mean by this is, if something bothers you, bring it up. It is better to nip the problem right away than keep those feelings inside. Talking it out is always a good way. The first few weeks might be rough at first, but it’s just because you’re getting used to each other.
- DO, HANG OUT
-
I cannot stress this enough: Becoming besties with your roommates is simply one of the best scenarios possible, in my opinion, of course. I am so lucky with my current ones , but that’s for another article.
- DON’T be messy
-
For the love of ____, please do not be messy. Clean your dishes, wipe up your mess, organize your things, and take turns on the trash. In our apartment, we have a two-day policy. We are allowed to leave a dirty dish in the sink for a maximum of two days. We get it, sometimes we’re in a rush or way too busy and tired to clean. But anything over two days is a bit much. Normally, we just clean any of the dishes that are in the sink no matter who left them. That’s a great thing to do just to be a nice roomie.
- DO get them coffee or food
-
Whether you’re making it or buying, this small gesture will lead to many great things for the future. More than likely, they will return the favor in the future by getting you something too.
- DON’T be loud when they are in class
-
Zoom University is possibly one of the best and worst things invented at this point. Given it’s the best option universities have during a pandemic. It still is horrible. So please do not make it worse or stressful by blasting the music, tv, or talking crazy loud. Even if your roommate is muted, it’s still very rude. It is only okay when they are a part of the conversation too.
- DO decorate
-
Plan things you want to add in your common spaces to make the living environment feel homey. This is a great bonding experience as well.
Overall, make sure you talk things out and try to be the best roommate possible. At the end of the day, you want your roommates to be your best friends. Personally, it is the best thing that could’ve ever happened to me. (Shoutout to my current roomies right now. Love you, girls!)