With the start of second semester, college campuses across the country are a whirlwind of both transfer students and returning students alike moving into new dorms. Many are facing a wave of dread similar to the one I felt when I first found out I would be one of three girls trapped in a room with only two closets my freshman year. Now, though, because of open communication and a little creativity, my roommates and I love living together so much that we are requesting to live in another triple next year. I have spent a lot of time reflecting on what has made a short-end-of-the-stick living situation into a dream come true. Although a lot of it might have been luck, in hindsight, the steps we have taken throughout our time living together have ensured this would be the most positive situation possible. Here I’ve compiled eight tips on how to successfully live in a triple.
C/o emmanuel.edu
1. Reach out as quickly as possible when you receive your rooming assignment. Do not form an impression on your roommates based on the light stalking you did on their social media; just focus on messaging them and forming a group chat.
2. Ensure a smooth move into your new home by using this group chat. My roommates and I decided what bed we would each get, split up the closet and dresser spaces and determined who would bring items like a TV, refrigerator and printer. Bonus of living in a triple: expensive items are split amongst three people instead of two!
4. Stagger the times you arrive and unpack when you move in. We all happened to move in at different times on move-in day by coincidence, but I can’t even imagine what it would have been like with three families running around with boxes in our room at once.
5. Find common ground by making decisions about your room together instead of just awkwardly sitting around when you first move in. Get groceries together, and if you are in a city like I am here at Emmanuel, go to stores like Target to pick out the finishing touches for your room, like a rug or some twinkly lights.
6. COMMUNICATION IS KEY. If something is bothering you, like a roommate turning lights on while you are trying to nap or Facetiming without headphones (something I’m guilty of), it saves so much energy and perhaps your friendship to just say something upfront. What is the point of worrying about being nice when not saying anything will lead to passive aggression or built-up resentment?
7. Understand where your roommates are coming from. People always comment on how surprised they are that my roommates and I get along so well because we are all totally opposite from one another. We have completely different backgrounds, high schools that we come from, interests, and friends from home. We have different ways of speaking, mannerisms, and senses of fashion. When my roommates go about things differently than I would, I remind myself of this and recognize that we all can learn from each other.
8. Having traditions and bonding time really makes your experience of living together that much better. The three of us really enjoy decorating our room for holidays together, exchanging gifts for our birthdays, and going out to dinner every other week or so. This gives you and your roommates shared experiences and inside jokes you will still laugh over months after they happen.
9. Knowing that I have a support system during hard times is what really makes me feel close to my roomates. The adjustment to college and other obstacles each of us has faced, ranging from boy problems to sports-related injuries, were made much easier when we became comfortable enough with one another to talk about our problems and open up about things that were upsetting us. A triple is a room that comes with not one, but two people you can go to for advice. That being said, I would recommend not pouring out the depths of your soul the first day you meet them and to make sure to listen as much as you speak. Creating a balance of speaking and listening makes an effective support system and ensures that all three of you have friends to listen to your problems.
With all of these tips in mind, try to go into your new living situation with an open mind and positive attitude. Every situation is different, but whether you and your new roommates get along great or end up barely speaking, the main goal is to be able to live in peace and in a situation that helps you to be your best self. Good luck!