Survival in the Dorms: Rules You Gotta Know

The odds of you getting along with your randomized roommate in less than 200 square feet for an entire year are not in your favor, but it can be done. Sharing your space is not an easy task. I understand the challenge very well after growing up with a twin brother and being forced to share everything from Mommy’s attention to our annual Carvel birthday cake. When we were little sharing was awesome and meant double the Legos to play with but when you’re over the age of eighteen you probably won’t want your roomie infringing on your “playtime” Here’s how to make living together run as smoothly as possible.
 
1. Don’t bunk the beds
More room for activities right? wrong. If being stuck on the top bunk at summer camp wasn’t cool then, it won’t be cool now. If you’re lucky enough to be on the bottom have a little sympathy and offer to un-bunk your beds and sacrifice your “activity” space. Having your roommates bed attached to your bed can make for an awkward situation if either of you ever plan on having a “sleepover” with a “friend” and could result in a blow-out fight if someone ends up “moving around” too much up there.

(SO much room for activities.) 

2. Keep your stuff separate
Seems pretty obvious but make sure it’s know what is yours and what is hers. Keep all your stuff on one side and all hers on the other. Resorting to placing a line of duct tape on the floor is usually not necessary but if it is, so be it. If you’re being forced to share a fridge after blowing your dorm budget on Victoria’s Secret PINK sweatpants, split that up too. Designate one shelf as hers and one shelf as yours so you’ll know if she’s the reason you’re running low on Diet Coke’s every week. Closet space is certainly one thing that most dorms are lacking and if you’re sharing a closet be sure to divvy up the space. Don’t assume that sharing a closet with someone entitles you to all the clothes in that closet and hopefully she won’t either. If you are in the spirit of giving make sure you know what you’re lending out or you might never see your favorite tank top again.
 
3. Don’t have an attitude
Talking about your roommate behind her back, shooting her dirty looks at every chance you get and leaving nasty notes about how she better clean up her side of the room before you return from class or else are all super immature ways of handling roomie-drama. Talk it out like mature eighteen year olds (or however old you are) and leave your problems at the door before you come home to and even bigger mess or she figures out your iphone password and tells the whole campus the corny nicknames you and your boyfriend have for each other! Karma.
 
4. Lay down the law
It might be uncomfortable sitting down with a girl you’ve known only for a few weeks and writing down a list of things that will piss you off but it will be much better than the fight you’ll have when she realizes that you were sharing her tube of toothpaste for the last month and now its all gone. Being lectured about something that could have easily been prevented if you had only known will suck and if its actually toothpaste you’re fighting over the conversation could really stink- pun intended. Don’t let things get out of hand if they don’t have to.

5. Put your desks on opposite walls (sorry to the kids in Stoke!)
Let me explain, having your desks on opposite walls will create a much more comfortable study space with less distraction than if you were sitting side by side. It gives you two separate areas to put all your odds and ends and gives you a private space to sprawl out your books and go to town on your philosophy papers. Bonus: it’ll be a lot harder for her to secretly peer over your shoulder while your facebook creeping your latest crush!
 
Follow these rules and hope for smooth sailing! If you’ve done everything you can and there’s still no hope have a chat with your RA about your options for switching roommates or even moving into a single room. That’s what they’re there for (and to come up with awkward ice breakers and give us candy!) so use your resources an good luck from Her Campus UNH to you!