First, congratulations! You’ve finally made it to your freshman year at UW-Madison! Now, reality sets in. You may be worried about your classes or where to go to study or even preoccupied over where to go for the best brat on campus. And I bet you’re especially worried about the idea of sharing a tiny room with a friend of a friend you met on Facebook. Luckily, I’m here to help. Here is all you need to know to have a stellar first year with your new freshman roommate!
1. Communication is key
My first tip is to have good communication. This may seem obvious, but it is crucial. By establishing clear guidelines from the start, you set yourselves up for success later on. Always be transparent about how you feel. If your roommate is doing something that bothers you, tell her. But make sure to approach any sticky situation with a positive solution. You will be better off if you are open about how you feel rather than bottling up your frustrations.
2. Be Respectful
If you are respectful of her space, she’ll be respectful of yours. You two are on the same team, so don’t let small issues drive wedges in your relationship. Offer to take out the trash. Ask before you borrow. Little things like this go a long way and can show your roommate that you care.
3. Take care of yourself
You don’t have to be best friends. While it’s nice to have a built-in friend to sit with at the dining halls, don’t feel pressured to stick with your roomie the entire year. You two may end up being best friends or you may end up completely hating one another. Either way, it is important to give each other space. College schedules are busy enough, and budgeting time to yourself is essential.
4. Keep it clean
Your dorm room is likely smaller than the space you’re used to at home. If it’s messy, it’ll feel even smaller. Establish a routine that works for you both, and stick to it.
5. Be Kind
Regardless of your relationship, by the end of freshman year, you will always remember your first college roommate. Make the most of it, and be kind. At the end of the day, you are both on the same team, so help each other out.
Freshman year can be a confusing time, especially as you’re still learning the ropes of how to be successful in college. Roommates can be the best, but they can also be the worst! Make sure to follow these tips to make sure that you have a stress-free roommate experience this year!