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How to Get Off on the Right Foot with Your Roommate

25.08.22

To feel comfortable in your new home, it’s crucial to get on well with your roommate. If you’ll be sharing with someone you’ve never met before, making a good first impression and having reasonable expectations for your relationship is key.

1. Reach Out to Your Roommate

Ask for the contact details of your roommate — meeting each other the day you move in will be less awkward if you’ve already had the chance to chat. You can also use the chance to check out what kinds of things your roommate posts on social media, which can tell you a lot about your roommate’s interests, personality, and lifestyle.

If you’ll be sharing with a few roommates, set up a group chat. As conversation starters, you could ask your roommates what they’ll be studying, how they feel about the school, and what they’ve been doing over the summer.

2. Explore the Area Together

During your first few days at college, you may feel lonely — but striking up conversations with strangers can be intimidating. Ask your roommate to attend events with you to avoid being alone. You could also walk around campus together to figure out how to get to your classes and to locate the most important places. If you want to go farther afield to check out the local area, use the opportunity to go on a shopping trip to purchase things to decorate your apartment.

3. Make Other Friends

There’s a chance that your roommate will end up being one of your closest friends, but it doesn’t always work out that way. It’s more likely that you’ll remain just regular friends or even acquaintances. Even if your roommate does end up becoming your best friend, though, it’s still important to branch out and have your own life. Talk to other people at the events you attend, sign up for extracurriculars you know you’ll enjoy, and establish your own group of friends.

4. Talk About Rules

Have a conversation with your roommate soon after you move in about boundaries. You may want to avoid such a conversation because you don’t want to come across as bossy, but it’s important to establish rules to ensure everyone is on the same page. For example, you’ll need to discuss whether you’ll share any food items, how you’ll divide up the cleaning, and the etiquette for having guests over.

5. Address Problems as They Arise

Unfortunately, it’s unlikely you’ll be able to avoid conflict entirely. Instead of expecting your roommate to be a mindreader, talk about any issues that are bothering you before they turn into resentment. Having said that, you do need to realize that your roommate may have some habits you dislike but that are not a big enough problem to bring up. Part of living with others is acknowledging that people from different backgrounds have different ways of behaving in their own homes and what you may consider unusual could be completely normal for someone else.

It’s easier to have a good relationship with your roommate if you at least have your own room in your student housing. Barrie students can receive a private bedroom and bathroom in a suite or townhouse at Arcadian Students. All our floor plans are spacious and located less than a 10-minute walk from campus. Apply for a lease now to move in before next semester.