How to get ready to live with a roommate

Are you a first-year student coming to Saint Rose who’s worried about living with someone new? Maybe you’ve never shared a room with someone other than a sibling or friend at a sleepover before, or maybe you’re just nervous about starting the next big chapter in your life. Although this new experience can be scary, you don’t need to worry. Your first roommate at Saint Rose might end up becoming your best friend! 

How you approach living with a roommate can make or break your relationship with them. If you’re nervous, just know that your roommate most likely is nervous, too. To help you out, here are our tips for getting ready to live with a roommate for the first time. 

Be open-minded

In general, it’s important to have an open mind and try not to make any preconceived judgements or expectations about someone when you meet them for the first time. You should bring this same energy to meeting your new roommate! They could be from a completely different background than you, but you can use that as a chance to learn something new and grow as a person yourself. Remember, it might take a while for you to get used to each other, too, so be patient with yourself and your new roommate. 

Create boundaries

To create a friendly environment in your dorm, start thinking about some boundaries and rules that you would like for your roommate to respect, and encourage them to do the same! Having this conversation immediately can help you have a smooth transition from roommates to friends. It’s also important to try to spend time with your roommate outside of your dorm room. Even if it is something as small as going grocery shopping together can help the two of you make memories together. 

Keep the peace

If you and your roommate have a disagreement about something, it’s important to have good and open communication with each other. At the beginning of the semester, the two of you will sign  a roommate agreement with your RA; think about how each of you would feel if the other decided to break one of the boundaries that you set together. To keep the peace, try to be compassionate towards your roommate. Something that bothers you may be something that is completely normal in their own home. As long as you respectfully talk about your issues, you shouldn’t have any problems. And remember, it goes both ways. It’s important for you to respect their wishes and boundaries, too! 

Get to know each other before move-in day!

Talking to your roommate before you meet for the first time can make the transition of moving in together much easier. This is where the two of you can figure out who is bringing what to the dorm. In Lima Hall, the first-year dorm on campus, residents are allowed to have one refrigerator and one microwave per room. Establishing what each roommate will bring can help with any confusion. My first roommate and I texted each other before we met so we could decorate our sides of the room to match. Not only did our room look cute, but it also helped ease the anxiety we both felt about living with a new person for the first time. 

–

One of the best things about having a roommate is that it gives you the opportunity to make new connections with people. If you are choosing to have a randomly selected roommate, this is a great way to make new friends outside of your typical social circle. Creating a good relationship with your roommate can also be good for those who are far away from home. Your roommate can become your emotional support, and you can become theirs. 

Although my first roommate and I got along well, we didn’t stay roommates for the rest of college, which is perfectly fine! You don’t have to be best friends with your roommate, but I promise that having respect for one another and being friendly can go a long way. My current roommates and I respect each other’s boundaries and have fun whenever we can, which has helped us develop a strong friendship that I know will last long after we graduate.