by Many college students are reluctant to live in dorms because they are afraid of having a roommate to share it with, especially a stranger.
However, you have the right to refuse to live with a roommate.
Depending on the college and the individual’s condition, there is no one solution to this issue. Some colleges may have rules prohibiting students from having roommates, while others may not have any such restrictions.
It can be hard to find a room that’s both comfortable and convenient when you’re living on campus for the first time.
How to deal with your college roommate?
The answer is included in the roommate agreements you sign when you arrive at college. The ground rules for your roommate’s behavior and dealing with any difficulties can be established here.
Know the basics of roommate agreements before you sign one. Pay no attention to claims that the university has different rules for off-campus housing, especially since many schools have their own house rules.Know when it’s not a good idea to live with someone else during college.
Not all roommate situations are created equal. If you’re not so worried about getting the most out of college and don’t mind living with a roommate. But make sure your roommates aren’t going to cause too much damage to the apartment or be repeat offenders when it comes to misbehavior if they cannot be dealt with in other ways.
Determine how to deal with minor issues. Write down guidelines for behavior at parties and what is acceptable about visitors. If you’re hoping to be the one who will always be quiet after a long day when you want to party, you need to include an agreement about a curfew. If you’re going to be inclusive and your roommate wants those quiet nights in.
Have a policy for dealing with roommates who aren’t working out. Some universities have a student conduct code in place for off-campus housing. Be sure you know what a violation is and how to deal with it. At some high schools, there are student conduct codes for the hallways.
Be sure that there are some ground rules for behavior when you live with extra guests. Some people step out of line at party time. Others behave ideally when these distractions aren’t around, but they can be unbearable when they do show up.
Make it clear what your roommate expects when you are not around. Your roommate may be tempted to break anything or create a mess if you are gone for an extended period, and you may not want them to go out.
Have a plan if you leave on spring break and how you will handle things while they’re gone. Be clear about what you will do to correct problems. Perhaps it’s a simple issue of being quiet or not having visitors over while in class. Review the issues so you know where to focus when they arise.
Be sure your roommate knows the policies around your belongings before you move in together. If there is an agreement, be sure they know it. If not, this is an important reminder.
If you are gone a lot and your roommate is home alone all the time, be sure to have given him/her the benefit of the doubt about what is acceptable in terms of behavior when you’re at school. Be cautious about who comes over and when they show up.
Also, if your roommate is a party person, be clear about what happens at parties and if that kind of fun will continue while you are gone.
Discussions With College Roommate
Discuss how alcohol is to be used. If you are a big partier and your roommate wants to stay home, that’s important to know. Similarly, if your roommate is a big drinker and you don’t want parties, that kind of agreement can prevent problems on campus.
Discuss smoking, pets, and loud music. Some fire hazards can be dealt with by putting things in writing if roommates do not understand each other.
It’s possible to stipulate your roommate agreement if you have a pet that isn’t allowed on campus and your roommate does.
Discuss cleaning. You may be someone who enjoys cleaning, while your roommate is the lazy one who leaves his/her stuff everywhere and never gets the dishes done. Or you may love to clean but hate to be around messes. Whatever you decide, agree on it; otherwise, you will struggle when it comes time to clean the apartment.
Review confidentiality issues and how communication will work if there are any problems. The more you lay this out in writing, the less likely you will argue about things when they do arise.
Have a discussion about your feelings and fears about roommates and how you both can deal with those feelings. You may have reservations about living with someone else or might be afraid of bringing home someone you care about. This can all be discussed openly so that there is no room for doubt when problems arise later on.
How to find a college roommate?
Talk to your friends and family.
Go online and do an online search. Many websites list roommates available.
Ask around at your workplace or in your community.
Many people are looking for roommates, and they are usually happy to recommend someone they know.
Try going to social events or meetups that focus on finding roommates. These can help you find someone who shares your interests.
Finally, call or e-mail the individuals you have chosen from step two and ask if they would like to have a conversation about becoming roommates.
What to do if you don’t get along with your college roommate?
If you don’t and your roommate disagrees, you can start talking to them and see if they’re willing to compromise. If that doesn’t work, you can try moving out or finding a different roommate.
Make sure you check the lease agreement before abruptly moving out because you could have to pay rent for a month or more. Once you’re done with the lease agreement, make sure you don’t break any of your roommate’s things and that they don’t break any of yours.
Conclusion
Some colleges may require students to live in dormitories, while others allow for independent living arrangements. Remember to speak with an advisor at your college about their specific policies on roommate arrangements.
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