College Roommate 101

 This year I have eight roommates. To many, that sounds frightening, loud and overly cramped. Surprisingly, it’s  far from it. There are enough of us in the house to always have people around when we want to socialize. It’s  also a good number of people because we don’t feel obligated to do everything together.

 Sometimes living with friends works out perfectly, and other times it can be a nightmare. When I was a  sophomore I lived with one of my friends. She started to get jealous when I spent more time with one of our  other friends but would never talk to me about it. Things between us became awkward and uncomfortable. Then,  when she went home for the semester she stole some of my clothing!

 After that happened, I was petrified of having roommates. But, it’s our senior year now, and we’ve all had our  share of good and bad roommate experiences—so we can all agree on what works. Here’s how we make it work:

 We talk about the little things: Even if it’s something that seems insignificant, like asking your roommate to  shut off the lights or turn down her music, it’s good to speak up. Being able to talk about the tiny things, will  prevent tension from building up. Additionally, it will develop your communication. So, even if you two aren’t  best friends, you can at least communicate effectively.

 We ask before taking: There’s nothing worse than going onto Facebook and seeing pictures of your ex-  roommate half-way across the country wearing your North Face fleece. Okay, that’s an extreme example. But,  it’s important to talk about what you and your roommate will share—whether its clothes, groceries or electronics.  In our house, we label our own groceries in the refrigerator. If we see something that we want that isn't ours,  we just ask that person before taking it.

 We do separate activities: Even if you get along well with your roommates, it’s important to have a separate  life. Taking different classes and joining different clubs or groups will help establish your independence. Don’t be  afraid to branch out—there’s so much to explore in college.

Tell me, have you had good roommate experiences? What tips do you have? What should you avoid doing? I'd love to hear your roommate stories!

XoXo,       
Michelle Toglia                                     
College Blogger