Living with roommates in college can be hard if you’ve never had to share a room with a sibling at home. In fact, living with roommates in college can be hard even if you do have siblings at home. Whether you get to choose your roommate or not, life with someone new will come with challenges. Who cleans what? When is a reasonable time for lights out? How often are friends allowed over? There are a lot of things to think about, including whether you want to have a roommate in college at all. Start with our article about the Pros and Cons of Living With Roommates vs. Living Alone to ensure living with someone in college is the right choice for you. Then arm yourself with the knowledge below to find the right person, learn how to communicate effectively, and adjust to college life together.
Picking your roommate
- Important Information You Need on College Roommate Matching: Curious about college roommate selection? There are a few ways students get paired up, from using a roommate assignment survey to finding someone online.
- 7 Secrets to Help You Find the Perfect College Roommate: Looking for a new college roommate can be a difficult and overwhelming task, but these seven strategies can help you find the right person to live with.
- How to Be Smart When Picking Your College Roommate: Choosing a college roommate can be intimidating. You're expected to live with them for at least a year! Here's how to be smart when finding a roommate.
- 5 Simple Tips for Picking a First-Year Roommate: Your college roommate is someone you'll be spending a ton of time with, so you want a good match. Here are five tips to help you choose the right person.
- Top Tips to Find a College Roommate Who Matches Your Lifestyle: You've moved on from the college search to the roommate search! Here's how you can find a roomie you'll get along with the whole school year.
Adjusting to dorm life together
- 3 Ways to Establish a Good Relationship With Your New Roommate: You want to get along with your roommate in college—or at least tolerate them! Here are three ways to start off on the right foot with your new roomie.
- 5 Essential Tips to Ease Anxiety Between New Roommates: It's totally reasonable to feel anxious about living with a new college roommate. Here's some advice for getting to know them and getting along.
- Top Ways to Prepare for Life With Your New Roommate: Living with a roommate can be a lot of fun but also challenging. Here's how to break the ice with your new roomie and get ready for college life together.
- Dorm Etiquette: 7 Ways to Be a Considerate Resident: Living in a dorm with a roommate can be the best...or the worst. These tips will help you be a considerate dorm resident and get along with your roommate.
- Living With Strangers: How to Prioritize Safety and Privacy: Protecting yourself in a new living situation is crucial to living a fulfilled life in college. Here's how to take precautions and find a great roommate.
Getting along and communicating
- Strangers or Besties? Developing a Good Dynamic With Your College Roommates: It's not hard to get along with your college roommate(s). All you have to do is follow this advice from a student who adjusted to living with many of them.
- 5 Quick Tips to Make Things Work With Your College Roommate: Living with a roommate can be hard. This college student has tips for fellow students on how to live life and make things work with your new roommate.
- Living the Sweet Dorm Life: 8 Roommate Communication Tips: Starting a new life in a dorm is a big adjustment for any student. Use these eight tips to maintain healthy communication with your new roommate.
- How to Set Boundaries and Resolve Conflicts With Your New Roommate: Scared about sharing your space? There are several things you can do to help you get along with your roommate.
- 4 Quick and Easy Tips to Break the Ice With Your New Roommate: A new college roommate can be a great opportunity for a new friend or a total nightmare. Here's how to go about getting to know your new college roommate.
- Good Vibes Only: How to Avoid Fighting With Your Roommate: Learning to live with your college roommate can be a trying experience. Here are a few tips to help you communicate, avoid a fight, and vibe together.
- How to Make Your Own College Roommate Agreement: It's important to talk about potential issues with your new roomie. Consider these topics and download our template to make your rules official!
Adapting to specific living scenarios
- 3 Easy Ways to Connect With Your International Roommate: Adjusting to a new roommate can be hard, but having a language barrier is a whole other obstacle. Here's how to connect with an international roommate.
- The Benefits of Having a Roommate With a Different Major Than You: You may want a roommate with the same major as you, but there are benefits to living with someone in a different degree program. Here are a few to consider!
- 6 Ways to Keep the Peace When You and Your Roommate Aren't Friends: Are you just not clicking with your roomie? These tips can help you spend the school year at least getting along instead of in a passive-aggressive haze.
- Dorm Room Rivalries: Sharing a Small Space With an Opposing Sports Fan: If you're a diehard sports nut, you may find yourself living with an opposing fan in college. Keep the peace and avoid heated situations with these tips!
Roommates are just one of many new experiences and challenges you’ll have to face in college. Be prepared for everything with all Our Best Advice collections!
