College is a time filled with change. For many, it’s the first time being away from home and family for an extended period. For some, it’s even the first time they’ve ever been away from home. Starting college can be a daunting experience, and having a roommate can present new opportunities and challenges. The internet is filled with roommate horror stories, fueling the worry some feel before they arrive.

I was one of those people worried about what kind of roommate I would get. Would she be nice? Would we get along? Was this going to be a horror story or the start of a friendship? Luckily, Maame (my roommate) and I have gotten along really well, but not without some learning along the way.  

Let me reassure you that living with a roommate doesn’t have to be difficult. In fact, it could lead to the start of a friendship, one that can last all four years here and beyond! Here are a few tips that helped my roommate and me– and could help improve your experience.  

Be Honest

Before coming to campus, everyone fills out a lifestyle questionnaire that asks about their daily routine. My biggest piece of advice: be completely honest on the questionnaire. From sleeping habits to how often you'd like to have friends over to study habits to how neat you keep your room, being honest and upfront from the start can help ensure you get paired with someone similar and help avoid issues down the road.

Communicate

I cannot stress this enough: communication is KEY to living with a college roommate. If you don't communicate clearly, it can be difficult to have a good experience. Communicating about any issues or questions early on is really beneficial and can help ensure you and your roomie stay on the same page. After all, you can’t fix a problem the other is unaware of.  

If You Can, Get to Know Each Other Before Move-In

This tip works best if you don’t go fully random when choosing a roommate. I met Maame on Instagram from one of the class pages. We didn’t want a completely random roommate, so getting to know each other a bit beforehand made a huge difference in our experience! We were able to discuss things that weren’t on the lifestyle questionnaire and got to know each other and our habits better. It also helped with making sure we didn’t have double of anything in our room like mini-fridges, vacuums, or portable air conditioners.

Be Mindful

Something that’s really helped Maame and me get along is that we’re both mindful of each other. Being aware that your dorm is a shared space can help avoid issues with your roommate. Maame has a few 9 am classes, so she usually wakes up earlier than I do. She’s considerate of that and doesn't make noise when getting ready and leaving, managing to do that without waking me up. Similarly, I’m in many extracurriculars on campus, so I return to the dorm later than she does. I try not to make much noise when coming in in case she’s already asleep or working on assignments. We also ask each other before borrowing each other’s things, which helps us avoid misunderstandings. 

These simple steps can make all the difference in your experience and help to ensure it's a positive one!