You’ve made it to college, the stress of waiting for that acceptance letter and deciding where to go is finally over! You have your room picked out, and now you’re ready to move in and start the new adventure but wait — you don’t know your roommate and you’ve never lived with them before!
Truth be told, it’s easier than you might expect, so don’t let tales of bad roommates stress you out. There’s always a way to find peace, even if you don’t become best friends. While we can’t guarantee that it will be perfect every time, we do have advice on the best steps to take to start off on the right note.
Communication is Key
Talk before you move in. It sounds simple, but it can really help. Chatting with them can help you get to know each other and it can help you plan what to pack for your room! The more time you chat with them, the more familiar they will feel when it comes time to move in.
Once you get your roommate, reach out to them on the housing portal or through their listed contact information. Then, shoot texts back and forth over the summer, plan a call to play video games or talk about a TV show you both like, if you live close enough, maybe even set up a time to meet up and hang out!
After moving in, chat with them — even if you don’t have much to talk about. Ask them about their classes or an organization they are in, talk about the latest celebrity drama or the movie trending on TikTok.
Even if it is just a short chat, keep making the effort. Some people take time to open up to others, and these little conversations can help you stay connected and feel less like strangers.
Spend Time Together
Another simple, but important, step is to spend time together. Bonding will help you get to know each other, and even if you aren’t super close friends, you can make some of your favorite memories with them!
Your RA will host hall events, attend them with your roommate — it will help you bond with each other and branch out to make friends in your hall. If that’s not your style, there are other on-campus events that you can attend together.
Exploring campus together can help you connect with each other while scouting all the best spots to relax. You can also work together to find all your classes, that way, you’ll be prepared for your first day!
If you’re itching to get off campus, you can explore Muncie together. There are great restaurants to try in the Village and places to visit downtown.
Disagreements
Disagreements are inevitable when you are living with someone, especially when you share such a small space. So, when you get into your first disagreement about where to put the fuzzy, blue rug, don’t worry. Conflict is completely normal, and you can work together to solve it.
Most disagreements and conflicts can be settled by sitting down and talking it through. It may be beneficial to take some space and time apart to calm down and assess the situation. Once you come back, make sure you keep an open mind and try to find a compromise that you can both be satisfied with.
Some conflicts are a little more difficult to resolve, and that’s okay! If that happens, there are resources that can help you find a resolution.
Meet with your RA, they are trained to help solve conflicts or even offer advice on how to feel less awkward in getting to know your roommate. They were once a freshman rooming with a stranger, so they know what you might be feeling.
Visit the counseling center and have a chat with someone there. There is no shame in seeking professional guidance! It can help give you both tools to overcome any conflicts or obstacles that might come up.
It may be worthwhile to have a mediated chat. Set a time to meet with an unbiased third party, like an RA, and have them help mediate the discussion. It can help you resolve the issue without needing to worry about one party feeling unheard.
These tips aren’t a fool proof plan for a perfect roommate situation, but they are a step in the right direction. Everyone is different, so some tips might work better than others or you might find that something else that works better for you. You can do it, lead with kindness and you’ll be great.
