How to Mentally Prepare for a Roommate (Freshmen only)

By Oluwatobi Molokwu on June 21, 2013

For most incoming freshmen, the closest they have ever come to having a roommate is sharing a room with their sibling(s), excluding those freshmen that have previously attended boarding school. Therefore, there are bound to be some burning questions concerning the stranger you will be expected to share a cubicle-sized dorm with for the next semester or year.

Here are some tips and ideas to help you mentally prepare for your new living situation in the not so far future:

 

Tip #1: Don’t demonize your roommate before you even get to meet him/her.

Of course, no one should be forced to give up their privacy or their feeling of security for any amount of time, and you can choose to feel less than elated about that. But the truth is, it’s going to happen whether you like it or not and your roommate probably dislikes the idea as much as you do. So don’t direct your anger at them. Instead, try to use your mutual hatred of room-sharing to bond with each other.

 

Tip #2: Do seek advice from current or former college students.

You’d be surprised at how much some former college students can remember about their very first roommate: what they went through and the differences between what they expected and what they actually experienced. Hearing their stories could prevent you from making the same mistakes they did, so use this resource that you have and save yourself some drama!

 

Tip #3: Don’t expect to always get along.

This is the mistake that too many first-year college students make. They are so used to living with people that behave in the same manner as themselves that they just assume that things won’t be that different. Big mistake. Because you will be living with a stranger, there is no telling how he/she will react to the behaviors you perceive as normal and vice versa. So it is good to expect some conflict and be able to implement positive methods of dealing with trouble, such as scheduling “dorm chats” with your roommate to discuss any concerns that either of you may be having.

 

Tip #4: Last but not least- Do contact your roommate before move-in day.

What better way is there to eliminate the move-in day blues than to get into contact with your new roommate? Once your school releases their contact information to you, call them up and get to know them before the big day. You may be surprised to find not only that you have a lot in common, but that he/she has been having the same concerns as you. Pretty soon you’ll both realize that you had absolutely nothing to worry about in the first place!

 

I hope these tips will give all of you incoming freshmen something to think about and also help you to realize that there is nothing to fear. And remember, you only get one freshman year, so enjoy it!

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