Handling Roommates in College or Boarding School Before You Meet

Usually, institutions which allow their students to stay in a dorm or boarding school house you with another student whom you know nothing about in the beginning of the semester. This can be quite intimidating for newcomers, but you can overcome your anxieties if you are equipped to handle roommates.

Before you leave for term, you can try to get in contact with your roommate to introduce yourselves to each other. This can give you the chance to agree on some common rules and to have an idea of the concerns and special needs of the other. For instance, you can tell your future roomie that you are allergic to perfume and you cannot sleep with the lights on or other pertinent details that you feel she should know. You should also listen and take note of what is important to her too. Keep in mind that it will be the two of you who will stay in the room, so compromise and be fair with your requests.

Another thing you should discuss is how you are going to divide and decorate your quarters. Make sure that there is enough space to give each other privacy and the liberty to freely express their taste in decorations. You should also inquire about her schedule so that you will know when it will be okay to play loud music or to have other people over. In addition, discuss the room items that each will bring so that you can identify what you have to pack and what you can leave behind.

Taking the right first step towards living with your roomie can help in building a harmonious relationship and a more enjoyable experience at school.