Tips for Living with Roommates

Living with roommates for the first time? It is one of the most joyful yet frustrating experiences of your freshman year of college. How are you feeling about it? Are you nervous, anxious, excited? All of these feelings are valid and completely normal to feel. Having lived with roommates for nearly 2 full years now, I’m going to share with you some of the tips and best pieces of advice I’ve gathered!

  1. It is OK if your roommates are not your best friends. 
    • Some people get lucky and find that the people they are living with become their best friends quickly. That’s incredible! However, it is okay if that isn’t the case for you. You want to be friends with the people you are living with, but sometimes, having a little bit of space and difference in your lives is a good and healthy thing. 
  2. Respect the space. 
    • Living with people is a transition, especially if you’ve never had to share a living space before coming to college. It’s important to always remember that the space you have is not your own. There is at least one other person sharing it with you, so be respectful of that and stay organized. 
  3. Learn to stand up for yourself. 
    • It’s never fun to be in a living situation that isn’t comfortable or “homey.” This is the exact reason for RAs in the dorms. If you’re unable to confidently address the situation yourself, go to your RA and ask for their advice. Never just wait it out, because you deserve to be comfortable where you’re living. If that means a little bit of awkward and uncomfortable confrontation, that’s okay. It’ll help you all grow. 
  4. Have fun! 
    • Living with people can be difficult, but it can also be a great time. More often than not, you’re going to have some almost automatic friendships. You don’t need to spend every second with them, but make sure you’re finding time to be present and engage in conversation with them. It makes things so much less awkward, trust me. 
Kennedy

Kennedy

Class of 2023
I'm a Special Education major who was born and raised right here in Champaign-Urbana. My love and passion for this university is unmatched, and I'm passionate about sharing why choosing to stay close to home for school has truly given me the best of both worlds.

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  • I think you missed
    Responsibilities should be shared

    It is essential to have a roommate in order to share chores in and around your shared living area. A duty chart might be created to determine who is responsible for putting out the garbage and vacuuming each week, but chore charts are not appropriate for everyone. The most important thing is to make sure that both you and your roommate are contributing to the cleanliness and organisation of your living environment.