College Adjustment: Living with a Roommate

I was really excited for the first time I would live away from home, make my own day-to-day decisions, and attend school a 5 hour plane ride away. But I will admit, my adjustment to college life had some tough parts.

The first term I was here, I didn’t think my room situation was going to be a problem. I had a “dingle,” or double-single. Basically, this is where you live alone in a room that is meant to be a double. It was awesome! There was a ton of space, I could decorate it how I wanted, and I didn’t have to worry about what I did with someone else around. However, this winter term, a friend moved into my room. We get along, but there are inevitable challenges when you live with someone else. Here are some tips and advice I have to try and avoid some of these challenges before they come up. 

Trust your roommate.

Roommate trust is huge! No one at Carleton is here to mess up your things or intentionally harm you. Trust that they have your back, and make sure you have theirs. 

Respect your roommate.

This expands to their belongings, routines, etc. Everyone is different! That’s one of the best things about Carleton. There’s so much diversity when it comes to students’ interests, quirks, and personalities. This does mean your roommate(s) will do things differently than you. That’s just the way it is, and it’s best to treat them, their stuff, and their routines with respect. After all, you want that same respect when it comes to your ways of life. 

Communication is key. 

Especially if something is bothering you. Trust me, being honest with them is way better than hiding it and “taking it.” 

Be flexible and adaptive.

Take the time to figure out what works for you and your roommate. Because you are bound to be different, some things your roommate does might not be great for you. Maybe you don’t like how they occasionally leave a pair of socks on the ground, or they sometimes listen to music at a high volume. If something like this happens, communication and flexibility are key. First, talk to them about what’s bothering you! If you approach them in a friendly manner and make conversation the priority, you will be able to find a system that works for everyone. 

Try to keep things clean!

I know, not everyone is super neat (me included), but doing little things every day to clean up like not leaving dirty laundry around or throwing away wrappers when you eat something goes a long way.

Ryan (he/him) is a freshman from Alameda, CA. He is currently undecided on a major but enjoys stem classes. He plays on the varsity baseball team and is an avid fan of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Ryan loves spending his free time playing video games, listening to music, or spending time with his friends in the dining halls.