Roommates

Living with a roommate

Your roommate can help define your college experience. Whether it’s an old friend or someone you’ve never met, having a roommate will give you the chance to learn something new about yourself and about other people.

Most students living in the residence halls will have at least one roommate. But depending on which apartment you live in you may have as many as three apartment-mates. No matter how many roommates you have, you have to create a living situation that works for everyone.

Having a good roommate relationship relies on all of you being willing to get to know each other. To keep out the drama, there has to be communication, compromise, and understanding.

Setting the groundwork

  • Talk with your roommates early about the expectations you have for each other. Things to discuss include:
    • Overnight guests
    • Cleaning the kitchen, bathroom, and living room
    • Doing the dishes
    • Sharing food
    • Television, video game, and stereo etiquette
    • Quiet times for sleep and study
  • Decide early on who will bring what for your apartment. You won’t need four coffee makers, four sets of cookware, and so forth.
  • Discuss the rules of the University.
  • Decide how you want to hold each other accountable for issues as they arise.
    • Don’t let things fester, its best to deal with issues as they arise rather than waiting for them to pile up.
  • Be honest with your roommates. Tell them when you do or don’t like something that is going on in the apartment.
  • Decide early on about when and in what situations you will all meet with each other to talk over issues in the apartment. Try to meet at least once per month just to touch base and more often if necessary.

How to be a good roommate

  • Your roommate has the right to read, study, and sleep just like you do. Try to keep noise, guests, and other distractions to a minimum. Ask first before inviting over a bunch of friends.
  • Don’t borrow your roommate’s stuff without asking. Chances are they will be happy to share food or lend you that really nice sweater or blouse.
  • Check with your roommates about overnight guests. Remember, it is their space too.
  • Keep it clean. Nobody likes dirty dishes. If you feel like you’re doing all the cleaning, suggest setting a regular schedule so everyone has some responsibility.
  • Common areas in the apartment like the kitchen and living room are open to everyone in the apartment. Try to keep your personal effects in your own room unless you don’t mind other people using them.
  • Personal space is personal space. Respect your roommate’s privacy.
  • Make sure your guests know and follow the rules you and your roommates have established.
  • If you have a problem, talk with your roommate. Try to resolve issues quickly, honestly, and without drawing in people that aren’t involved. Don’t just stew about an issue, talk about it.
  • If you and your roommate can’t settle an issue alone, talk to your RA or another staff member. They will do their best to help you resolve issues.
  • Don’t try to be the boss of everything. Treat your roommate as an equals and be ready to compromise.

Request your roommates

Do you have one or more roommates in mind? You can request to be in the same apartment or room when you submit your housing application. Be sure to apply early, and it’s helpful if you all apply at the same time.

If you want to live with someone new, we will match you with another student. We will even try to match you with a student from another part of the country or even another part of the world, just note that on your application. Matches are based on how you answer lifestyle questions on your application. For example:

  • Do you wake up early or go to bed late?
  • Do you like your space clean, or is a little mess not a big deal?
  • What type of music do you like?

*Adapted with permission from Western Michigan University