By Jacob Razo, Editor
Getting along with a college roommate can be a challenge.
A study by Susan McCorkle of the University of Boise State found that 88 percent of roommates have conflicts. What are they fighting about? The top five causes of roommate problems are cleanliness, not respecting each other, not being honest, noise and drama. McCorkle found that the problems can even drive students to drop out of college.
“While not all students experience conflicts, most do. If these issues are not resolved, prior research indicates that students’ success and persistence may be affected,” McCorkle said.
McCorkle’s study show that you can’t avoid drama. Be ready to resolve it with these expert tips.
The Do’s
Keep THE DORM clean. McCorkle’s research shows that the most common problem roommates face is disagreements over cleanliness. One quarter of all disagreements are about keeping space clean. Senior Trever Heinle would have a problem with a dirty roommate, he said. “I would be lost without having a clean room,” Heinle said. “I do all my homework at my desk in my room, so if my room is dirty, I tend to not do as much.”
RESPECT PERSONAL SPACE. The research also shows that roommates have problems giving their roommate enough personal space. Make sure to respect a roommate’s personal privacy and use the Golden Rule: “Treat others how you want to be treated.” Senior Sawyer Rego said that privacy would be a big deal to him. “I would love to have a roommate respect my privacy and belongings, or we wouldn’t get along,” Rego said.
BE HONEST, YET TACTFUL. Don’t be afraid to say something early on if a roommate’s behavior is bothersome. A combination of honesty and tact is key. “When you decide to confront your roommate, just be honest tell them what’s wrong. Don’t let a little problem end up growing and making you stressed out,” psychology teacher Mark Meyer said. Tell them it politely and calmly. Roommates have feelings too.
The Dont’s
DON’T BE A NEAT FREAK OR DIRTY. People on either end of the spectrum can be difficult to live with. ”I would suffer from having a dirty roommate, because I have always been a clean person and couldn’t live in a dirty dorm,” Rego said. Start taking care of your own cleaning and laundry in college; a roommate is not there to pick up everything. Although don’t obsess over every little detail, either.
DON’T TAKE STUFF WITHOUT ASKING. Roommates sometimes like to borrow each other’s stuff, especially if they wear the same kind of clothes, etc. But a roommate is not a sibling and that stuff is not yours, so ask first. Return borrowed stuff promptly, and be polite enough to wash borrowed clothes before returning them. Bottom line: don’t be irresponsible or disrespectful when using a roommate’s personal items.
DON’T CONFRONT OR CRITICIZE. Don’t treat a roommate like a sibling. They’re not. They’re a stranger who you must forge a relationship with. Have patience with them and remember they are your equal. They don’t take orders from you. Kindness and self-restraint go a long way. “I hope my roommate and I can become really good friends because I would like for him to be able to help me with questions I have,” Rego said.