Finally, after all the applications, campus visits, and interviews, you’ve decided which college you want to attend.  The next step before school starts is picking out with dorm you want to move into.  And a big source of anxiety here focuses on who will be your roommate.  This situation can be one of the most stressful parts of your college experience.  We have put together a guideline that will help you deal with the roommate situation.  
 
Answer these questions truthfully; it’s okay if you’re messy as long as you admit it so there aren’t any big surprises for your roommate a week after move-in day.  

1.    Honestly complete the roommate questionnaire that you school sends you.  As a freshman, you will most likely receive a questionnaire from your college’s housing office something in the summer before school begins.  The main purpose of this questionnaire is to get your paired up with someone who is compatible with your habits.  This is definitely not made to find you a new best friend.  The questions asked can include some of the following:
a.    Smoking habits
b.    Drinking habits
c.    Study habits
d.    Cleanliness
e.    When you go to sleep

Answering these questions honestly will greatly help the housing office match you with someone who can probably deal with your habits and vice versa.  You don’t want any surprises a week after move-in day.

2.    Be considerate to your roommate.  This is a rule that is often forgot about, but you should always keep in mind that you want to treat your roommate as you’d like to be treated.

3.    Be open minded and give your roommate a chance.  It is not a great way to start a year of living together with someone if you decide that your roommate is a jerk from day one.  The two of you may act a little differently than you normally do because of all the stress that can come with the first week of college.  Therefore, you should give your roommate and yourself a chance to calm down, settle in, get comfortable, and get into a groove.  Communicating with each other is the best way to find out expectations and try to negotiate certain things.
4.    Make sure to communicate the boundaries that are important to you.  There are some things that you will not be able to negotiate.  For example, you should not have to make compromises based on your religion, sexuality and personality.  Communicate this clearly and make sure that your roommate respects the space that you need.

5.    There is no one forcing you to be best friends, unless you want to be.  The odds that your roommate in college is going to be your best friend are very small.  You are not obligated to spend all your time with you roommate.  Feel free to branch out and make new friends, even if your roommate is attached to you.  At some point, you both will find your own niche of friends and still be great roommates.

Some colleges allow students to choose their roommates.  This is where you can choose to live with a long time friend or someone that you know previously.  But be careful with this option.  A great friend does not mean that he or she will be a great roommate.  And also staying great friends might be tougher than it seems because of the drama that can arise from being roommates.

The most important thing to remember is to communicate with your roommate.  You will be able to a more filling experience if the both of you are on the same page and understand each others needs.