It's a student's nightmare. You come home from the library armed with enough caffeinated beverages to keep you going through the night so you can pound out that political science paper that's due by 10 am. You round the corner of the dorm hallway to find your room full of smoke, people you don't know, and loud music. "Dude," your roommate greets you, "Glad you made it back! We're having a listening party for the new Dave Matthews CD. Hey, did you know that your speakers sound really bad when the volume is turned all the way up?" You turn around to head back to the library, silently vowing to take a course on voodoo next semester so you can get revenge on your roommate for the hell you've been put through.

Fortunately, like most nightmares, the above scenario isn't likely to occur. However, roommate relations are a very real concern for incoming freshmen. Many justifiably worry about whether they'll get along with the person arbitrarily selected to live in close quarters with them for a year. We can't guarantee that you'll be best friends with your roommate, but we can offer some tips for getting along and being a good roommate.

Tip 1: To thine own self be true. Sometimes the housing office gives incoming freshmen questionnaires about their living and studying habits in order to help match them with compatible roommates. Fill these out honestly! If you're a messy person who likes listening to music at all hours, don't be ashamed to admit it. Of course, roommate assignments often bear no relation to the completed questionnaires, but at least give the housing computers a chance to pair you with somebody suitable.

Tip 2: Speak up. Get to know your roommate. Even if you're not great friends, you'll be able to get along better if you understand each other. Discuss what you expect from each other. Don't be afraid to tell your roommate if his/her actions bother you. Let each other know when important events (tests, papers, competitions, etc.) are coming up.

Tip 3: Silence is golden. Yeah, we just told you that you shouldn't be afraid to discuss things with your roommate, but you'll probably be better off if you don't tell your roommate about all of her little annoying habits. Think long term. You're going to have to live with your roommate for an entire school year, so don't nit-pick or judge her on how she acts the first week of school. It takes people a while to adjust to college life and living with a stranger, so give your roommate the benefit of the doubt before criticizing his/her actions.

Tip 4: Plan ahead. Decide how you're going to handle financial obligations (e.g. phone bill, groceries) ahead of time so there won't be any misunderstandings when it's time to pay. You should also discuss whether borrowing or using each other's property (e.g. stereo, clothes, toiletries, etc.) is cool. Establishing boundaries is fine as long as both roommates are aware of them.

Tip 5: Establish company policy. Decide whether it's acceptable to bring a boyfriend/girlfriend back to the room. Figure out how the roommate entertaining a guest will let the other roommate know when he has company.

Tip 6: Do unto others... Whether you like your roommate or not, treat him with the consideration that you'd like to be treated with. Set an example and with any luck your roommate will catch on.

Tip 7: Give a little. You don't have to subvert your personality to get along with another person, but be prepared to compromise. If you're naturally a slob, you should learn to be neat to the extent that you don't encroach on your roommate's space. If you're a neat freak, remember that your roommate may not be as offended by mess as you are.

Tip 8: Don't stress. Most roommates naturally figure out how to get along even if they don't become best friends. In the unlikely event that you find yourself in a living situation that's unbearable, you'll probably be able to switch to another room.

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