College is all about making lifelong friendships, but sometimes it can be hard to navigate the social scene once the days of orientation and residence halls are over with. As a disclaimer, I do still live in on-campus housing. If it means trading total freedom for loosely enforced quiet hours and the occasional floor meeting, I am putting off paying actual rent for as long as possible. I live with three roommates in an apartment with a full kitchen, living room, bathroom, and two double bedrooms. It is also a ‘wet’ building, so it might as well be a full-fledged apartment without dealing with the hassle of a New York City landlord.
PHOTO: Kenia Viezcas
As we progress through college, whether living on-campus or off, it becomes a major challenge to meet new people and adjust to living with new roommates. Although you might think having an RA who makes you fill out roommate agreement contracts is a pain, it really is comforting to know there is someone to go to if problems arise. Getting older though, the disagreements are no longer just minor annoyances about alarm clocks and unmade beds, but instead, they are often about washing pots and pans and keeping the bathroom tidy. To combat anxieties about getting along with roommates in an apartment, I’ve gathered some advice from some of my most trusted friends on their best tips and tricks for a successful year.
PHOTO: Rachel Zuckerberg
1—Communication is key.
“My best advice is being open and honest right off the bat. Don’t let anything that’s bothering you fester, just have open communication with everything upfront.” -Lauren, ’18
2—Make cleaning a habit.
“Clean a little each day so that you’re not left with a huge mess at any given time. This way, there are never marathon cleaning sessions being done by any one roommate.” -Katherine, ’18
PHOTO: Anna Coke
3—Always be considerate.
“I think the most important part of sharing an apartment is being considerate. In the kitchen, for example, being aware of what you use and making sure you’re keeping things clean is a great way to avoid conflict between roommates.” -Annie, ’18
4—Take advantage of the extra space.
“If you’re going to be up late doing homework, go into the common room to do it that way you don’t disturb your roommate who can sleep. Also, everyone has pet peeves about kitchen, bathroom, and how they like things kept, so before living together, make a list of this so everyone is aware of them.” -Gabriella, ’18
PHOTO: Daisa Harris
5—Ask before you host.
“One of my biggest pet peeves is roommates assuming every hour is social hour. I think a great rule of thumb is to always ask before inviting friends over, as you never know who might be studying or heading to bed.” -Antonia ’18
