The key to dealing with a roommate is definitely flexibility and tolerance. A sense of humor never hurts, either. The prospect of sharing that awfully small space with someone that you have never met can be a daunting one. There are some ways, though, that you can turn this experience into a positive one. The first thing to remember is that you are not expected to become best friends with your new roomie.
Some roommates make the mistake of thinking that they have to spend all their time together.
The best thing you can do for yourself is get out of your room and meet other people. Your relationship with your roomie will be healthier for it. The second thing to keep in mind is that you and your roommate are two very different people. While most universities try to match you with someone similar to you in terms of smoking preferences or study habits, you two may have nothing else in common. The important thing is that you should be tolerant and accepting of these differences.