Article: Building a positive relationship can help you get along well, and it will give you a strong foundation of friendship for when you disagree. Getting along with your roommate(s) will help make your living situation easier. Try going on outings together. You could get food, explore the campus, attend an event, or join a club together. Be there for them. Cheer them on when they face challenges. Celebrate their successes. Console them and validate their feelings when they're upset. Respect their unique style. Some people are more introverted than others, and some want to hang out less than others. You don't have to be best friends with your roommate if you or they don't want to. with your roommate. Be courteous and considerate, without being a doormat. If you have a problem, don't be afraid to bring it up, but think carefully about how you address them. Use "I" statements, like "I can't sleep well with music. Would you please wear headphones after midnight?" Try the nonviolent communication style, in which you make observations, state needs, and make requests. For example, "When I came in, I saw that the door was left unlocked. I worry about the safety of our things if they're left like that. Please remember to lock the door behind you when you go." If you decide early on what is okay and what isn't, it will help avoid resolve conflicts later. Some important talking points: Music and noise. If you have really different taste in music, you may have to alternate music playing or resort to headphones. Set some "quiet hours" and some "loud hours" if you need too. For example, if one roommate likes to sing along to music, and one other doesn't like it, maybe the roommate can sing while the other is in class. Earplugs and white noise can also be helpful for noise management. Visitors. Do you mind platonic sleepovers? How about non-platonic? Set up rules about overnight visitors before you think you'll need them, to avoid awkwardness. Agree on a door signal or a message system ahead of time. Alcohol and partying. Talk about what is and is not okay. Maybe you are okay with a few friends over for beer, or maybe you want full party every weekend, or maybe you are not okay with any substances. Be willing to compromise both ways. It's not fair to forbid your roommate from being social in their own space, but it's also not fair to be constantly inundated with drunk people if it makes you uncomfortable. Personal preferences vary, but be considerate of your roommate. There should not be any bad smells. There should always be a clear, wide walking path so that no one steps on anything. Microwaves and shared objects should not be gross. Theft and lost items can happen on campuses. Even small, relatively safe places can have accidents and thieves. Don't leave your things unsupervised. Dorm room. Lock the door to your dorm, even if you are only stepping out for a minute. (Locking your door before leaving is also a good way to avoid locking yourself out: you'll always remember your keys this way.) Bike. Always lock up your bike. On some campuses, people will steal one wheel, so lock up both your wheels if this is a problem. Laundry. Set a timer on your phone for when your laundry is done. If you don't pick it up, someone may throw it on the floor. Public spaces. Don't leave your laptop, phone, or other items alone in a public space, even for short periods of time. It only takes a few seconds for someone to steal your things. If you do lose a personal item, search for it, and try asking at a help desk or the RA's room. Someone may drop it off there. If it still doesn't show up, tell campus police in case they find it. Typically, dorms have a residential director and residential assistants that can help make you feel at home while you're living in a dorm. If you're having big issues with your rooming situation, contact resident life. Some dorms are dry dorms, some are single-sex, some have very strict fire policies. You don't want to get in trouble. Space heaters, candles, fairy lights, and other fire hazards are usually not allowed. If your dorm has shared bathrooms, it's important to avoid serious germs, and be mindful of others. Wear shower shoes! Some diseases can be transmitted through the feet. A pair of cheap flip-flops will do. If you make a mess, clean it up. Do your business and move on, especially if there are long lines. You don't want to make people wait too long. You don't want your things to get stolen, lost, or thrown out by staff if they're in a common area. Your family can help you sort out problems, and they can be there for you when you just want to chat. It's very normal to call more often when you're just starting school, and when you're having a tougher time.

What is a summary?
Hang out with your roommate(s) sometimes. Be assertive Set out ground rules. Keep things clean. Watch your things. Ask for help if you're struggling to solve a problem on your own. Find out what's allowed. Be careful and courteous in shared bathrooms. Clean up and lock up before going home for the holidays. Call home as much as you'd like.