You asked:

Not only am I worried about what kind of roommate I’ll have, but I want to be a good roommate too. What makes a good roomie?

Living in a small space requires flexibility and consideration. Know and accept that you won’t always get your way. The first thing I ask a student coming to me with a roommate problem is whether he or she has spoken to the roommate about it. The answer is usually no. The quickest way to solve disagreements is to talk them out. No notes on the door, no passive-aggressive solutions -- simply ask your roommate to please turn down the music or lock the door when leaving or stop throwing clothes on the floor. If you don’t express yourself, your roommate has no way of knowing you have a problem. Soon, “I don’t like when my roommate does this” becomes “I hate my roommate,” and everyone is miserable -- including the friends who constantly have to hear about it. To show basic respect, you should both agree to ask before bringing guests, playing music, making offensive-smelling food and so forth. Everyone should feel at home in their rooms, so speak up. Ask the R.A. Next Ask the R.A. Ask the R.A. Archive

TALK IT UP

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