I Hate My Roommate!

So its the beginning of the school year, your first day of class is over, and you just want to sit down and relax for a moment because you know that the rest of the semester won't be as easy as Day 1. You're alone in the room. Quiet. You sit, close your eyes, roll your head to massage your neck.

WHAM!! The door flies open and your new roommate charges in with his girlfriend (or guy friend- hey you never know) the friend screaming and bursting in disturbing laughter as your roommate is silent and has this not-quite-well look in his eyes, dragging around a dead hamster, chatting about "I can't wait to do that again...they're gonna get what they deserve, Oh sorry [insert your name here], I didn't see you there." You muster up the ability to hold your tongue and you finally exhale, ever so slowly, "its okay." Like hell it's ok, you think to yourself.

This specific scenario describes what happens when your roommate is a "Freak" (learn more about roommate categorization in Part II of this article), and maybe this all sounds too familiar. But there are plenty of other things that can go wrong with a new dorm or apartment roommate. Maybe you're more of the party type and your roommate thinks bible study is just sooooooo much fun. Maybe your roommate doesn't know the meaning of "too loud," "maybe later," "lighten up you stiff," or "for the last time, this is MINE, that is YOURS." Like I said, there are plenty of things that can go wrong with the unexpected roommate. Maybe you two just aren't compatible -but don't worry- we here at thecollegeguys.com know just what to do.

Step one is to relax. This kind of thing is normal. You'll find hundreds if not thousands of others who are in the same position as you are. Its one of those "please don't happen to me" type of things, and when it does, one is usually unaware of what should be done or how to handle the situation. If you've been in this situation, you know what I'm talking about. First, you're angry and get the whole "why me" syndrome, wishing your roomie was as cool as your friends'. Then you try to avoid the situation as much as possible but when it gets to be too much you experience moments of extreme awkwardness with your room-buddy and anyone else s/he's associated with. Worse case scenario is that it starts to affect your work or study skills, and when that happens, you KNOW its bad.

Some problems are really common, such as bathroom use and privacy. The most important things to establish with a new roommate are boundaries. Your roomie needs to know what are off-limits (e.g. shampoo, bag of chips, your box of porn) and what the meaning of space is. The ability to compromise is important in relations among roommates, so you may have to give a little to get a little. You will also have to be frank with your roomie, being clear about what's your side of the room and about clearing up scheduling conflicts, for example. Scheduling conflicts are particularly important because you don't want to take home a major project when your roommate has penciled in a yoga session or keg party. Remember, communication is key.

Now, if you are to sort these issues out with your roommate, its important to do it correctly. You can't just rush up to your mate and demand that you go over some ground rules...."or else." That won't do (however, it could be fun). What you need to do is the following:

Your Ad Here

Games at Buy.com

Holiday Home Store at Buy.com

Tips On College Selection

It is highly recommended that early in the college selection process, parents and student(s) visit some schools to determine if they'll be suitable. The criteria that must... Read More

SAT Test Preperation; Prep Options

It's time to take the SAT's. How should you prepare? The only sure thing is that you need to prep. It's been proven those students who prep... Read More

How to Find Money for College Education

Many current and future college students need help to pay for college. Especially with tuition rates going up every year, students are looking for ways to pay... Read More

7 Tips To Avoid the College Low Expectations Game

Many public universities play the "Low Expectation Game" (see article "College 'Low Expectations Game' Cost Students, Parents & Taxpayers Thousands of Dollars"). As a student or a... Read More

Distance Learning, Online Education, Electronic Education, Electronic Learning?Call It What You Want

Whatever you want to label "learning at home" and however you want to define the latest buzz words for non-traditional education, you can find a program and... Read More

9 Lessons for Success in College - That Actually Make Sense

Most students know what it takes to be successful in college because some genius told them already. But here's the news flash: The prescription probably won't work.... Read More

Creating the Acceptable College Applicant

America's colleges and universities no longer have enough room to accommodate all the qualified students who apply. As a result, schools are forced to reject far more... Read More

The Challenges College Students Face on Secular Campuses

What is happening on the campuses of secular universities across America? Thousands of Christian students are losing their faith and non-Christian students are becoming entrenched in their... Read More

Financial Aid for Online Education

You've made the decision to pursue your degree online and you've been accepted to an online program. Now what do you do? The next step in realizing... Read More

What is the Cost of College Tuition?

What is the average cost of college tuition? This is one question that most parents and future students ask themselves and need to know in order to... Read More

Physical Therapy Schools

Physical Therapy Schools administer course instruction to potential physical therapists. Physical therapy schools help students to meet physical therapy requirements and the ability to pass a licensure... Read More

Is Pursuing A Degree Online Really For You? Who Should And Who Should Not?

Stanford University's Online Lessons Learned Stanford University's Center for Professional Development has recently completed a survey of those that have been successful in completing online degree... Read More

College Study Tips: Work Smarter, Not Harder

Here are some benefits to studying for your college classes the right way: more leisure time, less stress, less pressure from your parents, less debt, better grades,... Read More

Making the Most of Your Summer

At last, summer is here! After a school year full of hard work, you can finally put away your books, break out your bikinis, and soak up... Read More

Get Your College Degree Online

Have you long wanted or needed to increase your level of education with a college degree? Perhaps, you have desired a degree for your own personal satisfaction... Read More

How to Survive First Year Engineering

So you just got accepted in your engineering program?joy, but you are still doubtful. You ask yourself, could I actually handle the stress, the sleepless nights, the... Read More

Balancing College Life and Academics

1. Control Your Schedule; Don't Let Your Schedule Control YouOrganization and time management skills are two of the most valuable skills you will ever have. One of... Read More

Thinking of Dropping Out of College?

If rising tuition costs or personal concerns have made you consider dropping out of college or "taking a break" I'd like to encourage you to reconsider.Don't Let... Read More

Online College Programs ? How to Apply

The first step to getting your online degree is to apply to colleges. Research several colleges offering the degree program you need. Once you have decided on... Read More

Online Colleges as a Resource for Your New Career

Online Colleges require successful team buildingMost online colleges require their students to work together in teams to fulfill their coursework obligations. The University of Phoenix Online, for... Read More

Consolidate Student Loans and Shop Online

If you run a home business, you know that budgets can be pretty tight. Saving money wherever possible can be the difference between the business that succeeds... Read More

Dont Graduate - What Students Should Know About College, But No One Ever Tells Them

For all the students even dreaming about going to college, I have one piece of advice: don't graduate. Yes. You heard me. Don't graduate. I'm sure dozens... Read More

Why Pursue Your Degree Online?

Distance education has been around longer than people may realise. A system which teaches students without requiring that they actually be present, distance learning was pioneered in... Read More

Saving For College ? Your Number Two Priority

In today's highly competitive college admissions process, families must never lose sight of the fact that nothing is more important to parent or child than the student's... Read More

What Makes A Penn State Online Degree Preferable To Other Online Degrees?

A Penn State online degree is a college degree from Penn State University that is offered through the Internet. This is equivalent to a degree received from... Read More

Too Much to Read and Too Little Time

I spent the better part of 17 years in and out of higher education. Eleven of those years were invested in taking classes and pursuing degrees. In... Read More