College is such a wonderful and exciting time.  It is important to remember etiquette though , just like your mommy taught you!  Some of you will be sharing a room and bathroom for the first time. I had a bathroom mate who... struggled with keeping the toothpaste controlled.  It went everywhere.  Although this may seem like a minor thing, when you and your roommate are both PMSing and are sick of cleaning the bathroom twice a day, and the hints aren’t working.... you end up sitting in your room together plotting your next move.  Although this is sort of a bonding time for you and your roommate, I believe that Cass and I would have rather bonded some other way! As a former RA I have seen my share of roommate/ bathroommate disagreements. Here are a few rules to follow and you should be good to go!

 

General:

1. Mi Casa es su Casa! This is probably the first time you have lived w/ someone who is not family.  Chances are you weren’t raised exactly the same, and that is a good thing.  You can learn so much about life in college if you listen to the people around you.  I think the golden rule needs to be stretched a little.  Don’t treat them how you would want to be treated, treat them how you would want to be treated.

 

Maybe you love sharing everything, but if your roommate doesn’t thats ok.  Think of the other person.  Don’t be paralyzed by fear, this is your space too, but remember you are sharing!  

 

2. Know when to say something and when to shut-up.  You do need to stand up for yourself, but every-time she ticks you off you don’t really need to tell her.  Remember, you probably tick her off some times too.  Astonishing I know.

 

3. Don’t move your new roommates stuff w/o asking (unless it is on your bed and then... have at it).

 

Bathroom:

1. Remember the potty trumps everything. That is basically the main reason for the restroom right.  If your mate needs to go to the bathroom and you are putting on your make-up.  Drop everything.  We don’t want to be cleaning up any accidents do we.  This room is the only place ,hopefully, that you take a shower and ...you know, so those uses trump anything else. You can always put your make up on and do your hair in your room.

 

2. No one wants to live in someone else's filth, so keep it clean!

 

Room-room

1.  Keep it clean

 

2.  Be ware of the alarm.  I am a multi snooze alarm girl.  I know, I know.  Luckily my roommate and I became immune to each others alarms.  I would wake up when the CD started spinning and could hit snooze before the music came on, but I didn’t wake up when hers started beeping.  This isn’t true for everyone so be considerate!

 

3.  Don’t keep your roomy up all night or get her up too early.  If one of you is a night owl and the other is an early bird.  Talk about it before hand!  I think none of us peak on our conflict resolution skills when we are tired!

 

Good Luck!

Let me know you rules!  Did I leave anything out?