Two roommates in Sanford Hall studying on their beds with laptops

Connecting with Roommates

Our goal is to provide the best possible support services to help you have a healthy roommate relationship that supports the personal and academic success of all roommates. Living with another person is an adjustment, and you and your roommate may not always agree. It’s still possible to have a respectful living environment that allows each of you to thrive.

Creating a positive living experience for you and your roommates takes forethought, trust, and good communication. Below are tips about questions to ask so you can establish a strong roommate relationship and stay ahead of (or work through) any concerns.

Know that you will grow a lot as a college student. This may be the first time you are making rules/decisions by yourself, and this may mean that your needs and preferences change. That is to be expected; it is part of what makes college an exciting time. It also means that it will be important to regularly revisit your agreements with your roommate(s).

Reminder: After you arrive, your Community Advisor will be available to help you have conversations with your roommate (more information below).

Know and Communicate What You Want

An important part of establishing a successful relationship with your roommate is for you to take time to know and communicate what you need from your living situation. Whether you have always shared a room with someone or this will be your first time, consider what is necessary for you to be comfortable and successful.

Remember, you will be making your own rules and decisions once you are at college.

Conflict Happens

Conflict is a normal and natural part of any living arrangement. You may need to make compromises, but roommate relationships are an investment that can lead to positive, lifelong friendships. Even if you already know and consider your roommate to be a good friend, living in the same space will likely mean you will have a different relationship than you’ve had in the past.

You should expect and prepare for conflict to arise around any number of topics. Here are three of the biggest areas where conflicts develop, along with some questions to help you think about what you will share with your roommate(s). We encourage you to talk about these items before coming to campus, and your CA will be there to help you navigate any issues that might develop.

We're Here to Help

Goldy mascot posing with two roommates during move-in

Your Community Advisor will reach out during the first month of the semester to offer assistance with completing your Roommate Plan.

You may also request facilitated mediation with your CA or Residence Director. CAs may be helpful if you want the facilitator to have knowledge and experience with what it’s like to live on your floor, while your RD brings professional experience in mediating roommate conversations. We want you to have a successful roommate relationship, so you should feel welcome to contact these staff members.

You can also contact Student Counseling Services or Boynton Health for support. After engaging with HRL staff mediation, you may seek additional guidance from the Student Conflict Resolution Center.

    Reassignments

    It can be tempting to seek a new room assignment at the first sign of disagreement or conflict. This is an understandable response to the prospect of needing to have a difficult conversation to resolve issues particularly if you don't have previous experience doing this. However, it’s important that you try to work on any issues contributing to any conflict before requesting a room change. 

    Roommate relationships are an investment, and they take time. As such, remind yourself that getting a new room/roommate does not guarantee you will have a better relationship than the one you’ve already invested in.

    Limited Availability

    We expect to be near full occupancy in our communities with very few open spaces available to support room changes. There may be no vacancies, and you will likely not be able to stay in your current building. Visit the page below for details about requesting a change.

    Assignment Changes