How to Survive a Bad Roommate (College Edition)

If you are anything like myself, you have probably experienced living in a college dorm with someone who is… well, more than unpleasant. I have lived with “The Slob,” “The Drama Queen,” “The Stoner,” “The Freak,” and “The Psycho.”

Needless to say, I have experience across the spectrum when it comes down to roommates. You may be asking how I survived. Here are the steps to not turning to crime when it comes to dealing with an awful roommate.

1. Explain what is and is not okay within the living space: This is the number one step to resolving ANY issues within the dorms: communication. If you do not express that there are problems with the way things are being handled, then you will continue to implode inside. In all honesty, your roommate will assume that there is absolutely no issue with how they live because mommy was always there to take care of any mess.
2. Put forth a compromise that works well for BOTH of you: You are NOT the only one living here. There has to be give and take, just like any relationship. They could easily hate the way you pile your clothes in the corner of your side of the room just as much as you hate that they have dirty plates scattered across the floor. Compromises from the two of you are simply a must to coexist, especially in such a small space.
3. Hold up to your end of the deal: You have to make an effort. If you only half-try to make things work, you will only see a half-done result. Seriously. How hard is it to invest in a laundry hamper? The same goes for your roommate. Encourage them to put forth their part. Simple things like, “Hey! Thanks for cleaning up the dishes!” or “It looks really nice in here.” Small words can be very impactful.
4. Maintain a cheerful demeanor: Nobody likes to do nice things for a Negative Nancy. If you constantly complain about everything, or never acknowledge that they are trying, you will find yourself in a very uncomfortable situation.
5. Give it a (reasonable) amount of time: Everyone needs time to adjust to new people, even the most outgoing people. Let them get a routine going, get settled, then, if the issues are still persisting, revisit the problems. Approximately two or three weeks is all it takes for someone to get adjusted.
6. Talk to your resident advisor: Sometimes it takes an outside voice to recommend what is best in your particular situation. Chances are, your local RA has been through a similar situation or can refer you to someone who can help fix any issues.
7. Switch roommates: If you can say you 100 percent tried absolutely everything in your power to live with your roommate, and things are still not going the way you want or need it to, it is totally okay to admit you need to live with someone else. Not everyone’s personalities coincide with one another.

Obviously, there are situations where the circumstances are special. In which case, these steps may not apply to you. Either way, I hope that your college living experience is one in a million! And hopefully for the better.