Introductions
It is important to
share some basic information about yourself, even if you do know
your roommate. The following are some things you may want to
discuss:
1.
Your hometown:
How big is it? City? Rural? Suburban?
2. Family:
Brothers or sisters? Pets?
3. Previous school:
What size was it? What did you participate in?
4. Your major:
What is it? Why did you choose it? What do you want to do
after graduation?
5.
Friends back home:
Any of them at UE? Boyfriends/girlfriends back home?
6.
Interests:
Hobbies? Activities? Sports?
7.
Background:
What is your ethnic background?
Religion? How has it impacted your life?
Lifestyle
“Nitty gritties”
make a huge difference in your day-to-day life together. These are
the typical things that can cause roommates to disagree – so it’s very
important to discuss them! Often “little things” can get in the
way of a great roommate relationship.
1.
Sleep habits:
What time do you normally go to sleep? How much sleep do
you need?
Do you sleep with music playing? Can you sleep with the lights on? In the University
setting, it is evitable that one of you will have early morning classes
while the other can sleep until noon! Discuss some alternatives:
- Do late night studying
in the library or lounge area in the hall,
or maybe in a friend's room?
-
Late night returns – tiptoe and use a
cell phone light? (who wants
the bright lights turned on when they’re asleep?)
-
Early morning classes – tiptoe out and dress in the bathroom?
Don’t use the hair dryer in the morning.
-
Establish what is “too-late-to-call” regarding phone calls
-
What is too early to call?
2.
Temperature:
Do you like the room hot or cold? How can we compromise?
3.
Noise:
Are you basically a loud or quiet person?
4.
Music/TV:
How often/loud do you play your stereo and/or watch TV? Is it okay
if I use your stereo, TV, etc. when you are not around?
5.
Money:
How do you feel about lending money? What about sharing expense
for any food, cleaning supplies, entertainment, or decorations for the
room?
6. Visitors:
How do you feel about guests in the room? What about overnight
guests? What about guests of the opposite sex?
Girlfriends? Boyfriends? How would you feel about my
friends from home coming up for the weekend and staying in our room?
Are there certain times or dates when you don’t want guests over? If your roommate is
studying when you bring in a friend, what should you do? If you go home for
the weekend, can your roommate invite a friend over? Can they use your bed? Think how you would
feel if you came home to find a stranger sleeping on your floor – or
worse – in your bed! Always consult your roommate about guests.
Please Note:
University policy states that with the roommate’s consent,
residents may have guests of the same gender stay in their
rooms, providing the stay is no longer than three days within a
10-day period and that the guests do not disrupt the normal
activities of the floor. Guest rooms are available when space
permits. Guests must be registered with the resident assistant,
residential coordinator or the Office of Residence Life. Guests
are subject to all University and residence life rules and
regulations. Students are responsible for the actions of their
guests.
The room
visitation policy on designated floors permits men and women
students to meet socially in each other’s residence hall rooms
on a limited schedule. Visitation is permitted Sunday through
Thursday from 10:00 a.m. to midnight, and on Friday and Saturday
from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. There are also several 24-hour
visitation floors available within each residence hall. Guests
must be escorted at all times by a host or hostess who is a
resident of the hall.
When you have guests over, you are
responsible for the actions of your guests. If something is
stolen, misplaced, or damaged by one of your guests, you are
responsible! It is important that you explain to guests the
importance of respecting your roommate’s belongings and privacy!
7.
Habits:
Any pet peeves?
8.
Health:
(Sometimes illnesses are a very personal matter; however, if you have a
recurring illness or a consistent health issue like diabetes, you may
want to let your roommate know)
9.
Arranging the
Room and keeping it clean:
Make sure you both
like the arrangement. Is the room comfortable for both of you?
If you feel like the room needs a change, talk to your roommate BEFORE
making the switch! Would you want to come “home” to find
your bed disassembled, drawers upside down, and your roommate in the
middle of the room putting together a new bookshelf? Ask first.
Do together.
Who cleans what and when? Are you a very organized person who has
a specific place for everything? Do you make your bed every
morning?
“Sometimes
I leave my clothes all over the floor, I just don’t have time to clean
up”
“My roommate never
takes the trash out of our room”
“I hate the dishes
piling up in our room…my roommate hates doing dishes”
From the beginning,
find out if neatness is important to one or both of you, set up a
cleaning schedule!
10. Privacy:
How do you feel about your privacy? How often and when do you need
time alone?
11.
Borrowing/
Sharing:
How do you feel about sharing things such as clothes, music,
food, etc.? You don’t have to share everything, but
think and discuss the following:
-
When is it okay to borrow your clothes, DVDs, computer, etc?
-
What can you borrow…what needs to stay where it is?
-
Will you both have equal access to the microwave, TV, fridge,
stereo, etc? (despite who brought them)
Remember, just because you
brought the TV, fridge, etc…doesn’t mean you should control it 100%.
If you do not want to share your things, like a fridge, suggest your
roommate bring their own fridge. Suggesting you both
bring a TV, however, is a bit much. Draw the line and be
reasonable.
12.
Safety issues:
Lock the door – ALWAYS DO THIS!
What if your
roommate brought more expensive things than you? Wouldn’t you want
the room to be locked if you brought those things? Be respectful
and look out for the safety of your ENTIRE room.
Giving out your keys – don’t do it. Period. There is a fine
for giving your key to someone else and it compromises the security of
the building, other residents, your room, your items, and your roommate!
13.
Study Habits:
When? How? With whom? Where? How long?
