If you’re anything like I was before my first year at MtA, signing up for a roommate was equal parts exciting and terrifying. Of course, you hear some people’s stories of everlasting friendship, but then you also hear the other end of the spectrum, “my life was a living hell for 8 months." Luckily, I have some news for you: while you may not be able to entirely control if you and your new roomie become besties or not, there are some things you can do to make sure that the experience is enjoyable for you and your roommate. 

Discuss deal-breakers in advance: 

Discussing the more important aspects of living with someone in close quarters IN ADVANCE is one of the most crucial things you will ever need to do living with a roommate. What time is lights out/quiet hours? Are you allowed to have overnight guests? If so, how many nights a week? If you have a private or ensuite bathroom, who will be responsible for cleaning it? Do either of you want a scheduled hour or two a week to have the room to yourselves? For some, these things may not be that important to discuss, but you should also consider that your roommate may have different feelings. Talking about it in advance avoids a lot of potential conflict. 

Schedule some good old roommate bonding time: 

No, I’m not saying that you have to become best friends that do everything together, but even if you aren’t each other’s favourite people it is still a heck of a lot easier to live with someone if you are on friendly terms. So, spend some time together - it doesn’t have to be anything crazy, but maybe join the same club, or start a new show together. If you can build at least somewhat of a relationship with your roommate it will make it easier to discuss any problems that come up, and overall make living in the same room much more enjoyable. 

Don’t bite your tongue: 

If you have a problem with something your roomie has been doing, don’t wait to bring it up. Sit down and talk about it, albeit calmly and respectively. If you keep things bottled up, it will just cause tension between you two and you might start to resent each other. So, before that happens, just communicate. It’s easier said than done, but as long as you approach it in a rational way, it will save you a big headache in the long-run. You might not get exactly what you were looking for, but if there is one thing I’ve learned from having a roommate, it is the art of compromise! 

Be respectful: 

I know, this should go without saying, but after all the roommate stories I’ve heard over the years, I think I gotta say it: just be respectful! If your roommate is sleeping, don’t be banging around making a lot of noise; if they have a test the next day, don’t have a whole bunch of people over; if they’re not feeling up to a roommate hangout, let them have their space. If you show respect for them, they will be much more likely to reciprocate it, making your all-around roommate experience a win-win. 

I hope some of these tips were helpful for anyone planning on moving in with a roommate they’ve never met! Trust me, it’s not always going to be easy - there will be ups and downs. I know this from experience. But, as someone who has lived every year at university with the same roommate (who I hadn’t met before MtA), following these four key rules will help you to have a great year - and who knows, maybe four years like me and my roommate :)  

Written by Addy Smith, a fourth-year commerce student and member of the Spirit subcommittee for this year's Orientation