Your Guide to Roommate Agreements

One of the most exciting and terrifying things about coming to college is the prospect of living with another person. While movies romanticize your college roommate as your future maid of honor, you may have heard plenty of roommate horror stories as well. Regardless, a roommate agreement can make cohabitation a much simpler process.  This agreement can be in writing if you want to make it formal, but can also be verbal to keep things simple.

Here are some things you might want to consider:

• Sleeping Issues: As a college student, you definitely need to value your sleep! Make sure you know when your roommate has to be awake early so you can be respectful of her time. If either of you are light sleepers, cannot stand lights being on while you sleep, or anything else, work out a system that ensures you both get your beauty sleep.
• Studying times – make sure you are respectful of each other when exams rear their heads. Talk about how to handle distractions such as Netflix, music blasting, or friends coming over while one of you is studying.
• Guests – What are the protocols if your boyfriend will be spending the night or your friends want to crash at your place? Talk about this beforehand! Unexpected guests can be a nasty surprise.
• Sharing items – what can you borrow from each other? Is it okay to eat your breakfast poptarts or use your hair straightener? Establishing boundaries early can ensure that your belongings are respected.
• Cleanliness – Dorms can be stuffy places. What are your expectations for cleanliness? How will you split up vacuuming the floor or cleaning the fridge? What steps will you take if your roommate’s side is dirty? Do you mind messiness in a room or do you need to live in a neat environment?
• Environment – Do you prefer the blinds drawn or closed? Do you like the room cool or hot? Do you like the window open at night or not? These things may seem trivial, but talking about them ahead of time can make your living much more comfortable!
• Security – Do you need the room locked even if your roommate is just running to the bathroom? Do you feel comfortable sleeping without locking the door? While Penn State is pretty safe, it can’t hurt to be careful!
• Problems – Even if your roommate is your best friend, disagreements happen. What will you do if a problem arises or your roommate isn’t holding up her end of the agreement? Having a plan to defuse the situation can deter an unpleasant argument. It’s important to talk to each other honestly and calmly to solve a problem.

There’s no guarantee that your roommate will be your best friend. However, if both of you are dedicated to communicating openly and being respectful of each other, living together can be painless and simple. Remember that this agreement is not set in stone, and you are more than welcome to revisit it as needed! If you establish your expectations for each other ahead of time, you can have a wonderful living situation, and maybe even make good friends with your roommate!

By: Moujhuri Sau