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Eight Simple Rules For Getting Along With A College Roommate |
By:
Daniel Z. Kane |
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Eight Simple Rules for Getting Along with a College Roommate
by Daniel Z. Kane
Living with a roommate doesn't have to be a problem. All you really have to do is follow a few simple rules.
1. When filling out your roommate questionnaire, pretend you're doing it under penalty of perjury. Be honest, even if it means admitting that you listen to Britney Spears or admire Paris Hilton's intellectual curiousity.
2. Get in touch with your roommate as soon as possible. Calls and emails are fine, but if geography allows, try to spend a few hours together to get to know each other.
3. Consider putting together a contract covering the areas of concern you or your roommate have. He or she might want some guidelines about guests (none after midnight on evenings before classes?), you might want to be assured your room is kept fairly neat (no more than three pieces of clothes on the floor?), or you might want some rules about borrowing (please ask first?). A good contract will help avoid misunderstandings or conflict.
4. Keep in mind that your way is not the only way. It may not even be one of the ten best ways. Keep an open mind.
5. Keep the lines of communication open. If you talk honestly with each other and listen to each other attentively, you shouldn't have big problems.
6. Pledge that you will not complain about your roommate to your friends or family for a minimum of 3-4 weeks. Give him or her a fair chance.
7. If things are so bad that you feel you have to complain to anyone about your roommate, instead complain to him or her, as politely and tactfully as possible. If your complaint is reasonable, that may be the end of the problem. If not, it will at least begin a discussion.
8. Be willing to compromise and accept criticism.
Really bad roommates are like watchdog poodles...there may be a few of them, but not many. So, just follow the suggestions above and, in most instances, you should be just fine.
Daniel Z. Kane is a dean at a medium sized southern university. He has created educational websites on subjects which include scholarships, financial aid,
online colleges, and online degrees. You are welcome to reprint this article - but get your own unique content version here.
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Article Source: http://www.statssheet.com/articles/article54804.html |
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