Your Student Life: Living with Roommates
August 19, 2025
A survey from Benchworks by Elentra found that 87% of first-year university students in the U.S. were living with at least one roommate. Of course, many students continue to live with roommates even as they transition to off-campus housing. Roommates are also common for people after graduation. Having roommates can be a great way to feel connected on campus, but, of course, sharing space with another person can come with challenges, too. Here are a few things for you and your new roommates to think about at the start of the school year (many of which are likely part of your roommate agreement if you’re living on-campus!)
-How much time do you want to spend together? Even if you’re living with friends, you will probably need some time to yourself and with other social circles. Sometimes people don’t end up becoming close friends with their roommates at all, and that’s normal, too.
-What items would you like to share, and which would you prefer to keep separate? For shared items that may run out, like cleaning supplies and food, how will you determine who replaces them?
-What are your preferences when it comes to guests, including overnight?
-How tidy do you like your space to be, and what kind of cleaning schedule might work to maintain that?
-Are you comfortable with alcohol or other substances in your space, or people using them around you?
-What is your typical sleep schedule, and how can you compromise to make sure everyone can have fairly restful sleep even if you’re on different schedules? What about study schedules?
-What kind of sensory preferences or needs do you have, and how can you find a compromise if others have different ones? This can include things like lighting, strong scents and music.
-What kind of communication is most comfortable if concerns come up? Of course, direct communication tends to be more effective than passive aggressive, but is it okay to do that direct communication over text? In person?
-Are there decisions you may need extra support figuring out, such as talking to an RA or mentor?
Counseling and Consultation Service
Office of Student Life