How to be a good dorm-dweller

Now that you’re a week and a half into the school year, you’ve probably gotten to know your roommates, hallmates or suitemates. This might be your first time living in a dorm, and you’re probably having a fabulous time getting to know each other while hanging out and watching “Pretty Little Liars” or the latest schmoyoho video. But soon (if not already) you will run into some inevitable bumps in your living situations. As someone who has almost three years of dorm-living experience (and three different roommates), I’ve experienced a few challenges along the way, but I’ve also learned how to overcome them.

So don’t fear! Here are some tips to having a peaceful year.

Set some ground rules:
The best way to make your living situation run smoothly is to set some basic rules, like locking the door, cleaning the room (maybe a chore wheel wheel?) or making a nap schedule. If you aren’t comfortable with something, speak up! Talk to your roommate about it and maybe write it into a contract. Remember, you live there, too. It’s important to try to make things work with your roommate, but if it’s not working out, don’t be afraid to change rooms.

Keep it clean:
Being respectful to your roommate is one thing, but you also need to be courteous to your hallmates or suitemates. If you need to wash your dishes in the bathroom, try to clean out the sink when you’re done; no one wants to see what you had for lunch five days ago (yuck!). Flush the toilets when you’re done using them. If you live in a suite, don’t take so much time in the bathroom in the mornings when everyone else is trying to get ready for the day. These types of things will make living with each other much easier (and much less awkward).

We know you like that new Taylor Swift song, but we don’t need to hear it three floors up:
Don’t forget that there are other people who (likely) live above and below you. We all like to have a little jam session now and then, but blasting your stereo at 1:00 a.m. is probably not the best of ideas, especially when someone is trying to sleep or cram for their Biology 101 exam the next day. If you just have to hear that song one more time, pop in those earbuds and go crazy.

Be social (IRL, not just on Facebook):
If you haven’t gotten to know anyone you’re living with, don’t be afraid to branch out! If you’re in your room, leave your door open so people can stop by and say hey. Living in a suite might be a little more difficult, but just hop over next door and introduce yourself. You never know — these people just might become your new best friends.

Got any other dorm-living pointers? Or do you have an interesting dorm-living story? Tweet us @PitTalk or comment below!