Roommates etc
Happy Friday, everyone! This week on Survival Guide we're going to hash out some tips to make finding a roommate(s) and living with said roommate(s) less stressful. As with finding a place to live, finding someone to live with in it is also a giant task. But it's a very important one, because if you don't spend enough time finding a roommate who you will get along with in the long run, it will prove to be the nightmare of all nightmares once the lease is signed for the next year and you're stuck with someone who is the exact opposite of you.
Tips for finding a roommate
~ Look at our roommate matching program for a list of students who go to UMass Boston who are looking for roommates
~ Look on other websites, like Craigslist (but be careful about it)
~ Look them up on social media. If you're going to be assigned a random roommate, "research" them (I don't mean stalk them). Look them up on Facebook and other social media and don't be shy! Try to get to know them better. You'll understand a lot about a person by just asking questions.
~ Request for another roommate (living on campus). If after getting to know them a little bit you realize you have very different interests and ways of living and don't want to get stuck living with someone you're going to have problems with, then let the people who are handling the roommate assignments know about the issue. I don't guarantee successful results, but you can at least try.
~ Spend time asking questions. Ask questions you wouldn't normally ask while getting to know someone. Be direct, even though it's awkward. If you live in different states, create a social media group and talk there or FaceTime (video chat).
~ Ask your friends! It might be a long shot, but it is a safer and more convenient option. Although it's not always that you and a friend end up going to the same college, it happens sometimes, so take advantage of that and room with a person you know!
Tips for roommates:
~ Create a roommate agreement (I've linked a sample here that you can refer to). This is a unofficial document between the roommates (you can have it notarized though).
~ Divide chores. This will become an issue no matter what you promise each other in the beginning. Not everyone is used to doing the dishes or vacuuming, and being a busy college students with hectic schedules and crazy all-nighters means everyone will be too exhausted and never in a cleaning mood. But it has to be done, so if all the roommates agree on it, create a cleaning schedule and make sure everyone sticks to it! This also ensures that only one roommate isn't stuck cleaning all the time.
~ Talk about food and budgeting. Being college students means everyone is on a budget and can't afford to spend $200 dollars on groceries every month. Figure out a way to keep everyone happy without their bank accounts falling to single digits. Here's a sample Excel budget worksheet to give you an idea of how to prioritize money.
~ Establish ground rules in the agreement. For example, no sharing food and letting everyone know if they're having company over. It's never fun to return home and seeing a party in full swing that you had no idea about
~ Talk about money, even though it's an awkward thing to talk about! Everyone's financial situation is different, so talk about how much each of you can spend on a monthly basis without being embarrassed about it. Sometimes a roommate might be having trouble covering rent, and instead of not telling anyone because they fear embarrassment, they will hide it and this will result in eviction. Instead of letting it get to that point, talk to your roommates and figure it out.
Roommate Resources:
~ The Office of Housing and Residential Life offers free roommate mediation--if the situation calls for it, such as when roommates are having trouble resolving a conflict that is hindering day-to-day life, they can get in touch with the housing department and request for a roommate mediation for help. Send an email to osh@umb.edu or call 617-287-6011 to schedule a mediation
~ The counseling center is a great resource because sometimes the stress of being in college and handling a lot of responsibilities takes a toll on a person, and talking to someone really helps. Their contact info is 617-287-5690
~ In case of immediate urgent emergencies, contact UMBPD at 617.287.1212 or call 911 immediately
~ For general questions and inquiries, our housing website is a great tool. It has been recently updated to a more user-friendly interface, so use this to answer a lot of your questions!
One thing to remember about roommates is that nobody is perfect. No matter how much time you spend getting to know the person, you're going to find out things about them that you don't like. But it's a part of the college experience, so unless it's an extreme situation, you're going to have to deal with a lot of stuff you don't like, but have no choice in it either! That's why a careful selection process is essential, but remember regardless of that, you're never going to be fully happy with your situation because nothing can always be perfect. Learning to adjust is the the only way to go!
I hope this helped anyone out there who is having roommate trouble. Reach out if you need help, that's what we're here for!
Have a great weekend, and remember that we only have two more weeks before classes end. Yaaaayyyy!!!!!
~Manasvi