The roommate issue looms large for most entering college students.  Students and their parents worry about who their roommate will be, whether they will like each other, whether they will get along.  Most students heading off to college have never shared a bedroom with someone else.  When that bedroom is also your living room, kitchen, den and recreation room, the prospect of sharing that small space with someone else causes many students concern.

Much has been written to help students get along with roommates.  We’ve written earlier posts on how roommates are matched, helping your student prepare for living with a roommate, and even the value of some conflict with a roommate.  Much of what is written, however, focuses on what to expect from a roommate and how to react to potential problems.

We’d like to suggest a more proactive approach.  Rather than focusing on how to deal with a roommate, we’d like to suggest 13 things your student can do to make sure that they are being the best possible roommate. Rather than thinking about what to expect from a roommate, help your student think about how their behavior might be perceived.  Discussing some of these things with your student before they head to college may help them know how to take action to make their living situation better.

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