<p>I will be starting college this fall and will be living on campus. My only problem is that I never realized just how badly I need privacy to be happy. It all occurred to me when I went to freshman orientation, having had a bad day previously, and just locked myself in the suite after all required activities were over. I realized I would never be able to do that again. I'm also just spoiled because of the 10 year difference I have between my sisters and me and have always had my own room. Anyway, I guess everyone has to deal with the lack of privacy that comes with having a roommate, but does anyone have any advice in dealing with this?</p>
<p>Just remember that you can't always have it your own way. You need to be patient, understanding and cooperative with your roomate. Also remember that you might be just as annoying to your roomate as your roomate is to you.</p>
<p>Respect. If you can build a mutual respect with your roommate you should be fine. The only groups of roommates I've seen not work well are those who are malicious and disrespect each other. Find other ways to enjoy privacy. Take a walk around campus alone, find a corner in the library to read a good book, etc. Realize that alone time doesn't have to mean time away from people, it just sometimes means quiet space to get lost in yourself and that can often be done in the largest crowds. People watch, relax at a coffee shop, anything like that.</p>
<p>Realize that alone time doesn't mean crawled up in bed with your laptop in PJs, but that doesn't mean it's gone.</p>
<p>Not only that, but most of the time roommates have at least slightly different schedules-- get to know your roommates and spend time in your room alone when you know they're going to be out, etc.</p>
<p>My roommate and I are still great friends 2 years later (and have been living near each other in singles each year after freshman year) and we always respected each others needs. That's why we worked out well.</p>
<p>my friend said he kept a healthy pr0n stash in a triple, and no one ever saw him using it.</p>
<p>I would talk to your roommate the first day and set some ground rules like: who cleans what, will you share clothes and snack food, wear headphones for music when the other is around, a general quiet time at night or respect for each other's sleeping habits, etc.</p>
<p>The thing is, there is a good chance you two will have totally different schedules and you will have some alone time. If not, there are probably study rooms or corners of the library to go. My roommate freshman year was rather noctural. She was asleep when I left for class, I never saw her during the day as she had tons of classes and activities, and I would go to bed before she got back usually!</p>
<p>Also, look at others ways to "vent" if you're having a bad day...go to the gym, listen to music, write/draw...what ever works for you.</p>
<p>I had the same experience as you before going off to college. But, during the first semester, I didn't spend much time in my room, I was always out doing things with other people. Then when second semester came, I switched rooms and moved in with a buddy of mine down the hall. I think living with a friend can be a whole new experience, a better one in fact (although we all still need our alone time). At this point, I'd rather live around people (by that I mean friends) which is why I'm living with 3 of my fraternity brothers in an apartment next year, and then probably the fraternity house my junior and senior years. I think if I lived in a single, I'd get far too bored.</p>
<p>Lack of privacy isn't the issue, it's dealing with the hassles of having a roommate(s) (not necessarily privacy-related).</p>
<p>Thanks everyone! Honestly, this is my only anxiety issue I have with college (at this point) and it seems like you all agree that there will always be time to get away from it all. Hopefully college will work out for all of us...</p>