<p>As a sincerely academically-driven freshman, (Just kidding, it's taboo to actually want to study, right?) as most other freshmen encounter, I am currently dwelling in a jail cell-like cubicle with a lovely roommate (insert sarcasm). How would you define a "good" or "bad" roommate? Particularly, how much noise is acceptable within the dorm to be considered a "good" roommate? Should the roommate have the right to play his music via speakers, expecting the roommate to study at the library? Any input...</p>
<p>if he shares his drugs he’s cool with me</p>
<p>^ Sharing is definitely a key virtue to a “good” roommate, great input.</p>
<p>My roommate and I get along really well. If both of us are in the room, unless we’re jamming out to 80s music together (which happens.) Headphones must be on when listening to music. If it’s just one person, it doesn’t matter.</p>
<p>Not in college yet but while on a camp we had to share a room with 3 others. My friend and I got paired with 2 other girls that we didn’t know. We got off to the worst start possible when we fought over who’s going to sleep on which bed as no one wanted to take the top bunk bed. It was just super tense from then on so DO NOT get off to a bad start like that…if it’s little things just let it slide.</p>
<p>Now onto your question. The girls turned out to be nice enough but my god they did not have any common sense and decency. My friend and I wanted to sleep around 10.30 as we had to be up at 7 every day but every time we would not get to sleep until about 2am because the girls would talk, laugh and play music from their ipod super loudly, and they sincerely don’t think there is anything wrong with it. Seriously, isn’t it common sense that when someone is trying to sleep or in bed at anytime of day that you should be quiet and respect that, much less during times when you are suppose to be in bed. My friend and I ended up complaining about them to our chaperones after 3 consecutive nights of them doing that. Aarrghhh. I never thought before that experience that this would be an issue, but it turns out being considerate and having basic common sense is more desirable than anticipated.</p>
<p>Hey dnation,many people have had the same problem as you.However,I think I am being sensible when I say that there is no standard/formula for judging what a good roommate should be like,save maybe when you throw in the obvious,like nipping stuff etc.If you want to have the best roommate ,then its best that you throw a miniparty in your room ,and invite your roommate as the only guest.Then proceed to discuss life ,as newly acquired friends,and place your stipulations on the table.That way,you spawn respect,and hurt no feelings.Hope I have been of help.</p>
<p>Noise, light, sleeping habits (snooze habits), “borrowing”, sexiling, bringing other friends, drugs/alcohol/partying and cleaning are things you should discuss before problems occur.</p>
<p>My roommates and I get along really well. In the beginning of the year, we determined that unless someone was explicitly fine with music being played, we would listen to our music through headphones, which has worked fine. Also, in terms of making noise - there was one time around 1 AM where I was really trying to get homework done when I finally just asked them politely if they could be a tad bit quieter, or else go into the lounge. It didn’t cause any problems.</p>
<p>I think if you bring it up in a polite, friendly manner, then it will probably be alright. Better now than letting the issue continue until it becomes something worse.</p>
<p>me and my roommate are basically best friends because we have common interests, etc. most importantly we talk and we got each others back and we respect each others space and share stuff when necessary. u just gotta go with the flow and be flexible</p>
<p>My roommate is cool. Isn’t a dick and is considerate about things such as talking on the phone in the room or turning the lights off. He’s already had a couple of all nighters in the room, but I don’t really mind as he’s pretty quiet and I fall asleep quickly. Both of us keep our sides of the room clean, talk and laugh it up, yet know when to shut up when it comes down to studying/homework. It all comes down to the basic things anyone should have - respect, courtesy, and kindness.</p>
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This is something that should be worked out at the start of the year. At many schools they actually hold a floor meeting where the RA explains the things they should discuss, and then roomates write up a contract for what they will and won’t do.</p>
<p>Since you asked for opinions, mine is the dorm room is where you live and the library is where you study. If you can do homework or write up labs in a noisy room, fine, but if you want quiet then you know a place on campus where you can find it. And if its too cold or rainy or whatever to trudge to the library, buy some earplugs. Being a good roomate goes two ways, you know, and it sounds like you’re expecting all the accomodating to be to what YOU want. </p>
<p>As an aside, you’ll learn in psych classes there’s other good reasons for confining your serious studying to one place (like the library). Going there becomes a cue that this is the time to work without interruption and distractions. In the dorms it is too easy, even in a quiet room, to surf the web a bit, make a phone call, duck down the hall to chat with someone, etc. – all while the hours go by and then you tell yourself “I spent 3 hours studying tonite” when that isn’t really what happened.</p>