Preparing yourself for living with a roommate

Unless you've shared a bedroom with a sibling for part of your life, suddenly shacking up with a roommate during your freshman year of college can be a strange experience. Not only will you be sharing your entire living space with another person, but your roommate will likely be a stranger. Whether you're excited or anxious about this new chapter in your life, here are some things you should be aware of about living with a freshman roommate.

While there's certainly no reason you shouldn't try to get along with your dorm mate, it's important to remember that you're under no obligation to be best friends with this person, and vice versa. Friendships shift often throughout college - particularly during freshman year - so feel free to explore relationships that extend beyond your immediate living space.

However, it's nice to have your roommate as a friend to help adjust to college life - as a study conducted by the University of Michigan nearly 32 percent of surveyed students reported feeling lonely during their first week as freshmen.

Depending on each of your personalities, it's a good idea to discuss boundaries with your roommate early in the year. Consider talking about sharing food, study times, class schedules, inviting friends over and other daily activities so you can be as considerate to each other as possible. By establishing these guidelines, you'll have a better understanding of the type of atmosphere you want to create in your dorm - be it a quiet sanctuary or social hub.

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