Roommate Survival Guide & Ice Breakers

PART 1: ICEBREAKERS (What to Do Before & Right After Move-In)

Have The First Conversation Early

The biggest mistake freshman make? Avoiding real conversations.
Don’t wait until something becomes annoying.

10 ESSENTIAL Questions on Roommate Preferences & Rules (friendly convo, nothing set in stone)

• Are you an early bird or night owl? What are your preferred sleep times?

• What absolute quiet hours you need? At what time of day? How many hours each day?

• What are your temperature/fan preferences? Do you prefer a warm or cold living space?

• What are your study habits: desk vs bed, music vs silence, in dorm or outside of dorm (lounge, library)?

• How do you feel about guests in the room? How often? Overnights? Is notice required?

• What are your cleaning standards? What chores will align with these standards?

• What will be our borrowing rules? Clothes, makeup, chargers?

• What will be our food rules: labels, share some, or totally separate?

• What to use for room fragrance? Specific scents or preferences? Any sensitivities or allergies?

• What stresses you out in a shared space?

✨ Tip: Frame it as “so we can be good roommates,” not “rules.”

PART 2: SETTING BOUNDARIES (Without Being Awkward) 🏠

Create a Roommate Agreement 

This doesn’t have to be formal — just clear.

Agree on:

• Quiet hours

• Guests & overnight visitors

• Cleaning responsibilities

• Borrowing clothes/makeup

• Sharing food vs. personal food

📌 Tip: Write it down in your notes app so you can reference it later!

PART 3: LIVING TOGETHER PEACEFULLY

Respect Sleep (Even If Yours Is Different) 😴

Sleep differences are the #1 roommate conflict.

Compromises that work:

• Headphones instead of speakers

• Desk lamp instead of overhead lights

• Sleep mask or white noise machine

• Agreed-upon “lights out” window

✨ Reminder: College is exhausting — protect each other’s rest.

PART 4: HANDLING CONFLICT LIKE AN ADULT

Address Issues Early (Before They Explode)

If something bothers you:

• Don’t gossip

• Don’t passive-aggressively clean

• Don’t post TikToks shading your roommate 😭

Instead, say: “Hey, I just wanted to talk about something so it doesn’t become a bigger thing.”

Communication can solve 99% of roommate disagreements if brought up early and politely. 

Pro Tip: Use “I feel” statements instead of blame.

If the Same Issue Keeps Happening

Try:

1. Re-communicating calmly

2. Adjusting the agreement

3. Involving your RA early (this is literally their job)

Getting help is not failing — it’s being smart. RAs deal with roommate conflict all the time, get a second perspective on how to best handle the situation from their POV!

Support Each Other Emotionally

Freshman year can be overwhelming.

Be the roommate who:

• Checks in

• Celebrates wins

• Respects bad days

• Makes the room feel safe

That energy always comes back to you.

FINAL REMINDER FOR FRESHMAN GIRLS 💌

Your roommate relationship does not define your college experience — but a healthy one makes everything easier.

Be:
✔ Kind
✔ Honest
✔ Respectful
✔ Open-minded

And remember: everyone is figuring it out, just like you.

Want to make dorm shopping easier? Start with the most-clicked dorm resources by our readers: