You and Your Roommate

The College carefully assigns roommates based on the extensive roommate assignment questionnaire.  We make every effort to make compatible assignments, and many roommates become fast friends for life.  You may also request a specific individual of you know someone already enrolled or entering Brevard.  You'll be able to personalize your room with posters and acceptable appliances like microwaves, stereos, TVs, and personal computers so you can have the comforts of home.  You and your roommate may even elect to build a loft following guidelines established by the Dean for Campus Life.

Roommate Tips

Below are a few simple suggestions that may assist you in having a happy and healthy roommate relationship!

Get to Know Each Other

Get to know your roommate as soon as possible. Go to on-campus activities together, see a movie or have dinner together. Knowing and understanding each other is the first step in forming a healthy, happy roommate relationship.

Be Open Minded

You and your roommate may be very different.  Keep a positive attitude and an open mind; you will find there is much to be learned from someone whose background, culture, history, values and interests are different than yours.

Discuss Your Expectations

In order to avoid frustration, talk with your roommate about your expectations. Keep in mind that you may have to compromise; it is normal for roommates to have different expectations. Topics to address include study time/habits, sleep schedules, items for sharing, items for personal use, visitation hours and room cleanliness/upkeep.

Be Understanding

Living with a roommate and college, in general, is an adjustment period for everyone. Give your roommate the benefit of the doubt before criticizing his/her actions. Your roommate may just be having a bad day. Listen to your roommate and be understanding; sometimes listening is the best way to get to the root of the problem.

Talk It Out

Do not let problems build up.  Most problems can be solved with communication. Talk openly and honestly about concerns with your roommate. Just remember that timing is everything. If you know your roommate is having a bad day, hold off until an optimal opportunity for addressing the situation arises.

Give Each Other Space

Sharing a room is a big adjustment for many people. Even if you are best friends, always being together may be too much of a good thing. You will both need alone time. Most of the time roommates have different class schedules; but, if you don’t have a natural “break” from each other, you may want to talk about creating one.

Ask Before You Borrow

Everyone has a comfort level for sharing items with roommates. Always ask before you borrow something; it will help avoid frustration. Also, remember that just because your roommate has let you use something in the past, he/she may not want you using it all the time.  Remember, always ask before you use something that doesn’t belong to you!

Schedule Study Times

Let each other know in advance when important events (papers, projects, tests) are coming up. With advanced notice, your roommate may be able to make other plans in order to give you some quite time.

Don’t Stress

You don’t have to be best friends with your roommate, but you should learn how to get along with each other. Each residence hall has Resident Advisors and Live In Staff that can assist you in dealing with roommate conflict, if you and your roommate can not deal with the situation by yourselves.  In the unlikely event that you have an unbearable living situation, Friendly Moving Day takes places after classes start, again in January.