Whether you are accustom to having your own room or are comfortable sharing space, you probably have some apprehension over meeting your new roomies. This is normal and to be expected.

Living in a community is a great experience and there’s both fun and challenge to be found in living with new people. The good thing is that you’ll be making new friends and if you have some trouble along the way your Resident Advisor is just a few rooms down the hall should you and your roommates find you need a little extra support as you iron out your living expectations.

In general, keeping three things in mind will make a world of difference:

• Be conscientious. This is a new experience for everyone. Treat your roommates how you like to be treated. Listen to each other with an open mind and know that you aren’t always going to agree. This is okay. Remember you’ve got an RA to help you when things aren’t going the way you hoped they would.

• Get out there and talk to people. Take the initiative and introduce yourself. Your interest in others will lead to a wide circle of friends and who knows, maybe some study buddies for those difficult classes!

• Be aware of the Village Policies and Procedures and go over these with your roommates when you are sharing your living expectations. Make sure you are all in agreement about how your suite/apartment will handle a variety of issues, including:

1. Quiet hours
2. Guests and overnight visitors
3. Cleaning expectations and rotations Personal habits and their impact on roommates (smoking, drinking.etc.)Waking sleeping and shower schedules