5 Tips for Living with a Roommate in College 

Imagine waking up in your dorm room during your first week of college and rolling over to check your phone. As you do this you hear your roommate starting to get ready for the day. This person who you just met spent the night sleeping right across the room, and they now know what you look like when you first wake up in the morning.  

Living with someone at school, especially a person you’ve never met, can be exciting—but also a little daunting. Finding a roommate is one thing, but actually living with the roommate you’ve found is an entirely different question. Here are some helpful things to keep in mind as you begin your experience with a college roommate. 

1. Keep an Open Mind  

Students come from a variety of cultures and family backgrounds. Routines that seem perfectly natural to you may seem strange to your roommate (and vice versa). Although Gordon College is on the smaller side in terms of student population, our student body represents an abundance of different cultures. In the 2022-2023 academic year Gordon’s student body was 32 percent multicultural and international, representing 52 nations across the world. With so many different people around you, keeping an open-minded attitude will be helpful for living with someone who may not have grown up the same way you did.  

2. Set Boundaries 

As you prepare to live with a fellow student, start thinking about your personal preferences. There is nothing wrong with voicing your opinions about cleanliness, bedtimes or having people over while also being willing to compromise. Look over Gordon College’s packing list as a good way to avoid potential issues, especially over the ways space is used in your room. 

3. Learn About the Person You’re Living With 

Learning specific ways to be a blessing to your roommate can go a long way in maintaining a good relationship. For example, maybe one person hates doing the dishes but doesn’t mind vacuuming, while another would appreciate being driven to the store because they don’t have a car.  
 
Gordon student Emily Hilton ’27 (Christian ministries, psychology), shares how she tries to be a good roommate by providing company: “My roommate doesn’t like going to the gym by herself, but she wants to go. So, a lot of times we’ll go run treadmills together.” Joining her roommate on a trip to the gym is a way that Hilton can show her support for the person she lives with.   

4. Bond Through Shared Experiences 

Whether it’s a coffee run or a study session in one of Gordon’s study spots, spending intentional time with your roommate can bring you closer together. Bekah Hammond ’26 (psychology) says, “My roommate and I like going to coffee shops in the area, going on walks outside and adventuring to the beach.” 

Beach trips are a popular student activity at Gordon and a great way to bond with your roommate. Given Gordon’s proximity to the shore, there are many local beaches students like to visit after a long week of classes. Some popular beaches in the area are Singing Beach, Wingaersheek Beach and Dane Street Beach. It’s hard to beat an adventure with your roommate that includes the feeling of soft sand between your toes! 

5. Find Friends Outside of Your Dorm Room 

College can be stressful, and sometimes it might be tempting to do everything with your roommate. It is always good, though, to have time apart from your roommate to meet new friends. Fortunately, Gordon offers plenty of opportunities to meet students who share your interests.  

One great way to meet friends is by joining an intramural team. Gordon’s Recreation and Fitness office sponsors competitions for various activities, including pickleball and soccer. Another avenue for friendships is joining one of the publications at Gordon that students write for, including The Tartan (a student newspaper) and The Idiom (an art and literary journal). 

Discover Roommate Options with Gordon  

It’s okay if you and your roommate don’t end up being best friends. There’s nothing wrong with gravitating more toward other students on campus. With that in mind, try to make the most of your roommate experience. You may have more in common with the person you’re living with than you think.  

Curious about life as a college student? Reach out to our admissions team to schedule a tour of campus and get an up-close look at where you could potentially live with a roommate in one of Gordon’s residence halls. 

Reagan Forbes ’24, communication arts