Many people enter college expecting to make a best friend out of their roommate. Sometimes this happens; other times, the priority becomes keeping the peace (if) and when possible. Most students fall somewhere in the middle of this spectrum. No matter where you currently stand in your relationship with your roommate, never forget that the needs of both of you should be equally considered. This can only be accomplished through meaningful communication. Don’t harbor hard feelings for your roommate over the course of the semester, only for all your grudges to inconveniently surface and pour over during finals week. If you two have different standards of cleanliness, set boundaries, and make compromises. If you operate on different sleep schedules, assign separate study spaces to the early bird and the night owl. Adequate sleep is integral to your overall wellbeing, so don’t forfeit any of it out of fear of confrontation. If you are not okay with who circulates in and out of your room during the day, speak your mind. It is your room just as much as it is your roommate’s, so any physical or mental stimuli that challenge your comfort are worth addressing. Your room is your everyday space, so how do you make the best of sharing 50% of it with someone else (someone who may even be a stranger)? Take a look at this article for some insights from seasoned veterans.