Residence Hall Roommate Communication Tips

Bob Jones University

 

Make friends before you arrive

Get to know each other 
Be open and friendly

Be open to new things

Plan who will bring what

 

Make friends before you arrive

Getting to know your future college roommates is one of many important things to do before moving to college. Residence halls can be very social places, and by taking the time to get to know your future college roommates before you arrive, you are taking the first step in getting involved in student life on campus.

 

You and your roommates will feel more comfortable if you’ve gotten to know one another a bit before coming to school. Befriending your roommates early also means you’ll have someone to explore campus, the Greenville area and local churches with in those early weeks of school.

 

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Get to know each other

Introduce yourself by providing information and answering and asking questions—about family, hobbies, academic interests, etc.

 

Some information to share:

·       My nickname is…

·       My birthday is…

·       The kinds of grades I want to earn this semester are…

·       The kinds of food I like to eat are…

·       The things I do for fun are…

·       What I like to do for exercise is…

·       Sports I enjoy include…

·       Some things about my family are…

·       I came to BJU because…

·       My major is (or may be)…

·       Some things about my hometown/high school are…

 

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Be open and friendly

Remember that all of you may be anxious and concerned about living with each other. Your roommates may be experiencing the same issues and concerns that you are and may be under the same pressures. Talk to each other about what is important to you and things that may affect your relationship as roommates.

·         University activities I would like to be involved in include…

·         My favorite food is…

·         My ideal vacation would be to go to…

·         My friends like to…

·         My concern about living away from home…

·         I am looking forward to this school year to…

·         My goals in life are…

·         I am interested in serving the Lord after college by…

 

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Be open to new things

You may have been purposefully placed with your roommates to expose each of you to new backgrounds, experiences, and personalities that are completely different from your own. Be open to new ideas and experiences, especially as it to relates to what your roommates bring into your life.

 

In recent years, many students have used online social networks such as Facebook and Instagram prior to arriving on campus. While these networks are certainly valuable in many ways, occasionally they also create anxiety between roommates before they have even met. If you participate in these communities, please remember that just because someone may be different from you, that does not necessarily mean that you will have an unsuccessful relationship. In fact, these very differences often cultivate engaged dialogue and foster valuable communication between roommates.

 

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Plan who will bring what

Contacting your college roommates before moving to college is also practical because it allows you to make plans for the residence hall room you will be sharing. While the rooms are furnished, they usually don’t include much beyond a bed and dresser. Many students bring their own mini-fridges, for example.

 

Talk to your roommates about what college supplies you will be packing, and what each of you can bring to the room. Discussing this beforehand will ensure that you don’t end up with two of everything!

 

Some roommates even discuss how they will decorate their room or the color scheme, so they can buy coordinated bedding. How detailed you want to get is up to you and your roommates.

 

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