Residence Hall Roommate Communication Tips
Bob
Jones University
Make friends before you arrive
Get to know each other
Be open and friendly
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.
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…
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…
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.
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.