Top 5 Signs You Have a Bad Roommate

Luckily, I have now survived two years of college without having to deal with a bad roommate. That being said, I can't exactly speak from personal experience about what it's like to have a bad roommate, but believe me, I've heard stories from my friends who have had to deal with these disrespectful and sometimes outright disgusting people (that sounds a bit harsh, but it is true). Here are five ways to recognize a bad roommate and also what you can do about it.

A bad roommate:

1) Doesn't respect your property. If you often find yourself wondering "Didn't I just have 12 packages of Ramen noodles?", "Didn't I just make my bed this morning?" or "Where is my favorite umbrella?," you may have a roommate who does not respect your personal belongings.

2) Doesn't ask "Is it ok if I…?" Whether it's watching TV, turning the lights on or off or listening to country music full blast (yikes!)-if your roommate is in the room when you do it, simply ask him or her out of courtesy to make sure it isn't going to be annoying.

3) Doesn't warn you when visitors are coming. Nothing is more annoying than coming back to your room to find your roommate with her boyfriend making out (or…well…you know) on your bed or futon. Ew. If you know your significant other (or anyone else for that matter-parents, friends, etc.) will be coming over, give your roommate a heads up so he or she can act accordingly.

4) Doesn't take time to get to know you. Your roommate doesn't have to end up being your best friend, but you should still treat each other civilly. Talk with your roommate at the beginning of the year to see what he or she enjoys doing and also what makes him or her tick (so you can avoid issues in the future).

5) Doesn't try to be quiet while getting ready. You and your roommate will probably have different class schedules, which means you will wake up and get ready at different times. You should at least attempt to be quiet and (even if you're clumsy like me and knock stuff over a lot) respect your roommate's right to sleep peacefully.

As for what you can do to alleviate your roommate situation, communication is the key. It is important to take care of problems as soon as possible to make life as enjoyable as possible. You are under a legal contract and will have to live with that one person for a long time, so you might as well make it a pleasant experience for you both.

The single best thing to do is to talk to your roommate directly. It is not always the easiest thing to do (especially if you're a non-confrontational person or if your roommate tends to be temperamental), but it will be the most effective in the long run. Be direct, and in a polite way, tell him or her the things that have been bothering you and work out a solution to your problem.

If, after you have spoken to your roommate, you are still having problems, the next step is to talk to your RA. He or she will take the necessary actions to (hopefully) resolve your problem. If your situation is bad enough, one of you may end up being moved to a different room.

A word from Residential Life: Stephanie Pearcy, assistant director of Residential Life, said, "The hall staff are all trained in conflict resolution and mediation techniques to help with roommate issues. However, other than a two-week room freeze at the beginning of each semester to determine open spaces, there is no minimum length of time before a move can take place."