The `Summer Roommate Effect` – Why Living Together Before the Semester Changes Everything

By Ashley Paskill

Moving in with a roommate can be a challenge. You may see others who have lived together before the semester seemingly have it all together. This “Summer Roommate Effect” has more work behind the scenes that students arriving at the start of the semester may not see or experience. However, there are steps you can take to change your relationship with your roommate by living together before the semester.

Build a bond early

If you do not know your roommate ahead of time, living together before the semester allows you to get a head start on building a bond before the busyness of school, student organizations, and campus jobs ramps up. This time allows you to get to know each other by going on outings or talking over dinner. These things become harder to schedule throughout the semester, so living together beforehand allows you to do these things while your schedules allow. Even before you move in together, set up a time to call or video chat to get to know each other. Some roommates even go on vacation together to get a sense of their compatibility before they move in together.

Write a roommate agreement

Living together before the semester allows you additional time to write a roommate agreement. Again, things get really busy during the semester, so getting started on the roommate agreement ahead of the semester allows you to make sure it is thorough and comprehensive. This ensures that it covers anything and everything that may arise, which allows things to flow relatively seamlessly during the semester. You may even have time to run it by your landlord, RA, or anyone else who has experience with roommate agreements. Those who are not living together before the semester may feel the rush and pressure to complete their roommate agreement, which may cause them to leave things out.

Clean head start

Moving in together before the semester allows you to deep clean the apartment before things get busy. This way, you will only have to do touch-ups each week to ensure things are maintained. Getting a head start on cleaning will help you save time down the line, and it will also allow you to see what supplies you have and what you still need to get. If you find that you are missing things, make a list with your roommate and figure out how you want to split the costs of the cleaning supplies.

Decorate your space

Living together before the semester allows you and your roommate to get a sense of each other’s styles when it comes to décor. You get a chance to see how you will be able to blend your styles into one so that you get the best of what you like. See if there are similarities or ways you can compromise on your differences. If not, you may decide to divide communal spaces, and each decorate certain rooms. You may also decide to take turns decorating communal areas, alternating each month or season. This way, you each get to let your style shine through. Be practical, using what you already have instead of fighting over what you want.

Explore your town or city

Having time before the semester allows you to explore the town or city you are living in. You may have gone to this school for a couple of years, but if this is a new neighborhood, there are new things for you and your roommate to discover. Before the semester starts, arrange a day to go for a walk through the neighborhood. It is better to walk than drive, as you are able to be immersed in the walk. Make note of restaurants you want to try, or you may even stop in one along the way. Observe things to do, like museums, movie theaters, or mini golf, and schedule “dates” to do these with your roommate.

Communicate early on

Before the semester starts, sit down with your roommate and have a conversation about your schedules for the semester. Include classes, work, and student organizations as well as times you plan on studying. If either roommate plans on studying in the apartment, it is important to communicate boundaries about visitors and sound levels during these times. Even if not, setting boundaries around these things can be helpful. It is crucial that you figure out what communication styles and methods work for each of you and implement. Sometimes that it a dry-erase calendar for sharing schedules and reminders. You may want a text thread or use a bulletin board. Experiment and see what works best for you both.

Living with a roommate before the semester begins is a game changer for semester success. You get to know each other and the space around you before others do, allowing you to be experts that others come to for recommendations and advice.