Setting Ground Rules

Okay guys. Second blog. This is probably going to be really short, but that's okay. It's straight to the point. Also, I know this is incredibly late, seeing as I am now beginning my Sophomore year.

Tip 2: Setting the Ground Rules

This can go one of two ways: well, or not so well. You need to make sure that you and your roommate, whether you two are the same person or polar opposites, can find common ground when setting up the ground rules. My dorm actually made my roommate and I make a set of rules and sign a contract to enforce those rules. But not all dorms do this.

Set up rules from the get-go. Compromise a time that no more visitors should be allowed in the room due to study time. If you're in a suite-style dorm, set a schedule or some kind of chart showing when each person will do some type of cleaning duty in the restroom (these things aren't going to clean themselves.) Ask yourselves these questions"

-Is everyone going to take turns buying toilet paper and share, or are we just going to keep the toilet paper we buy to ourselves?

-Who is going to provide a trash can for the restroom, and who is going to take it out when it gets full? (the "whoever tops it drops it" rule doesn't work well, because everyone will deny that they were the ones to top the trash can)

-Who is going to buy what cleaning supplies for the restroom?

-etc?

All of these things are relevant. It's crucial to get rules set up at the beginning of the semester/year, because if something starts bugging you further in, it's probably already too late.