SUNY Cortland accepted a record-breaking number of students this year, from another record of 18,355 first-year applications that they received. The class of 2029 consists of 1,395 freshmen and 433 transfers; however, because of over-enrollment, many were put into forced triples. So, here are some tips for making the most of the unfortunate housing situation.
Establish Clear Boundaries
Living with people that you have just met can be challenging, so it is important to communicate with them and set ground rules. While you do not have to become best friends, being kind and open to your roommates’ feelings will help in the long run. Therefore, you can discuss your schedules, party habits, and studying preferences to avoid noise conflict in the shared space. Also, utilizing the roommate agreement form that everyone was given on move-in day could help resolve these unwanted problems. Since you will be living with these people for at least a semester, it would be ideal not to make anyone mad and to respect their boundaries. In addition to making clear quiet hours, you can also be upfront about your cleanliness, and if your roommates’ opinions do not align with yours, try to have a positive mindset and communicate your difficulties.
Dealing with Conflict
There is no question that living with roommates can cause disagreements. I have heard from multiple students that they are afraid to speak up and hurt their roommates’ feelings. However, talking is important, as it can get annoying to have to live with two other people in such a small space, but you should still try to be patient to avoid conflict. Unless there is a significant issue, however, it is best to let it go rather than dwell on something minor. If talking with your roommates is ineffective, that is when you could talk to your RA or the building manager, who can help. Still, if issues continue to occur, you can contact your school’s counseling services for support and additional mediation of the situation.
Managing Limited Space
As if living with another person is not hard enough, adding a body to a room intended for two can bring more struggles. For instance, two people will be sharing a desk and two will be sharing a closet, which can lead to arguments over not having enough space. To maximize the limited area, you can discuss possible storage solutions, like under-bed storage, closet organizers, and shelves, to stay organized. As fall break is approaching, it would be beneficial to bring home nonessential items that may be taking up room to prevent clutter.
Ease the Tension
It is certainly frustrating to have to live with people with whom you do not get along. A forced triple usually consists of two individuals who already know each other, with a third person added and put into an uncomfortable position. It is only courteous to make an effort to interact with your roommates, even though you do not have to become best friends with them. Some ways to connect are asking questions, going out to eat, or exploring shared interests. Within these activities, you will begin to understand your roommates and even relieve other ongoing issues that may be causing tension.
In the past few weeks, over half of the people have been de-tripled, but many remain. If you’re one of those people, these tips can help you and your roommates find ways to coexist peacefully for the rest of the semester. Just remember that this living situation may be inconvenient, but you all share the same frustrations and must endure them together. Most students should no longer be in triples by the start of the next semester, but hopefully those who still are will have learned new skills and made some friends in the process.