Student shares tips for college roommate rules

Tuesday, August 22, 2006 Dear Heloise: When it comes to getting ready for college, there are a few things to consider. I am a college student and have learned that it is very important to establish some rules and guidelines with roommates. From my own experience, it helps to talk over some ground rules with your roommates as soon as you can. Chances are that different people from diverse backgrounds might view the living situation from their perspective, and you might not agree. So before things go wrong, have a conversation concerning issues that might arise. Discuss things like study habits, respecting each other's privacy, borrowing from one another, overnight guests, sleep habits, cleaning the room/apartment, what food can be shared, etc. I had a situation where my roommate gave our key out to some people because she was going out of town and told them they could crash at our place. Not only did they come over, but they invited others, and before I knew it, I had eight strangers in my apartment (not cool). Also, when you go out, determine whether you should make a courtesy call to say you are coming home or staying out later, just in case something should happen. It is also a good idea to share parents' phone numbers in case something should happen. College can be challenging enough with all the demands, so do yourself a favor and set the record straight with your roommate(s) from the start. — Cassidy from Stephen F. Austin University, Nacogdoches, Texas This roommate advice is good for anyone at any stage in life in which he or she will be sharing housing. Since living with roommates is a challenge in any situation, I'd like to hear from students or singles who have learned a thing or two from sharing a dorm, apartment or house. Send your experiences and lessons learned to: HeloiseCollege@Heloise.com. Or, fax to: 210-HELOISE (435-6473), or mail to: Heloise/College, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000. We will share your input in future columns! — Heloise Dear Heloise: I have found an easier way to order from a catalog and also a way to get rid of a pile of catalogs sooner. I just tear the page out that has the item I want and the order form. The form usually has the phone number, account number and any other numbers needed. After ordering, I just fold one inside the other and put them in a folder labeled "Awaiting Delivery." I order a lot, but there are no catalogs stacking up now. — Denise, Cambria, Calif. I do the same, but I save the front cover and back if it has the mailing label on it, because many times the important numbers are on these pages. — Heloise King Features Syndicate