Ah, your freshman year of college.

You're holding high Bs in economics and biology. You know what toxins lurk in the dining hall. Homesickness has become a thing of the past. But your roommate -- now that's another story!

Chances are, your roommate isn't (or won't be) a psychopath. But, this person may very well borrow all your clothes, snore, and use you for a social life. Perhaps on move-in day, the sight of her country music collection and Travis Tritt shrine indicated that your techno-only ears were in for a long year. Or perhaps your new roomie is an old friend from home who you didn't know enjoyed growing mold on his toothbrush. Regardless of all these quirks, you may be out of luck for a while.

Scared? Never fear. After living with three different roommates during my college years, I've found that roomie issues come in all forms. Barring all neurotic and psychotic ailments, however, you can live through any roommate, whether friend or stranger.

Curious how to do it? Let's start at the top of the list...

Getting Those Zs
1. Respect sleeping needs. I'm a night person, and can live comfortably on four to six hours of sleep. Understandably, all of my roommates have preferred or needed a little more sleep than that. While was Amber was a morning person, for example, Gia had chronic fatigue and needed more sleep. While these could have been a disastrous combination, cooperation, courtesy, and the following strategies kept me in happy co-habitation with them both.

2. Invest in cost-effective Christmas lights and hang them around the perimeter of the room. Not only do they look cool, but they provide adequate light that won't keep your roommate awake while you move around at night. (For homework or other heavy reading activities, invest in a small desk lamp or booklight.)

3. If you're a light sleeper, buy earplugs. Don't waste time wishing your roommate would fall comatose whenever you choose to sleep.

4. Keep TVs and stereos away from beds. This way, one roommate can watch a movie or work with music, even if the other needs to sleep.

5. If beds are bunked, hang a blanket over the bottom to block out light. If the room is divided into sides, hang a curtain across the sides of the room to separate sleeping areas.

6. If you wake up earlier than your roommate, do not hit the snooze alarm six times before you get up, and do not sing, talk, sneeze, or make a lot of noise getting ready. If you have to do loud things, like blow-dry your hair, head to another room, instead.

7. Lamps and halogen lights make great mood and study light. However, make sure your dorm allows for them, as some models are considered a fire hazard.

Share and Share Alike? (Not Quite!)
8. Do not use your roommate's belongings without permission. And, if your roomie lets you borrow clothing, wash it before you return it!

9. If you don't want to share clothes, cars, or food, let your roommate know. Don't worry about offending him or her, and make sure you give back the same respect you are demanding.

10. If your roommate lets you use his laptop, treat his property as if it were your own - return it promptly, and in the same shape you received it.

11. Don't borrow money, and never take a roommate's stash, even laundry change, without asking.

12. As much as possible, share space equally. And, learn to condense space. Hang up most of your clothes, apply hooks throughout the room, and loft your bed, if you can.

Hitting the Books
13. Respect your roomie's study needs. While I could study in the middle of a circus, Amber needed absolute quiet and minimal distractions. We compromised -- I didn't turn on the stereo if she was hitting the books, and she often went to the study lounge so I would have the room to myself when cramming noisily.

14. Be considerate of a studying (or sleeping) roommate before inviting people over. On the other hand, both of you should learn to take advantage of study lounges and libraries.

15. Help each other with homework, but don't depend on a roommate's brain to save your grade.

16. Avoid grade competition by not taking lots of classes together. Realize ahead of time that you will each excel in different studies.

No Food Fights!
17. Don't clean out your roommate's supply of Twinkies after she says you can eat some. And make sure to replace what you regularly use.

18. Don't eat all of your meals together. You'll spend plenty of time together anyway.

Be a Clean Queen (or King)
19. Pick up your stuff as often as possible. Don't say, "I'll do it when I have time." Trust me, you'll never have time.

20. Even if you hate doing the dishes and feel no obligation to vacuum ("I'm never here to make it dirty!"), cut down on cleaning time and avoid making one person a maid by helping each other tidy up.

21. Don't make a habit of cleaning up after your roommate. Doing it occasionally is a nice gesture. Doing it regularly will spoil your roommate.

22. Set up cleaning schedules at the beginning of the year, and follow them!

23. If you insist on being a slob, either keep your mess on your side of the room or count on it ending up out the window.

Cease the Digital Divide
24. Don't monopolize appliances. Let your roommate know if you are expecting a call, need the computer, or want to watch TV. Rightfully, the person who owns the appliance gets first rights when using it, but let homework take priority over playing Solitaire and watching Heroes .

25. Don't force your music on each other, but do be tolerant of it from time to time.

26. Write down phone messages and leave them somewhere obvious, like the mirror or door. You may think you'll remember to tell him that his mother called, but don't risk forgetting, especially if the message is urgent.

Roommates as Friends
27. Contrary to what you might have been told in high school, friends can make good roommates. Some friends can also make horrible roommates, but this probably depends more on your personalities than your friendship. Just keep in mind that living with a friend will be a challenge, since you may find yourselves spending more time together than you can handle.

28. If you're scared of being alone and friendless for the first weekend of orientation, try to avoid developing a parasitic relationship with your roommate. She may not appreciate you tagging along with her for every meal, tour, and trip to the bookstore.

29. Try to coordinate a room schedule in the beginning if you foresee yourself needing to lock your roommate out of the room -- whether it's because you want some undisturbed shut-eye or some study-time minus her presence.

30. Solve roommate problems with your roommate, not your Mom. Remember, you'll be living with this person for at least a semester, so whatever problems you're having must be hashed out between the two of you. Although your mother may have great parental advice, nothing will get solved if you don't talk to your roomie.

31. Avoid absurd fights by considering your roommate's perspective. After all, you might be dying to watch the new late-night movie, but your roomie might really need sleep in order to ace his exam.

32. Don't let your significant other think he or she has honorary roommate status. In other words, let your sweetie know that this isn't a rest stop where he or she can drop off laundry, shower, eat, and then leave. If you don't, you may find yourself without a place to rest.

33. Don't make your roommate feel guilty for "having it better" at home than you. She's probably not flaunting her affluence in your face, so don't get upset with her for having nice things. It's just not fair. Besides, you never know if she envies some part of your life.

34. Enforce a policy of knocking before (not while) opening the door and entering the room.

35. Engage in pillow fights, dance parties, and non-malicious pranks as often as is healthy.

36. Listen and talk to each other (any subject will do, but avoid making a therapist out of the other).

37. Think "random acts of kindness," even if you would like to put tacks in your roommate's sheets. Behaving nicely can change your feelings toward a person.

Who to Live with Next Year?
38. Take a personality inventory. Consider your potential roommate's cleanliness, temperature preference, sleeping hours, and social life.

39. Ask his or her current roommate about any bad habits.

40. Don't live with someone out of pity, or because you can't find anyone better. If you know you can't live with a person, take your chances with a randomly assigned roommate.

41. Don't live with a different person just because you're sick of your current roommate. Make sure the new person isn't encouraging some of your negative thoughts about the person you're still living with. This person could turn out to be bad news later on.

42. Vibes about a person can be good indicators. What may seem irrational superstition is often an excellent determinant. For instance, if you have lunch with your potential new roommate and she's bad-mouthing folks behind their backs, how do you know she won't do the same to you? This is definitely negative energy, best to pick up on it now rather than later.

43. Accept that burnout happens -- even to wonderful roommates -- but that's what summer break is for. Time away from one another, plus a little bit of maturity, can work magic in a relationship.

44. Accept that your roommate is human. He or she will disappoint you as well as surprise you in ways you never anticipated.

45. Be patient. While inconsiderate roommates should learn to clean up after themselves and keep quiet when others are asleep, lots of times they don't. Sometimes you have to be the one mature enough to not scream when ravioli dishes overflow the sink, or 6:00 a.m. chatter wakes you up.

46. If you do call it quits with your present roommate, try to end it on a positive note. Treat him to dinner at Taco Bell and let him have the last burrito for old time's sake.

47. When you and your new roommate finally move in together, have an official meeting to set up some ground rules.

48. Have weekly meetings to discuss roommate concerns and issues. This way, problems won't linger on, causing feuds and stress.

Living with a stranger (or even a friend) isn't easy to do. But if you pay attention, you'll find that the college living conditions give you all kinds of opportunities to enhance your maturity. When you find these opportunities, take them. College isn't just about responding to tests and essays, but about responding to people as well.

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