Living with Roommates

Living on campus is a unique experience because you will have the opportunity to live with students from California, from other states, as well as other countries. You’ll live in an environment which supports academic endeavor and at the same time provides new friendships and support that go a long way towards your success in college.

Most new students are assigned to a multi-person room that you share with roommates. Triple rooms (3-person) are the most common room type at UCSC, although there are a variety of multi-person room types. Regardless of where you live, remember one thing: much of what living on campus really offers is what you and students like yourself bring to it. Your attitude toward, and your enthusiasm for, your new living situation is the real key in determining what your life will be like living on campus. Your roommates may or may not become your best friends, but will surely be remembered simply because of the experiences you will share.

Your housing assignment, including roommate information, will be sent to your UCSC email account by mid-August. Once you receive your roommate contact information, we suggest that you get in touch with your roommates so you can get to know each other before you get to campus. Discussing your living arrangements in advance will make the transition to campus life that much easier. Campus rooms have limited storage space, so you’ll also want to make plans for sharing some items, such as a mini-fridge or microwave.  

Just after move-in:

• Sit down and talk with your roommate(s) about expectations so you can be sure you are all on the same page regarding the everyday details of living in a shared space.
• Communicating early and honestly about important issues such as quiet time, visitors, and sleep schedules is a great way to avoid problems in the future.
• Be flexible and try to come to a decision that everyone can agree to.
• And if you need help, don’t hesitate to ask your Resident Assistant. They are here to help you in any way and will work with you and your roommates to develop a roommate agreement and work through any issues.

If you have never shared a living space before, having roommates may be a challenge, but meeting the challenge of sharing and learning from alternate perspectives can also be infinitely rewarding.