Two people crammed into an 11 by 15 foot cubicle called a dorm room can be a recipe for bliss or disaster. Welcome to college, dorm life and a world with roommates. The goal is survival. Here are some tips on how to cope:

“The best thing to do when meeting and living with roommates is to be open minded,” said Laura Bailey, a Resident Assistant (R.A.) in Galloway Hall. She emphasized the importance of calling your roommate during the summer to get to know each other and talking about what each person is bringing. That way you don’t bring more than one stereo, television or telephone.

Once students have move in, they must complete a Roommate Agreement Form, which sets the groundwork for the roommate relationship. “Talk to each other about your sleep habits, study habits, acceptable noise levels and how you will handle guests,” Bailey said. “If you have a problem with your roommate later on, your R.A. will refer to your Roommate Agreement. You never know when you will have to fall back on it, and if you don’t fill it out truthfully, it could hurt you later on.”

Freshman Lindsey Resnick said, “My biggest advice is be prepared to share space. Be respectful to your roommate, go by the rules the two of your make and stick to them.” “Although living in the dorms can be difficult, Resnick said sometimes all one can do is “suck it up. The space is small. Talk things out. It’s not home, and complaining really doesn’t solve anything.”

But wait, it’s not as bad as it sounds. She said, “I have really enjoyed living in the dorms; it’s been fun.”

Somer Stahl, an R.A. in Belk Hall, said, “Keep an open mind when dealing with your roommate, and don’t live with someone you know. When roommates already know each other, sometimes it can work out, but most times they end up holding each other back from meeting new people and trying new things.”

Roommates may end up being best of friends, or the worst of enemies.

“If a problem does come up, learn to talk to each other and listen to one another,” Stahl said. “When living with others, it’s important to learn to change; you’re not living at home anymore. If that still doesn’t solve the problem, talk to your R.A.”

Stahl added that if a student is really miserable with his roommate and have tried to work things out to no avail, rooms can be changed with a little paper work.

For those who don’t want the hassle of paper work, you can create successful roommate relationships, as cited in the Web site www.familyeducation.com. Psychotherapist and Web site contributor Carleton Kendrick gives tips for dealing with new roommates.

“Don’t be disappointed if you and your roommate are not going to be best friends,” he said in an article titled “Getting Along: Tips for Freshman Roommates” “Casual, mutually respectful relationships can provide you with a satisfying, secure “home base” as you navigate the foreign waters of college life. Let these relationships develop naturally, without expecting that you and your roommate will always be doing things together.”

Kendrick said that sometimes roommate situations can become unbearable, and one must find a place of relative peace and harmony.

Finally, remember college is all about expanding your horizons. “The best thing to tell freshmen is to meet new people, get involved, and try new things,” Bailey said. “These four years will be over faster then you can blink an eye. Enjoy it.”