What happens if I don’t get along with my roommate?

What happens if I don’t get along with my roommate?

Living in a dormitory can be one of the most enriching aspects of studying abroad. It’s where many students build lifelong friendships, learn about other cultures, and gain valuable life experience. However, it’s also natural that not all roommate pairings will be perfect. If you find yourself not getting along with your roommate, it’s important to understand both the policies and the possible steps you can take.

Room Change Policy Based on Compatibility

At 3D ACADEMY, we strive to create a comfortable and supportive living environment for all students. That said, our official policy is that room changes based solely on roommate compatibility are not permitted as a general rule.

The reason for this policy is fairness. In a shared living environment, it’s not uncommon for small frictions or differences in personality, lifestyle, or habits to arise. If we allowed changes in every case where someone simply “doesn’t get along” with a roommate, it would be impossible to maintain fairness among students, many of whom might also feel discomfort but choose to adjust or compromise.

Granting a change for one person can easily create a chain reaction of dissatisfaction, leading to continuous reshuffling, reduced dormitory availability, and confusion for everyone involved.

We believe that part of the dormitory experience includes learning to manage interpersonal challenges—an essential skill for both academic and professional life. Sharing a room with someone from a different background or with different habits can be difficult at first, but many students find that they grow tremendously from the experience.

What You Can Do First

If you’re experiencing issues with your roommate, we recommend trying the following steps before considering any formal change:

• Open Communication: Sometimes, roommates don’t even realize they’re doing something that bothers the other person. A polite, honest conversation can often resolve issues quickly.

• Set Clear Boundaries: If noise, cleanliness, or schedules are causing friction, try to agree on clear rules for your shared space.

• Cultural Understanding: Many misunderstandings come from cultural differences. What’s normal for one person might be unusual for another. Keep an open mind and ask questions rather than assuming bad intentions.

• Talk to Staff Informally: You don’t need to file a formal complaint to talk to someone. Our staff is happy to lend an ear and give advice if you’re unsure what to do.

In many cases, these simple efforts lead to smoother communication and improved relationships between roommates. You might even end up becoming good friends with someone you initially had trouble with.

When a Change Might Be Considered

Although roommate compatibility alone is not a valid reason for a room change, there are exceptions depending on the situation. If the issue is more serious—such as consistent rule violations, verbal aggression, harassment, lack of hygiene, or anything that significantly affects your health or emotional well-being—we want to know.

Here are some examples of cases where a change might be considered:

• Your roommate frequently breaks dormitory rules (e.g., bringing outsiders, smoking indoors).

• There is an ongoing pattern of bullying, intimidation, or disrespectful behavior.

• You’re experiencing mental or physical stress due to the situation, and it’s affecting your ability to study or sleep.

• There’s a mismatch in the assigned room type or gender policy that was made in error.

If any of the above applies, please speak with our school staff as soon as possible. We will listen to your concerns confidentially and assess the situation carefully. In some cases, we may speak with both parties, suggest mediation, or explore options for change.

Possibility of Upgrading

If you strongly wish to change rooms despite your roommate not violating any rules, and your concern is based on discomfort or preference rather than serious conflict, the best course of action may be a room upgrade.

Upgrades may be available under the following conditions:

• There is a vacant room in a different room type (e.g., single room or different shared room).

• You are willing to pay the additional cost associated with the upgraded room.

• Your request does not result in displacing another student or disrupting existing room assignments.

Room upgrades are handled on a first-come, first-served basis, and availability is not guaranteed. However, we are happy to check and offer options if you make a request.

This approach ensures that students who are willing to cover the cost of more privacy have a clear pathway to improved living conditions without creating imbalance for others.

Why We Prioritize Fairness

We understand that asking students to stay in a less-than-ideal roommate situation can be frustrating. However, fairness and transparency are central to our dormitory policy. If we allowed room changes every time someone said “I don’t like my roommate,” it would become unmanageable—and unfair to those who choose to work through difficulties.

We’ve seen that, over time, many students who initially had issues with their roommates ended up resolving them and even becoming friends. In contrast, students who frequently switched rooms often found the same issues repeating with different roommates—highlighting the importance of communication and adaptation.

That said, your mental and emotional health is important, and we’re always willing to listen. If something feels wrong, don’t suffer in silence—talk to us.

Tips for a Better Roommate Experience

Here are a few tips to improve your relationship with your roommate:

• Have a “Roommate Talk” early: Discuss expectations about sleep, cleanliness, noise, and guests early on.

• Be respectful of shared spaces: Clean up after yourself and respect common areas.

• Use headphones: Whether it’s music, movies, or calls, use headphones to reduce noise.

• Be flexible: Understand that no one is perfect. Small habits can usually be adjusted.

• Ask before acting: If you’re unsure about whether something might annoy your roommate, it never hurts to ask first.

Final Thoughts

Roommate challenges are common and completely normal, especially when people from different backgrounds share space for the first time. At 3D ACADEMY, we encourage students to approach these challenges as part of the learning process. However, we’re not rigid—we’re human too. If something truly isn’t working, talk to us.

Our dormitory staff is here to support you. Whether it’s advice, mediation, or in rare cases, room reassignment or upgrades, we’ll do our best to help you navigate the situation while maintaining fairness for all students.

To summarize:

• Room changes due to compatibility are not allowed by default.

• Upgrades may be possible if rooms are available and you agree to the cost.

• Serious concerns will be listened to and assessed individually.

• We encourage communication, fairness, and growth.

If you ever feel unsure, just reach out. We’re here to help you feel safe, respected, and comfortable during your stay.