By Emily McIntyre
The end of semester stress some BYU students experience from completing projects and preparing for finals is only exaggerated by problems with roommates.
But some students have discovered simple things can make the roommate living go a lot smoother.
'I think you have to be flexible and tolerant of unexpected habits and situations,' said Adrienne Shrader, 23, a senior from Ames, Iowa, majoring in psychology.
Some students say being patient with each other is helpful in getting along.
'Roommates can get to know each other better and be patient,' said Valerie Smith, 19, a sophomore form Brea, Calif., majoring in psychology. 'You can compromise a little bit because everyone is different.'
Students also suggest doing recreational activities with roommates to help living go smoother.
'My roommates and I play on an intramural hockey team together,' said Bill Petrosino, 23, a junior from Somerville, N.J., majoring in international business. 'We also like the same TV shows and eat meals together Monday through Thursday.'
Having roommate prayer at night is also good, Petrosino said.
Some roommates spend time socializing together.
'We cook together, we hangout together, we do everything together,' said Alicia Rasmussen, 19, a sophomore from Sherwood, Ore., majoring in elementary education.
Being considerate of roommates and their schedules is also important.
'I try to be quiet when my roommates are sleeping and considerate of them and their things,' Smith said.
When conflict arises in an apartment, students recommend approaching the situation with care.
'You need to be patient and think things through clearly before you deal with a difficult situation,' Shrader said.
Students also say it is important to work with each other''s schedules.
'You should work with each other''s schedules and remember that it''s not just about you,' Rasmussen said.
When someone feels the need to confront an issue with a roommate, some students say they should be respectful of their feelings.
'You should try to come up with a solution to solve the problem,' Smith said. 'You have to make sure your roommate knows it''s the problem and not them.'
Some students say that the best way to deal with roommate conflict is to avoid it altogether by selecting your roommates wisely.
'A lot of it has to do with if you have similar interests,' Petrosino said.