BOSTON–Roommates are more than the people you live with; they are an essential part of the college experience. Whether it is in a dorm or an off-campus apartment, they have the potential to the best of friends, or at the very least laundry night partner. But, for many college students a dream living situation can turn into a nightmare as financial, social and work-related stress mounts over the semester.

Living with someone is typical for college students. In the United States alone, most young adults spend at least a year living with roommates after leaving home for the first time. The popularity of roommates is reflected in pop culture including movies and television programs such as “Greek,” which all emphasize the notion that roommates are best friends and partners in crime.

Most of the country’s universities even require first-year students to live in on-campus residence halls, and share a dorm room with a same-sex roommate. The idea is to provide incoming freshmen with a built-in social network for everything from exploring campus, joining clubs, or just going to restaurants. Studies have found that a good relationship with a roommate affects grades, study style, social behavior, and personality productivity.  “Right now my grades are on point, and my social life is thriving and I think I owe most of that to having a little 13×11 room I can call my home away from home,” says one Georgia Tech freshman, who credits his roommate for getting him comfortable on campus.

For those living off-campus, roommate relationships are even more important. Apartment living comes with its own set of responsibilities, including paying bills, sharing expenses and dividing chores. Many college students find themselves rooming with school friends or acquaintances from work. “Roommates make the experience, so try your best to pick an apartment with people you could see yourself being friends with. Be willing to sacrifice certain “ideals” you had about your “dream apartment” because in the end, the only thing that really matters is the relationship you’ve got with your roommates,” recommends Andrea Ricci, a representative for the Office-Campus Housing Office.

Just as common as having a roommate, are the problems that arise once living together. Having a roommate can mean less privacy. Different lifestyle patterns like sleeping and organization are another common challenge of living with new people. Dividing the cost of living, who pays for what, and other shared expenses are also difficult decisions made for those who live off-campus.

Numerous Web sites have been popping up publicizing roommate rants. One blogger writes on roommaterant.com “I’ve had the worst roommate experience and couldn’t wait to get out.” And many other students agree. “It was a mess, I will never have a roommate again,” says Kaitlin Downing, a junior at Suffolk University.

“The root of many problems is miscommunication,” says Stacy Oliver, a former RA at the University of Ohio. Communication is the most important thing. “You can’t expect your roommate to read your mind, so you have to tell him or her how you are feeling.”

One way to clarify the basic issues with cohabitation is to create a rental agreement. The purpose is to set up guidelines on move-in day that determine the responsibilities of all roommates. This has also become standard on college campuses in order to keep disagreements to a minimum.

Compromise is the key when it comes to roommates, and there are always two sides to every story. Talking, flexibility and respect are all essential to preventing and resolving conflicts. However, if you are still experiencing problems with your roommate, colleges provide conflict-resolution services through the campus counseling center.  Suffolk University’s Off-Campus Housing Office can also help students find new roommates based on a basic personality matching system. For more information you can go to http://www.suffolk.edu/campuslife/180.html.