The bags have been unpacked, the parents have left long ago. You’ve been left with a complete stranger to live with for a year. You try to break the ice with a joke. There is no laughter coming from the other side of the room. Awkward? Yes. Welcome to your worst nightmare, the bad roommate.

Your living space is generally your sanctuary where you can escape from professors, boyfriends/girlfriends and the never-ending inquiring minds of parents. That place of serenity is also inhabited by another person who is going through the same hassles as yourself. “So what happens? What happens when people stop being polite and start being real?” (Thanks, “Real World.” We knew you would come in handy some day). Ideally, your freshman roommate becomes your best friend, the boys in the suite next door are like brothers and you wind up falling in love with that cute guy/girl down the hall. But not everything works out the way you hope and there are ways to survive a potential year from hell.

Don’t worry. We talked to some of the pros for tips to deal with even the unruliest of roommates.

First reaction: I need to get out of this situation.

Every year, many students face the same problem of being paired with someone that they just don’t get along with. Colin Coleman, resident director of Cayuga Hall in College-in-the-Woods, said that he sees students every year trying to move out due to roommate conflicts.

“The best thing you can do is try to take some time and find an equal balance to help you through as long as you can,” Coleman said.

You may feel that you have absolutely nothing in common with the person living on the other side. With a little effort, you may find that you have at least one thing in common with each other.

Second reaction: I know absolutely no one else here at this school.

Maybe you were the only person from your high school that picked Binghamton University as your school or you just feel alone because this is your first time away from your comfort zone. Either way, you were probably hoping to find a friend in your roommate and you didn’t. Coleman suggested students leave their rooms and check out what the campus has to offer.

“Procedures in Residential Life don’t happen over night and you need to find a way to kill time,” Coleman said. “Try to make as many friends as you can so you can fill your time and not get stuck in your room.”

By leaving your room and meeting new people, you may develop friendships that will last you through the next four years. Maybe even some future roommates.

Third Reaction: Well, what do I do now?

Instead of feeling hopeless, remember that you are not alone in this process. Coleman reminded RAs are trained to help students get through specific roommate problems.

“You should be able to confide in your RA,” he said. “If a student is having a hard time, they should approach their RA.”

Communication is essential in adapting to your new home away from home. Dr. Elizabeth Droz, director of the Counseling Center, said you need to find some way to discuss rules even it makes you uncomfortable.

“You and your roommate have set boundaries for different areas, such as sharing, space or visitors,” Droz stated. “The better the boundaries, the better the living situation.”

If the idea of broaching a topic that could cause a conflict scares you, practice on a friend. Droz said just vocalizing your ideas will make you feel a bit better.

“If you are having a really hard time, the best way to deal with it is to say something to someone,” Droz said. “Keeping it inside is not going to get anything accomplished.”