So you’ve finally made the move from cramped dorm rooms to your own off-campus apartment near UMass Amherst. Congrats! 🎉 No more awkward RA check-ins, communal showers, or hoping your midnight snack doesn’t get swiped from a shared fridge. But there’s still one big factor that can make or break your college living experience: roommates.
Whether you’re living with your best friends from freshman year or someone you found through a roommate-matching site, sharing an apartment is a whole new world. Here’s how to keep things smooth and maybe even build friendships that last way beyond your UMass days.
1. Set ground rules early (seriously, do it)
It might feel weird to sit down and lay out expectations, but future you will be grateful. Talk through the basics: how often you’ll clean, if it’s cool to have friends crash on the couch, how you’ll split bills, and when things need to quiet down (especially during midterms or finals).
Living somewhere like Cliffside Apartments makes it easier to keep things organized. You’ll have plenty of storage space for everyone’s stuff, plus online rent payment that helps avoid awkward money chases.
2. Respect each other’s space (and snacks)
Your roommate’s pizza in the fridge? Not yours (unless they offer). Their favorite hoodie on the arm of the couch? Also a no-go. Sharing is great as long as it’s agreed on. When in doubt, a quick text is way better than accidentally starting World War III over leftover lo mein.
Cliffside’s spacious layouts, along with an outdoor picnic area and grills for shared hangs, make it easy to balance alone time with group time.
3. Learn each other’s schedules
If you’re a night owl watching Netflix at full blast while your roommate’s trying to get up early for a big exam, that can go downhill fast. Knowing each other’s class, work, and gym schedules helps you avoid unintentionally stepping on each other’s toes.
And living at a community like Cliffside means you’ve got options. If your roommate needs quiet to study inside, you can take a call by the pool, go for a walk on the private hiking trail, or grab some solo time in the fresh air with your pup at the dog park.
4. Be upfront (but chill) about problems
If something’s bugging you, say it early and calmly. Passive-aggressive Post-Its on the bathroom mirror? Not it. A quick, “Hey, can we figure out a plan for dishes?” is way better than letting small stuff pile up.
Cliffside’s on-site management team and quick on-call emergency service mean you won’t be fighting over who’s calling someone if something breaks. That means less stress all around.
5. Actually hang out once in a while
You don’t have to be besties, but a pizza night, tennis match (yes, Cliffside has tennis courts), or lounging by the pool together goes a long way. It builds good vibes so if little annoyances pop up, they’re easier to sort out.
Living at Cliffside Apartments makes off-campus life smoother for everyone.
Between the spacious pet-friendly layouts with a dog park, on-site laundry care centers, and included parking, your new apartment near UMass Amherst is designed to keep roommate life stress-free. With access to public transportation right to campus, getting to class is simple and no one’s fighting over who’s driving.
Ready to upgrade your college living situation?
Come see why so many UMass students are choosing Cliffside.
