With finals on the horizon and less than a month left in the semester, roommate tensions are at an all time high.

If you live alone, or happen to absolutely love your roommate, then ignore this message and continue your "study break" on facebook.com.

But if you don't, as I'm sure a majority of students will agree, you are most likely debating between shooting yourself and shooting him or her. Your roommate has eaten your food, stolen your beverages, wasted your batteries and probably broken something that you won't discover until after you've moved out.

Needless to say, after co-existing in a 12-by-15 hovel for nine months, you'd now rather face solitary confinement in a POW camp than return home to the same Kelly Clarkson racket on repeat. At least in the "cooler" you'd get some work done.

Naturally, not everyone's roommate concerns are the same. There are many types of living situations, which are mainly centered on the unique types of roommates. I will outline those that I have firsthand experience in observing.

First, there's the Bermuda Triangle roommate, whose repeated disappearing acts keep you consistently guessing where the hell they've been for the past four days. They eventually show up out of nowhere, usually at the most inopportune moments. Not one of the worst moments, though, which is good news for you, since you mostly have the room to yourself.

Or perhaps your dorm partner falls under the class of the Oscar Madison roommate. Categorized by mountains of dirty laundry, strange smells and an aversion to vacuuming, the Oscar laughs at the subtle (wow, our room's getting pretty messy isn't it?) and not so subtle (take a shower for once, you dirty freak) hints that you're absolutely disgusted. Also, the biosphere of old lettuce and cheese growing under his or her desk chair is no consolation prize.

A third category includes the Nocturnal roommate. As you wake up groggily for your 8 a.m. class, you spy the Nocturnal roommate just climbing into bed. Although this can get annoying if your roomie enjoys loud music and crunchy chips, conflict can be avoided through the use of headphones and book lamps. God help you if you are his or her counterpart, the Morning Person.

Then you have the Virtual roomie, who exists more online than in real life. You are more likely to get an instant message from them then a hello, even when you're both sitting at your desks three feet away from each other.

The most interesting type, and the most prevalent in the dormitories, is the Van Wilder roommate, otherwise known as a freshman (OK, maybe just some freshmen).

From cheap handles of liquor to dozens of friends, this type never fails to bring the party home, especially on the eve of your accounting exam. Just like that Party Roommate of yours to pour salt into all of your wounds.

Many other conventional roommate variations have the potential to irritate more than a dorm fire drill, like the Punk'd-Wannabe, who insists that ingenious dorm pranks involving cellophane and beer cans are hilarious, or the Hermit, whose title is self-explanatory. Some individuals fit these stereotypes, some may share the qualities of others, but there is one thing they all have in common -- they always forget to refill the Brita.

So, there you have it. If your roommate happens to fall under any one of these categories, sorry, I can't help you -- my roommate is as cool as beans.

But there are alternatives to prevent dorm room stress these last few weeks. Outside factors like school, relationships and lack of meal points often contribute to living tensions. If you need to study or just want some time alone, the library or study lounges are your best bets. If you're having academic troubles, ask him or her to help quiz you on exams or look over a paper or two. And if you're both hungry, split an order of Pokey Stix or wings.

Your roommates may piss you off, but when exams are all over, they are going to be first in line with you to start the celebration. The worse it was, the better it's going to be. So in the meantime, stick together. With your forces combined, you and your roommate might not save the planet, but at least you can survive the semester.