Managing the Mayhem of Move-In
The big day is almost here! Moving into college is often exciting for students, but packing and getting everything that you need can also often feel very overwhelming and stressful. The good news is you don’t have to face the craziness of move-in alone and feeling unprepared. Here are some tips that students may find helpful when they’re preparing for the big move ahead.
Know the Day-of Details
Most schools usually have designated days and procedures for move-in, especially for incoming freshmen. Make sure you gather and review any packets or emails with important materials and information before move-in day so that you can plan and be prepared. Look for information such as:
- Specific move-in dates and times
- Where to pick up your room keys
- Parking details
- People/resources available
- Campus maps
Make a list
It may be helpful to make a list of the different items that you need to bring while you’re packing and preparing everything to move in. Many schools offer helpful lists of college and dorm necessities that are specific to the housing options that they offer, and there are also plenty of blogs and websites that have lists of recommended dorm must-haves. Don’t forget to include commonly forgotten items, such as cleaning supplies, toilet paper, towels, and shower curtains.
On a similar note, most residence halls also have restrictions concerning items that students are not allowed to have in their dorms for legal and/or fire safety purposes. These restrictions vary between schools, and ignoring these restrictions may result in academic or financial consequences. Before you pack, be sure to look through your move-in materials or on your school’s website and review the prohibited items listed by Residence Life.
Reach Out to Your Roommate
If you’re assigned to a room with someone you don’t know, see if there’s any contact information listed for your new roommate. Reaching out ahead of time will allow you to get to know the person you’ll be living with, but it’ll also give each of you a chance to coordinate with one another about things like color schemes and what everyone is bringing to the room. This may be an opportunity to split costs for shared items like cleaning supplies and avoid duplicates of items that take up a lot of space, like refrigerators. It may also be a good idea to coordinate moving times, if possible, to avoid having too many people moving things into your room at once.
The Bottom Line
There’s a lot of planning and preparation that goes along with moving into college. Every school has its own specific move-in instructions and procedures, making the transition less hectic and stressful. There are things that students could do to help them feel confident and prepared, such as reviewing move-in materials, listing everything they need, and speaking with their new roommate ahead of time. Taking these precautions could help quiet the chaos and allow students to fully enjoy this exciting first day of their new chapter.
