How to Make College Move-In Day Easy
College move-in day is full of a mix of emotions for many first-year students. There’s the excitement of finally getting to be on campus, meeting new people, and starting your college experience, but there’s also a ton of stress about those things too.
With the right preparation, you don’t have to be anxious about moving into your dorm. For a quick and efficient move-in, there will be students waiting outside your residence hall to help you unpack! Here are some things you can do to make sure you’re ready by your move-in date.
Know what you need
Do some research on what you might want in your dorm and work out with your roommate to figure out who is bringing which items. See Bluffton’s full list of suggestions here, as well as a list of what NOT to bring that you can avoid buying.
Don't Wait to Pack
So many things get forgotten when you rush to pack the day before or even the day of moving in! A few things like toiletries have to wait until the last minute, but as you start collecting things for college over the summer, start putting them in boxes. Keep a list of what you already have packed, and it will make moving day so much easier!
Pack strategically
Think about whatever you want in your room first (things like fans, extension cords, rugs and cleaning supplies). When you pack, load these into your car last so that they are easily reachable. Things that DON’T have to unpack right away are clothes, books, etc, and these can be in a different box deeper in your vehicle. It might also help to leave a few boxes out in the hall that way you have room to unpack inside your dorm.
Dress Apporopriately
You might not think about it, but moving day is HOT! You’re climbing stairs, unloading your car and entering a room that doesn’t have your fan or AC unit set up yet. Don’t worry about looking your best but instead bring extra clothes to change into so you’re ready to freshen up once you’re done before you get to know your classmates.
Arrive at the right time
Each residence hall has specific times for when incoming students move in. Make sure you get there within the time frame and work out with your roommate when you’ll be there. Try not to move in at the exact same time as your roommate. When both families are in the room and trying to unpack their stuff, it not only gets super crowded but super hot as well.
Be Pateint with your family and others
Everyone is facing a variety of emotions on move-in day, and the heat doesn’t help. Remember to be gracious with your family. Even if they put something in the “wrong” place, you can always fix it later! You’re also not going to be the only student trying to unpack. Be patient as others unload their belongings and offer to hold the door as you walk by.