College move-in day is long awaited by many students who are eager to get on campus and begin a new chapter of their lives. For me, the thought of this day caused a lot of stress because I am a big planner. Before I moved into my dorm, I had already searched the internet for pictures of what my room would look like. I wanted to plan out exactly how I wanted my things to be arranged and to figure out how much I would be able to bring. This was a bit excessive, but I was just really excited and nervous. Here are some tips I wish I would’ve had to make my move-in process less stressful.
Get there as early as possible.
The earlier you get on campus and to your dorm, the better. There will be a lot less people moving in at the same time which makes for a less stressful experience. This also gives you more time to get situated and to purchase any important items you may have forgotten.
Coordinate with your roommate.
College dorm rooms are tiny and you do not want to be moving in at the same time as your roommate, so it’s important to communicate what time you both will be arriving. Chances are it will be hot, and there will be lots of bodies, and not a lot of space.
You should also coordinate with your roommate far in advance to decide whos bringing what so you don’t end up with two microwave or two TVs.
Have personal identification ready to go.
The two most important items that you should carry on you are your student ID and a driver’s license/some other form of identification. You will most likely need to be able to easily access these items to check in on move in day. You don’t want to have to search through all of your belongings just to get the key to your room.
Clean your new space.
This room has probably been vacant for months and it has collected lots of dust and who knows what else. Before you start unpacking your things and settling in, it is a good idea to wipe down any furniture and swiffer the floors.
Wait to buy larger items until you get on-campus.
Items like your microwave, fridge, and futon are bulky items that are going to take up a lot of space in your car. Utilize in-store pickup services to order these larger items, then pick them up at location closer to your college campus.
Related: The Ultimate College Packing List
Bring your clothing on hangers.
I found this moving hack on Pinterest a while back and it has been a lifesaver ever since. Rather than folding all of your clothes from your closet and packing them away into a suitcase, follow these easy steps.
Simply grab a section of clothes out of your closet, pull a trash bag over the clothing, then place the ties around the top of the hangers like so:
This tip will save you time and energy because rather than folding and unfolding all of your clothes, you can easily slip them into a trash bag, lay them into your car, and place them right into your new closet.
You will end up with a few hangers broken hangers so be sure to pack extras.
Use storage containers.
Make use of storage containers when transporting your items from the store or your home to your college dorm. These containers can easily be kept in your closet or under your bed throughout the school year. Then at the end of the year, you can pull them out again to pack up your belongings.
Take the stairs.
If you are lucky enough to have a dorm with elevators, then it is likely that everyone and their mother (literally), will be waiting in line to use it. You will be able to move in much faster if you skip the line and just take the stairs. You may have to take more trips, but it will be a great workout.
Wear comfy clothes.
This one is pretty straightforward. It is best if you wear something that you can easily move around in, and that you don’t care about getting sweaty and dirty.
Leave your door open.
Finally, my last tip is to leave your door open while you move in, and even for the first few days or weeks on campus. This is the best way to start meeting your hallmates. Everyone is looking to make friends and meet new people at the beginning of the year, and
These simple tips will make moving into your college dorm a smooth process. Comment below with any other move-in day tips that you have! 🙂
