Tips for a Hassle-free College Dorm Move-in Day

For Freshmen and other Students!

Congrats freshmen, college year is about to begin! Your mind must be filled with a peculiar mixture of excitement and nervousness. Whether you are a freshman or about to start your senior year, you all must be having the same stressful feelings about the first day of college. Well, let me tell you that there is no need to add-on another layer of stress in the form of moving day anxieties as well. This blog will help you to be at ease through some tips for a hassle-free college dorm move-in day.

Follow these tips which will help you to turn your move-in day into a pleasantly memorable experience for you and your family.  

Top 7 Preparation Tips for your Moving-in Day

1. Go through your college’s dormitory guidelines

You might have already gone through your university’s rules and regulations regarding semester structure and class timings. Before even starting making preparations for your move-in, you need to pay attention to the guidelines of your college dorm/ hostel as well. It will save you from a lot of trouble since you will be spending a lot of time there. Go through your college’s housing life guidelines. You will be duly noted about the important details of your draft such as:

• How to find directions

• What official requisites to bring on the day of admission

• Where to check yourself in

• How to make registration

• Who to contact for assistance

• Parking privileges

• All the needed paper work, etc.

You need to double-check on all the mentioned details and requirements before moving-in. The best way to make sure that you are well informed is visiting your college website and checking out the dorm guidelines. Doing so will also make you aware of any future possibility of changes in your lodging such as date of arrival or changing of allotted room. It will save you from a lot of hassle.

2. Pack only the things you won’t have in college dorm

If you abide by the first tip then this will be easier for you since you will sort of know about what you have to bring along. Get a list of essential items and cross check them with your hostel’s list of amenities. For the sake of avoiding any over packing, do strategic packing.

Usually every college provide the following items in their dorms:

• A bed with a mattress

• Study table and chair or a study desk

• Dress cabinet with/without hangers

• Bookshelf

• Common room and pantry are equipped with a refrigerator, water filters, microwave and toasters.

Things you should pack if they are not included in your dorm list:

• Bed-sheets, pillow and a blanket

• Curtains or sun shade to block too much sunlight

• Bathroom essentials

• Towels, laundry items, cleaning supplies

• Door mat, dustbin

• Water bottles, coffee mugs

• Homemade snacks (for allowing yourself to settle-in gradually)

Excluding these essentials, if you have packed more, leave them out. You don’t need to bring all your clothes or belongings on the very first day of moving. It is better to check out the room first and asses the living space. Otherwise sending extra luggage back will be nothing more than a headache for your parents. It is also wise to pack clothes as per the current season. No need to pack winter and summer wear all at once. You will be visiting your home every now and then. Save some exercise for later.

Speaking of homes, students need to grasp this fact that hostels are not their homes. Hence, no need to turn it into one by packing it with too much stuff. I don’t think you need a huge dresser or television set in your hostel room. That is plain outrageous!

3. Ask for a helping hand

Your family will most likely to be with you all the way to your dorm but for making preparations before the move, it is best to take a friend’s help for the packing. Most practical reason for that is, your parents will definitely make you choose between your favourite items to take with you! You know you do need those extra pair of slippers!

Moreover, sending their kid away is already heavy on them, it would be best to not over-burden them with your packing duties as well.

I would advice from personal experience to convince a friend to come along with your parents. If your college is generous enough to send help for your heavy boxes of essentials to be settled in your room, then there is no problem. Otherwise, as in 99% cases you should lift your luggage with the help of your friend. Keep parents out of any heavy lifting for god’s sake!

This tip is more applicable for those independent students who arrive at their dorm all by themselves. Take more friends in such case that will provide an extra set of helping hands. You know you need help to assemble and settle everything up.

4. Choose a proper attire

I have seen students arriving in clothing very inappropriate for their move-in day. Boys with slippery flip-flops and girls with high heels are extremely wrong combinations for the moving day. This isn’t your first day of college where you need to impress everyone with your fashion sense. Opt for comfy cloths and good shoes that will allow unrestricted and safe movements.

5. Be punctual and arrive on time

This one is also for your own sake. It so happens that mostly the timings of move-in days happen around summer or late September. Moving at hot hours or rainy-humid conditions is quite uncomfortable and hectic. Moreover the timing you picked might coincide with the other members of your dorm and end up in a messy, crowded move-in. Not a very good way to get introduced to your future dorm mates.

Rather than leaving home at dawn or odd hours for the sake of arriving at your dorm around the peak hours, make pre-calculations about the journey and destination timing. For example, if it takes 2-3 hours, try to leave around 6-7 a.m. Check the weather conditions and set your moving time accordingly. Moving takes a heavy toll on your mental state if not done under favourable conditions. It’s often wise to arrive at early hours for less crowd and hassle. You will get the closest parking space, less walking distance from car to your room, fewer crowds to deal with and the best spot in the room, if you’re the first one to arrive.

6. Analyze your room and prep it for your belongings

Once you arrive at your dorm, get proper details about the location of your room. If it is nearby, you can go at once with all your belongings. If you are told that it is on the other side of the block or on the top floor, it is best to go and take a quick look first.

After you have arrived in your room, make a quick scan of the place before bringing in your stuff. You might find the real conditions of the place to be a little different than those mentioned in the college’s website. If you are lucky, you will find everything as per your expectations, in other case it would be up to you to make the room properly adjusted as per your choice. For example, bed and desk arrangements, cleanliness of the area, dusting of cabinets, etc.

Although all dorms are cleaned after exit of the former occupant, you should still at least disinfect the place before bringing-in your belongings. There is no need to go all the way and spend an entire hour in cleaning. Just clean enough to get adjusted properly. If you find some trash still lying your room, inform your dorm warden and get it done. They can’t deny that in presence of your parents so this is the perfect opportunity. In case your warden is unavailable (since you arrived too early or unexpectedly) bring a garbage bag with you and discard all the trash items. Take a note of all the possibilities you can meet with on your moving day.

7. Socialize with your roommate/ roommates

Trust me; making friends on the very first day of your arrival goes a long way. Being friendly with everyone is the first trait you should exhibit. It can earn you help for your moving too. If you are the first one to arrive in your room, make sure not to hog the entire space. Sure you should save the best spot for yourself but leave some for your roommate as well. Your semester would be a lot less stressful if you get along with your roommate. If your roommate is already there, make your acquaintance and take your time to have a friendly conversation. Introduce your parents to your roommate, make jokes, etc. If your roommate has done quite the opposite of what you would have done in his/her shoes, making friends with them is the great way to change that. It is important to gain a mutual understanding between you two. The same thing applies on your hall mates or more than one roommate.  

In summary  

I admit, move-in day is full of excitement as well as stressful. To keep your move-in worries at bay, follow these tips that I have mentioned in this blog. Being well prepared is an important step towards a pleasant hostel-life.

All the very best for your first day of college!