How To Make It Through Move-In Day Madness

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For everyone out there who is getting ready to move in to dorms and start college, here’s a few tips and tricks you’ll need to make it through the madness of Move-In Day:

1.     GET THE RIGHT STUFF.

This may seem like an obvious one, but while you’re packing for the big day, you’ll need to have all the right supplies.

First and foremost, make sure you get LOTS of tape! If you’ve never moved before, you will be so amazed at how quickly tape just vanishes off the roll. If you have a lot of things you’re wanting to pack up and take with you, it might be beneficial to buy a pack of at least two or three rolls of packing tape. You will most definitely need it.

Another must-have in packing for Move-In Day are Sharpies and boxes. If you aren’t wanting to go and spend the cash you’ll need in college on boxes you probably will just throw away, there are a few ways to cut down the price for useless cardboard boxes.

The easiest thing to do is ask around or just put a post on Facebook or Twitter asking if anyone has any extra boxes. It would surprise you how many people have cardboard boxes collecting dust in closets or something. Secondly, many grocery stores have weekly shipments and have a TON of extra boxes from those shipments lying around in the storehouse or outside in the back. If you ask one of the employees, they are usually more than eager to let you take some boxes off their hands.

Finally, if you’re going to go buy boxes, just buy a few storage totes instead. That way, they’re more durable, you’ll save a bundle on tape, and you can reuse them for storage long after Move-In Day.

2.     HOW MUCH IS TOO MUCH?

As you pack, all that “really important stuff” that you just HAD to bring with you won’t seem like much. However, when you’re on your third trip up that set of stairs trying to get all your things into the dorm, it’s going to seem like a lot more than it did when you threw it all into boxes.

So, even though you are going to want to pack all the necessities, keep in mind that you are also going to have to move all that stuff yourself. If you aren’t willing to do the work it takes to get it in your room, don’t pack it.

One way to make sure you have just what you need is to keep a list posted somewhere where you’ll be able to keep track of it. As you use things around the house, write it down on the list as a reminder that you’re going to need to bring that thing with you on Move-In Day.

This ensures you’ll have everything you truly need in your dorm, but it’ll encourage you to leave home the giant pink teddy bear that’s been collecting dust in your bedroom corner longer than you can remember.

3.     COLOR CODE YOUR BOXES.

This isn’t a total necessity when moving, but this simple tip sure makes unpacking a heck of a lot easier! As you pack all your stuff, next to the label saying what is inside each box, draw a colored dot on the top or side of your box.

One color will represent the things that you will need to unpack immediately so that it is ready for use the next day and the other color will represent the things that can wait to be unpacked. When you actually get to unpacking, it isn’t likely that you’ll want to unpack everything right away. This way, you know what needs to be unpacked first and what you can save for another day when you have enough time.

4.     I’M ALL MOVED IN; NOW WHAT?

Once you have everything unpacked and you send your family back home, what’s next? School probably doesn’t start for a few days at least and you don’t want to just sit in your dorm and stare at the wall for a week or so, so what do you do?

Most importantly, PUT YOURSELF OUT THERE! As soon as possible, get out and get involved in something. Especially if you don’t know anyone living in the dorms, it’s terrifying being in a new environment all alone. So, once you get a chance, meet some people. Introduce yourself to your roommates, go talk to people in the dining hall, check out some clubs or sports.

There are so many ways to get to know the people around you on campus and chances are that there are a bunch of freshmen and transfer students that need a friend, too! The quicker you meet people and find something on campus you love, the easier it is to transition into college life (Double points if your new friends have a car and don’t mind taking you places).

Once you’ve met some people and are ready to begin your college journey, get to know your surroundings. Whether you hop in your car and explore the city around your campus or just find some of the hot spots on campus, it’s important to know what resources are available to you.

If you can get an upperclassman to give you a tour of the campus or even just point out some of the important places that you’ll need to go, that’s great! If not, explore the campus yourself. Find out where your classes are and check out some potentially cool hangout places.

So, those are just a few of the crucial points and most helpful tips I received when I first moved into the college dorms. I hope they can be of use to you as you make this huge transition from home to the dorms. Good luck and have a fantastic year!