How To Prepare For College Move-In Day
I remember my college move-in day as if it happened yesterday. My emotions ran from super excited to overwhelmed and nervous. Although moving into college may seem like a piece of cake, it’s important to stay organized to avoid chaos and unwanted stress. Here are tips on how to prepare for college move-in day.
Shopping Spree
Before college move-in day, you’re going to have to make a couple of trips to the store. In addition to shopping for room decor, you’re going to want to purchase snacks and necessities. Usually, the first couple of days are so slam packed with activities, that you’ll want to have access to quick meals or foods you can eat during downtime. In addition to snacks, you’ll want to buy essentials like a shower caddy, makeup wipes, aspirin, batteries, command hooks, and more. Leading up to my college move-in day, I made a list of every product I may need, ranging from beauty to hygiene and miscellaneous. If I thought I would need something for my dorm or an everyday routine, I made sure to put it on my list to pick up before the big day. Depending on where your college or university is located, you might not have access to a store like Target. If this is the case, it’s important you pack whatever you may need for the first couple of months. By doing this, you’ll be prepared for college move-in day rather than having to make last minute trips.
Organize Bins
As mentioned before, college move-in day can be a bit hectic. There are thousands of people parked across campus all trying to move furniture, boxes, bins, and more. In order to stay as organized as possible, be sure to label your bins and boxes accordingly. For instance, if you have a bin filled with winter clothes, label the bin “winter clothes.” Not only are you able to keep track of what you have packed, but you can decide what goes where. If you have a bin full of clothes or products that you’ll need for the first week, you’ll want to put it in a visible area of the room. If you have a bin full of clothes or products that you’ll need to access in the future, slide it under the bed or put it in a spot where you’ll remember it. By staying organized for college move-in day, you’ll be able to move everything efficiently and accordingly.
Saying Goodbye
While going away to college is very exciting, you won’t want to forget to say your goodbyes to the family and friends you’re leaving behind. Whether you choose to say goodbye the morning off or the week prior, be sure to spend time with those people. Although some people might not struggle with homesickness, others may find this big change to be nerve-wracking. Due to this, it’s important to say goodbye to the people who you may not see for months. Luckily for our generation, we can FaceTime and connect with people in a matter of seconds. Even then so, saying goodbye to someone in person can feel more comforting.
Keeping A-List
Keeping a list was one of the best decisions I made for college move-in day. In addition to labelling your boxes and bins, make a list of each bin, furniture, and other miscellaneous items you plan on bringing. Once everything is in the car, take a quick inventory and make sure you have everything you need. It would suck to have to go back and grab something or even wait a week for what you need to come in the mail. Staying organized is the key to a swift and smooth move-in day.
Help Moving In
Finding people to help you with college move-in day is essential. In addition to yourself, you’ll want at least two other people. Most colleges and universities will hire RAs and other staff to help students move-in. However, with so many people trying to move in at the same time, it can be hard to find someone who isn’t already helping another student. For my college move-in day, I received help from both family and friends. With their help, I was able to move all of my stuff within an hour. Before I knew it, I was saying my goodbyes and catching up with my roommate. If you want your move-in to go quickly and productively, be sure to have some help on college move-in day.
