Moving into your college dorm room can be a stressful experience. Taking the time to prepare properly can make the move go more smoothly. Here are some tips to de-stress the move.
Do Some Research Ahead of Time
Most colleges have a housing website that can give you a floor plan and other valuable information about your dorm room. Before you start packing, try to find as much information about what is included in the room as possible. Is there a refrigerator in the room? Are microwaves allowed? What size are the beds? Do you need to bring a shower curtain? Are the beds lofted? If you know someone who has lived in that dorm, talk to them about ideas that worked especially well for their room. Also, be sure to coordinate with your roommate so you don’t double up on things. There is no sense spending money on items that either aren’t necessary or aren’t allowed.
Timing is Everything
Most schools will open their dorms several days before classes begin. Try to avoid arriving at the busiest times, which are typically the first day that the dorms open and the weekend before classes start. If possible, shoot for moving in on a weekday somewhere in the middle of the week to avoid the crowds. Allow some time after moving in and unpacking for a trip to the local home goods store for missing or forgotten items.
Organize
Try to make your move-in as efficient as possible with the least number of trips. Use large plastic bins and hard sided boxes to make things easier to stack. Avoid having loose items. This will also protect your things if it is a rainy day. Bring your own hand truck or moving cart if you have one. If not, see if your school rents them and if they can be reserved ahead of time. Consolidating items into bins and stacking them onto a hand cart will minimize the number of trips you make. It will also minimize strain on your back.
The More the Merrier
Ideally, moving into a college dorm is at least a three person job. There is often limited or no parking close to the dorm door. If you can, pull up as close to the dorm door as possible and unload the car. One person can move the car and park it somewhere safe, one person can go inside to get the key and sign in, and the third person can stay with your stuff. Once the car is parked, you have two people to move things to the room and one person to guard your things if it requires more than one trip. Obviously, the more people you have to help, the quicker you can get it done.
A relaxed move-in experience is a great way to start to your year. The above tips will help smooth your move-in and your transition to college life. The sooner you can get settled, the sooner your dorm room will start to feel like home.
