April 27th, 2021 | Updated on April 12th, 2023
The day of moving into a college dorm sets the mood for the whole year of studies. In this article, freshmen will find recommendations on how to organize the day.
The move-in date is a highly emotional day for all freshmen. Only with a few of them, it goes without a hitch. People tend to arrive either too late or too early, get too stressed, and leave important things behind.
The readers of this article will get to know how to move in quickly and arrange a comfortable college life from the onset.
1. Ask as Many Questions as Possible
Freshmen should investigate the official site of their college in advance to get to know important details. They should make a list of questions to ask people who will meet them upon arrival. These are just a few examples.
2. What is the schedule of the first day?
Do students need to move to another room at some point? If yes, when and why?
How can one access the dorm? Does everyone need to show their student ID? Or is it necessary to have the key too?
3. Where is the closest parking lot?
Some colleges start the check-in rather early — but their dorms open late in the morning. To avoid waiting, freshmen should get to know when exactly they will be allowed to move in.
4. Delegate Powers
Packing and moving takes a lot of time and effort. If freshmen need to do some other important tasks these days, they should entrust them to professionals. For instance, papers writers can write their essays and dry — cleaner staff will take care of their clothes and pillows.
5. Pack and Unpack Strategically
Those belongings that are first packed into the vehicle will be the last ones unpacked and vice versa. So bedding, towels, and cleaning supplies should be among the first items that one brings into the room.
When unpacking, it would be wise to zone out the room. For instance, one would put clothes on the bed, food-related objects on the table, and sports equipment on the floor. Such an approach saves time and facilitates the process of finding a permanent place for each group of belongings.
6. Dress Сomfortably
Freshmen should wear comfort tracksuits that would not limit their freedom of movement. To avoid blisters, they should opt for old sneakers.
Flip-flops or sandals might fall off too easily. Some dorms have elevators but others do not. And even if there is an elevator, it might be out of order.
Each year, some freshmen would neglect this valuable piece of advice. They would dress to impress — but in fact, they would look ridiculous. Their fellow students would remember them not as trendsetters but as funny weirdos.
7. Hang Clothes on Hangers
This precious lifehack consists in the following.
- At home, the freshman hangs their clothes on hangers.
- They put 7-10 items on hangers in a garbage bag.
- They tie the bag around the hangers.
- In their dorm room, they take off their bag and hang the items in the closet.
This saves a lot of time! Unfortunately, there is no identical lifehack for clothes that are folded and stored in a drawer.
8. Clean the Room Before Brining the Belongings There
Each freshman should bring cleaning supplies with them: wipes, spray for mirrors, disinfectant, and so on. It would be wise to clean literally everything: the carpet, the mattress, drawers, the shelves… There might be litter in the room, so it makes sense to have garbage bags at hand too.
9. Hammer and Nails Would Come in Handy As Well
Some furniture might need repair. If the freshman or their parents know how to handle this problem, they should bring tools with them. Otherwise, they might ask the administration for help -but in this case, they should be ready to wait.
10. Plan the Meals
It is essential to bring bottles of water and some snacks to the room. Some freshmen might prefer to go to a cafe nearby.
But the cafe might be too crowded, or they might have too little time. Besides, they might feel hungry at the least expected moment just because they are overwhelmed with emotions.
Later on, they will need to plan many other aspects of their lives in advance. College life is not too compatible with spontaneity.
Lack of a well-structured schedule and the inability to prioritize tasks inevitably tell on the freshman’s performance. A balanced nutrition plan will serve as the foundation for productive studies.
Also, freshmen should learn to sleep and rest properly. But this will be their goal after they settle down in the dorm.
11. Use In-Store Pick Up
Freshmen who live far away from their college do not need to bring all the things with them. They might order the necessary items in a chain store and pick them up in the shop that is located close to their dorm.
Thanks to this approach, they will not need to hire a large van. They can travel in a small fuel-efficient car with just a couple of suitcases. Mind that the space in the dorm room is limited!
12. Respect the Roommate’s Space
The person who arrives first might occupy the best bed, closet, and table. But it would be better if both flat mates discuss it and distribute the amenities fairly. They should respect each other’s schedule too.
For instance, one student might be busy until late in the evening and have time for homework only after dark. In this case, they should place their desk lamp so that it does not disturb the other person who is going to sleep.
And of course, they should avoid listening to music at that time! Plus, they might want to rely on professional help to reduce their workload.
Conclusion
Hopefully, these smart tips will help freshmen to plan their move-in day rationally and get rid of excessive stress. After reading this text, some people might get discouraged to move into a dorm because they cannot imagine sharing a room with someone.
In this case, they might consider getting an online degree. But in general, living in the dorm is fun — especially when freshmen know how to approach it from day one.
