As you can probably imagine this day is going to be stressful for not only yourself and your peers, but your families as well. The emotions will be reeling from excited to nervous and happy to sad. Coming from someone who has already been through this process, I’m hoping to give you a few helpful hints to make this process as smooth as possible for everyone involved.

1. Don’t forget to say your goodbyes.

Even if you don’t feel it necessary to say goodbye to your friends and extended family at home, many of them want to get the chance to wish you luck and see you off before you embark on this new journey, so make sure to stop by before you go.

2. Arrive early.

In case you weren’t aware, move-in day is crazy busy and everyone is trying to get their own kid settled in. The lines will be long to get into campus and to the residence hall, so try to arrive as early as possible. Also, the set-up of the room is usually on a first come-first serve basis so if you want to be able choose which side and so on, it’s better to get there ahead of time!

3. Remain patient.

As the last tip mentioned, the lines will be long, the dorms will be crazy, and the hallways will be packed. The elevators will probably have wait times and the stairs aren’t always the most convenient for moving mini fridges and big items. However, it is important to remain patient and understand that everyone is going through the same process.

4. Try to stay level headed.

Regardless of all the emotions flying through everyone’s minds, try your best to keep your head on right and remind yourself that this is a new journey in your life; a brand new chapter in your book that has yet to be opened.

5. Bring some basic tools.

There is no need to bring your own handyman, unless of course they’re already coming; however, a couple screwdrivers, hammer, nails, and maybe a wrench are usually necessary for quick assembly of things.

6. Inspect the room before you unpack.

This is not your bedroom at home and you will be responsible for any damage that occurs within it. Be sure to inspect the room and make your RA aware of any issues prior to unpacking all your stuff so you aren’t held accountable for it at the end of the year.

7. You can never have enough command strips!

The invention of command hooks and strips has changed college dorms for the better, so stock up and be sure to use them as much as possible!

8. Have fun!

As much as this process can be wearing and stressful, there will never be another freshman move in day for you, so enjoy the excitement that comes along with it and be grateful that you have the opportunity!

9. Let your parents help with whatever they want.

This day isn’t only important and nerve-racking for you, but even more so your parents. This is the first time they are moving you out of their house and they will not have constant watch on you. They cannot be physically there to protect you from everything every day. So as you begin to unpack and settle in, let your mom make your bed, let your dad assemble the new things, they want to do it and it will make their day that they get to be a part of it.

10. Never forget where you came from.

Whether you are attending college 15 miles from home or halfway across the country, there is one place you will always call home and never forget about that. The place you were raised, the people who helped, and the experiences that led you here are all to thank for where you’re at now. Don’t lose sight of where you’re going, but never forget where you came from.

I wish you all the best of luck! These next four years will be the best of your life! I hope these ten little hints are helpful during the beginning of your new journey!