Incoming Freshmen, it's just about that time! Move-in day is around the corner and I know you're all eager to get out of the house and off on your own. What you may not be anticipating about move-in, however, is that it's a pain in the ass. Here are some tips to help make it go a little smoother:
1. Bring help, but not too much help!
I know you want to bring your whole family with you to send you off to school, but don't bring everybody on move-in day. There are 200+ people moving into your dorm building who have also brought their families, and it gets really crowded. Bring your parents and maybe one sibling to help you carry everything in and hang around to help you unpack - you can have dinner with the entire entourage later. And, on the other hand, if it's your first time moving in, definitely don't try to do it alone!
2. The elevator will be practically useless.
Like I said, there are 200+ students moving into your dorm building and there is a perpetual line for the elevator. Try and limit your elevator trips to just a few for your really heavy stuff and try carrying the rest up the stairs. It'll be brutal, but trust me - you'll get in a good workout and it'll probably take half of the time.
3. Bring less — you can always buy more later.
Don't bring 3 SUVs full of stuff to college, you don't need it. You're going to be unpleasantly surprised when you arrive on campus and open your dorm room door for the first time with a room the size of a matchbox. If you pack lighter and find that you forgot something, your parents can always ship it to you or you can take a trip to the store.
4. Don't try dressing cute.
Do not show up to move in day with a full face of makeup, perfectly styled hair, and an outfit to match. You are going to be making trips up and down the stairs, you are going to be sweaty, and you're going to be out of breath. Rather than having mascara and eyeliner running halfway down your face, maybe skip the makeup altogether and opt for a pair of shorts and a T-shirt.
SEE ALSO: Freshman Move-In Day Could Send You To The Emergency Room
5. Don't forget to eat.
Move-in day can be hectic, and with all of the running around that you're doing it's easy to forget to eat. Take a break once you've unloaded all of your stuff and gotten it to your room. Before you start unpacking, head to the dining hall or go out to lunch with your family. It'll give you a boost of energy and a little bit of a break from all of the craziness that's on campus.
6. You're going to meet about 200 people and retain maybe 3 names.
You meet so many people on move-in day. There's your roommate, your hall-mates, your RAs, your building-mates, and a ton of random people in between. There are so many names and faces that you won't possibly be able to remember them all, so don't get too overwhelmed by it all.
7. Keep your door open.
There are a few reasons for this. The first being that it is going to be so damn hot in your cramped room that you're going to suffocate if you don't keep your door open. The second, like I said before, move-in day is a great opportunity to meet new people and you want to be welcoming. Invite people from your hall in to check out your room and introduce yourself when people walk by!
8. Save time for a Target run.
There's going to be something that you forgot to bring and your parents will still be around with their credit cards — save time to go to Target!
9. Don't let your parents linger for too long.
I know that it's your first time moving out of your house and you're going to miss them dearly, but don't let your parents linger around for too long after you're all settled in. This is your college experience - go meet some new friends, hang out with your hall-mates, and have fun!
