Just a few more weeks left until move-in day is here -- so what better way to prepare than to share a list of some of the Dos and Don'ts I've learned from my first move-in day? Take advantage of these tips, whether you're a first-year student or a seasoned senior -- you'll be glad you did!
1. DON'T wait until the night before to finish packing.
You're going to want to use that time to get some good rest, because the day ahead of you will surely be never-ending and exhausting.
2. DO try to coordinate with your roommate in terms of who is arriving when.
Trust me, you don't want to both be unpacking all of your stuff at the same time -- it'll just be utter chaos. It's better to leave a two or three hour gap in between your arrivals. Have someone show up earlier in the morning and unpack, and then that person can go out to lunch with their parents or go explore the campus while you show up with your family and get your stuff done. Which leads us to...
3. DON'T bring your whole posse.
Everyone's going to want to come to see you off before you start your great big college adventure, especially if it's your first year. But I recommend narrowing it down to just your parents, and maybe one extra helping hand if you really need it -- because not only is your room going to be really small and cluttered, but it's impossible to get anything done when a million people are asking you questions. So sorry, Grandma, but it looks like you're just going to have to be sent pictures of the decorated dorm, because there's no more room in the car.
4. DO pack a little bag that will be on your person when the day comes.
Pretty much everything you own is going to be packed up and buried in boxes upon boxes upon boxes when you get to school, and it's definitely going to take you a little while to sort through everything and find what you need. So for my move-in day, I packed my essentials (my phone, charger, a brush, my laptop, some tools for my dad to assemble my room stuff, and my wallet) in a backpack that I carried with me when I got there. While I was unpacking, it was a lot easier to just reach into that bag to find the things I immediately needed instead of digging through seven boxes to find a screwdriver.
5. DON'T forget to bring tools.
Going off of my previous point, my dad actually brought a handful of tools with him when we moved me into school -- just a few screwdrivers, hammers, sticky putty, a leveler, and of course, Command hooks and velcros. All of those items were super helpful when we were hanging up posters on my wall and putting together my shoe rack!
6. DO bring some sort of speaker with you (preferably in the previously mentioned backpack).
It's just so much more relaxing to have some light, casual music playing in the background while we unpacked and sorted through my clothes and such with my parents. Move-in day is really stressful (and emotional) on everybody, so take whatever measures you have to so you can lighten the mood and make sure it remains a happy day.
7. DON'T unpack everything at once.
When my parents moved me into my room, we stuck to unpacking and assembling everything that I needed their help for -- my racks, my fridge, my picture frames and posters, etc. Stuff that was easy enough to do on my own (such as unpacking all of my clothes and putting my school supplies in my desk) was saved for later that night after my parents left. It shortens your workload when you first get there, helps you get out of your room faster so it can be your roommate's turn to unpack, and it also is a great way to take your mind off of missing your family during your first night away from home.
8. DO take a lunch break.
Moving everything you need to live for nine months on your own into a room the size of a shoe box is a lot of work. Make sure to make it easier on yourselves by stopping for lunch and taking a quick breather to freshen up and gather a little more energy before finishing up.
9. DON'T forget to go over your list one last time before you leave.
You will be missing something. Trust me -- you will always be missing something, even when you think you already checked and aren't missing anything. Do yourself a favor and glance over the list one more time.
10. DON'T necessarily bring everything.*
Hear me out here: for Fordham's move-in day last year, Bed, Bath & Beyond actually set up a pop-up store on campus to buy necessities. I recommend calling your school ahead of time to see if that's an option -- because instead of buying all of my power strips and mirror and shoe rack before I got to school, I was able to buy those items the day of at the little booth. Less to carry in the car = less clutter, and that's always what you should be aiming for! *But make sure you check with your school first to make sure a booth like that will be there!
11. DO bring your best attitude.
Listen. Whether this is your first year of college or your last, with move-in day always comes a little bit of homesickness and anxiety. Either you're moving into a dorm for the first time in your life, or you're a senior who just got really comfortable spending time at home for the past three months, you're going to feel a little shaken up. Just remember to smile and laugh and enjoy the crazy moments putting together your weird shoe rack with your dad. The day will go by so much smoother if you're not stressed.
Just a few more weeks of summer -- enjoy it, everybody!
