College move in day can be stressful and overwhelming if it is something you have never done before, and even if you have done it, you can still find it to be stressful. Moving away is never easy, and it is a lot of work. As a sophomore in college, I noticed a few things to do and not to do when it comes to trying to move into a dorm.
1. DON'T wait until the night before you move to start packing
I started packing a few days before I left for school and even when I packed a week in advance I still managed to forget half of my stuff (my coffeemaker was the biggest one, sorry roomies, we have to live a few weeks without a coffee maker).
2. DO make a list
So this one relates to number one. If you make a list of things you need to pack, you will be less likely to forget things....like your coffee maker. I did not really make a list and it came back to bite me in the butt once I got to school. If you make a list, it will save you a trip back home.
3. DO coordinate with your roommates to see who is bringing what
I live in an apartment this year and my roommates and I made a spreadsheet at the beginning of the summer to see who was bringing what for the kitchen and what not. It saves a lot of time, money, and space when you put your heads together and share items rather than everyone brining their own.
4. DON'T bring everything you own
You may be tempted to bring your whole closet and all of the little things that you own in your room. But hear me when I say you won't have enough room. Dorms are not that big, so bring what is important to you, and leave the rest at home. I have one box of special cards, pictures, and items from friends and family under my bed and whenever I need a pick me up I take that box out.
5. DON'T try and unpack everything all at once
This one I can't emphasize enough. This year when I got to school, my mom and a friend helped unload my stuff from the car and then they left. I panicked because I realized it was up to me to unpack and sort through my millions of boxes. I started to unpack little by little, and then once my roommate arrived I took a break to talk to her and her family. It is important to not try and unpack everything in one sitting, mainly because you will probably go insane. Take a break. Listen to music. Talk to your friends.
6. DO have a positive attitude.
Move in day is stressful and it means that you are leaving home. No matter what year you are, being away from home can be hard at times. School gets hard, things get stressful, and the last thing you want is to be hours away from your family. But you must remember to enjoy every moment because next year it could all be different.