Anyone who has had to move into a dorm at some point knows how stressful and hectic move-in day can be. There are hundreds of incoming freshman trying to get as much into their dorm rooms as they can. Then all of those incoming freshman have parents and friends helping them which only adds to the amount of people pouring into the dormitory buildings. Being a sophomore at St. Cloud State means that I've been through the whole move in process recently. I wasn't quite sure what to expect when I arrived on campus with my family and a truckload of things. If you are new to SCSU, this article is for you.

Here are five things to help your move-in day at SCSU run smoothly and stress free.

1. Let the Husky Haulers help you

They are here to make things easier for you so take advantage of the opportunity. Not only will they help haul your belongings up, they will help you locate your dorm room. Don't feel like you're being a bother by having them carry up your stuff. With the help of my parents and three husky haulers I was able to get all of my things up to my dorm room in one trip, and trust me I had quite a few things.

2. Get there before your designated time

Each dorm building is assigned a move-in time and this is done for efficiency. Although you have a designated time it's still better to get there earlier rather than later. This will assure you a spot in the not-so-large parking lots, prevent you from having to wait in a long line of cars, and it will also be less crowded in the dorm building if you get there before the mass of people show up.

3. Be prepared before you arrive

Don't wait until the night before to pack, this will stress you out even more than you already are. Your suitcases should be filled with your clothing a few days in advance and I would even recommend loading up your car the night before. Remove tags and packaging from the items you must have before packing them up. This will reduce the amount of garbage you have to throw out while you're moving in. Wheeled suitcases and large reusable shopping bags are the best way to haul your belongings. They are easy to put in a car and also easy to carry up to your dorm room.

4. Essentials to bring along

If you're bringing a television or a futon, you may need some tools to get everything set up; even if you don't use the tools it's still nice to have them. Bring a pair of scissors; these will come in handy if you need to open boxes. Trash bags are nice to have just in case you have anything that needs to be thrown away. Finally, bring lots and lots of command strips and command hooks. You will use many of these throughout your freshman year and it's always nice to have some on hand.

5. Be kind to your parents

Although it may be embarrassing to have your parents helping you as you are starting this new chapter in your life, keep in mind that they are starting a new chapter in their lives as well. So if your mom wants to make your bed and fold all your clothes, you should let her. If your dad is making lame jokes to your new roommate, you should let him because this transition in your life is harder for them than it is for you.

Well, there you have it; five tips to help you survive the St. Cloud State move-in day. Good Luck!