What to Expect on College Move-In Day and How to Prepare
College move-in day is an exciting and emotional moment. For many, it’s the first time away from home as college students begin a new chapter with new people.
US News recently offered a few tips on how to make your move-in day as stress-free as possible, and how you can start preparing for the big day now.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Move-in day logistics will vary from school to school, but typically follow a similar schedule of events, such as check-in, key registration, and welcome events.
“There is usually some kind of hall meeting with the resident assistant, icebreakers and oftentimes welcome activities that students are able to go to and attend with the student leadership on their floor in their building to get acquainted with the university, their roommates and their hallmates and start building a sense of community,” Christine Reed Davis, associate vice chancellor for student affairs and dean of students at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, tells US News.
HOW TO PREP
Much of the move-in day stress comes from not being prepared. It can be helpful to start prioritizing what you need to bring and what you can leave behind.
“Certainly if you are moving across the country, then you do need clothes for all four seasons,” Reed Davis says. “But if you are more local, you don’t need to pack up the entire dresser drawer. You can take seasonal kind of clothes back and forth to home.”
Additionally, you’ll want to set a clearly defined budget—especially if you’re getting financial help from your parents.
“Be clear about what happens if there is miscommunication (about what constitutes an emergency) or if the money runs out before the month does, how that is all going to work,” Carol Binzer, director of administrative and support services for residence life at Texas A&M University, says.
For many students, college will be their first time living with a stranger. Clear communication about your schedule and boundaries can help mitigate any potential problems down the road.
“Get a feel for how they live and work on a day-to-day basis to make sure that you are compatible,” Crystal Cusimano-Figueroa, assistant dean of orientation and new student programs at the University of Rochester in New York, says. “And if not, you can always work out a compromise to make sure that you are comfortable and everything is fine your first year. Obviously sometimes that doesn’t work out and we have a whole process with our resident advisers where students can work through things if they potentially need a room change. But we try to mitigate that early with these types of conversations ahead of time.”
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