10 Tips for Moving Into a College Dorm
Whether you’re moving to college for the first time or returning for another year, we know it can be an exciting yet stressful process. Fortunately, we’re here to help make the experience an easy one. Moving into a college dorm room often comes with a long list of packing to-dos. Not to mention, every college has its own rules and requirements regarding the move-in and move-out process. While much of the overall moving experience will be affected by your college’s moving policies, there are several things you can do to make the process run more smoothly. These 10 tips will help ensure that your college move starts off on the right foot. Best of luck and happy moving!
Helpful Tips When Moving to College
- Obtain a list of needs from the college and pack accordingly
Before the school year begins, colleges should provide all students who are moving into student housing with a checklist of necessary items to bring. In addition, the college should provide you with a list of items that are already in the dorm room to prevent you from over packing. For instance, dorm rooms typically come furnished with a bed, mattress, dresser, desk and chair. Oftentimes, a dorm room also comes furnished with a mini-fridge and bookshelf. The college should send around a list of specific items that you’ll need such as twin sheets (many dorm room beds require extra long twin sheets), laundry essentials, bathroom essentials and more. For a look at what to bring when moving into a college dorm room, check here. - Contact your roommate to discuss who will bring what
Haven’t met your future roomie? The college should provide you with the roommate’s contact information. You may want to reach out before the move to establish who is bringing what. Not only will this help lighten your load, but it will also make the moving experience easier overall. For instance, both of you do not need to bring kitchen supplies and utensils. Contacting your roommate before the move is also a good idea if you want to coordinate décor and furnishings. For instance, one of you brings a floor lamp while the other brings a set of curtains. - Read over the college’s Housing and Residence Life guidelines
Your college should provide you with plenty of details about how to move into your college dorm as well as what to expect on moving day. Important guidelines may include when and where to check in on move-in day, how to register, where to park, who to ask for assistance, etc. The college’s Housing and Residence Life guidelines may also provide you with a list of forms to bring and/or sign once you move in. - Bring a toolkit with you
From hanging curtains and assembling furniture to fixing loose screws and placing art on the walls, you’re going to need tools to help you fix and build things in your college dorm room. In addition to being absolutely essential on move-in day, this toolkit will prove handy throughout the entire school year. Make sure to purchase a small toolkit that fits easily under your bed. The toolkit should come outfitted with all basic tools as well as picture hanging hardware. - Dress appropriately
Move-in day is not the time for high heels and tight clothing. Trust us when we say that you will want to be comfortable when walking up and down multiple flights of stairs, lifting heavy boxes and assembling dorm room items. We recommend sticking with comfortable shoes (preferably sneakers), socks and lightweight clothing to avoid overheating. Dressing for an active move will not only increase your efficiency, but also your level of comfort throughout the day. - Have at least one family member or friend help with the move
Don’t move to college by yourself. We recommend bringing a friend or family member along for the ride. You’ll likely need help lifting heavy items and boxes up and down those college dorm stairs. Having an extra set of hands will also be useful when assembling furniture, unpacking your room and setting everything up. If a family member is unable to drive you to college, make sure to ask a friend well in advance so they can make arrangements to drop you off. - Utilize laundry baskets, bins and vacuum bags
Assembling and packing cardboard boxes takes time and effort – not to mention, you’ll likely have to purchase these boxes for one-time use. Instead of using boxes, we recommend first using storage options that you already own such as laundry baskets, vacuum bags and plastic bins. You likely won’t need to keep these bins and bags in your room throughout the school year – though they can also be used as storage, if you need it. - Ship what you can’t fit in your car
Remember: you don’t need to bring everything with you on day one of the move. Items such as TVs, extra pillows and books can wait. If you can’t fit everything in your car, we recommend shipping them to the college prior to your move. Items should arrive within the first few weeks. You may also want to hold off on shipping certain items, such as seasonal clothing, until the time comes when you actually need it. - Consider renting a storage unit for seasonal items
Moving far away from home? Unless you have a free place to store items nearby, it might be a good idea to rent a self-storage unit near the college. Self -storage units provide the perfect amount of storage space for dorm room and apartment-size belongings. These units also make it easy to temporarily store dorm room belongings during the summer and/or during a study abroad trip. In addition, students can use self-storage units to store seasonal and recreational items (think: snowboards, skiing equipment, surfboards, etc) that they won’t need on a daily basis but may need occasionally throughout the year. To find self-storage in your area, use Moving.com’s Storage Center. All you have to do is type in the zip code or your city and state of residence and click the ‘find storage’ button. From there, Moving.com will pull quotes from the closest storage unit facilities near your new home to compare. - Take the time to meet your roommates and hallmates
In the midst of a hectic move-in day, it can be easy to forget about new roommates and hallmates – especially when you’re focused on saying farewell to mom and dad. While this might not be the best time for icebreaker games and long conversations, it’s still a good idea to introduce yourself to roomies, suitemates and hallmates. Remember: a big smile and a friendly “hello” goes a long way in making a good first impression.
Moving soon?
Not sure your car will fit all of your belongings? You may need to rent a moving truck or trailer in order to haul your items to college. Fortunately, there are plenty of quality moving truck rental companies to choose from. To find the one that best fits your moving day budget and needs, check out Moving.com’s truck rental center. Within our truck rental center, you’ll find information and discounts on various rental truck companies.