5 Tips for Moving Into College Dorms
Published: 10 Jun, 2019
Last Updated: 31 Jan, 2023
Table of Contents
- 1. Pack Only What is Needed
- 2. Share the Load With Your Roommate
- 3. Bring Personal Items
- 4. Check Out Your Room Before the Moving Day
- 5. Start with Heavy Load First
College season is approaching and you must be excited about starting a new, exciting chapter in your life. For a lot of young people, this is both exciting, but also a bit scary. Since college dorms have some rules you have to follow, plus you are likely to share a room with someone, you must plan accordingly. It’s smart to start planning your college dorm move in advance, so you wouldn’t come across any unexpected situations. Here are 5 important tips for moving into college dorms, make sure to check them out.
1. Pack Only What is Needed
Since college dorm rooms are usually smaller and shared with a fellow student, you shouldn’t overpack. Instead, carefully think about what you really need. Check out this article to keep your moving costs low. Make sure to read the email sent over by the resident life dean. There, you’ll see what you’re working with, what will your dorm provide you with, and what you’ll have to take care on your own. Most dorm rooms already have chairs, desks, and shelves, so don’t bring those when moving into a college dorm. Some things you might consider bringing are a study lamp, pillows, sheets, basic hygiene supplies, hangers, cooking and laundry essentials.
2. Share the Load With Your Roommate
When moving into college dorms, you’re most likely to have a roommate with you. As we have mentioned in the first tip, make sure to bring only essentials during the move-in process. However, since you will be sharing a room with someone, it might be a good idea to coordinate. For example, if you want to bring some smaller appliances and dishes, let them know so they wouldn’t bring that as well. You don’t need two toasters or two microwave ovens. They will take up extra space. Instead, talk to your roommate ahead of the moving day, and see what they can help out with. One of you can take care of the microwave, the other can bring the cutlery, and so on. That way you’re saving a lot of space and time.
3. Bring Personal Items
Since you’re moving to a college dorm room, that means that you’re likely to stay there for a couple of years. For that reason, you should perhaps bring some photos, stuffed animals, or anything else that will make you feel more at home. You should decorate your personal space so you’d be able to enjoy it more and feel more comfortable. Such things don’t take a lot of space, but they really do make a difference. So, don’t be afraid to accessorize your room and add a bit of a personal touch.
4. Check Out Your Room Before the Moving Day
When moving into a college dorm, time is of the essence. Orientation and classes start soon after the moving date, so you have to make sure not to waste any time. To avoid that from happening, check out your room prior to the college dorm move-in day. You might want to rearrange the furniture or simply see the basic layout. That way, you’ll have a much easier time unpacking and sorting things out. Also, that way you’ll know for sure if there’s something important missing such as a TV counter, storage space, etc. Then, just go ahead and purchase it and have it ready for the moving day.
5. Start with Heavy Load First
Since dorm rooms are usually small and compact, plus the moving in process is very time-sensitive, you should start off with heavy items. Since big items such as a TV, refrigerator, microwave, etc, require more space, make sure to carry them first into the dorm room. There won’t be many places in your room where you can fit that, so just take care of on the get-go. That way, you’ll have more time to focus on the smaller things and personalizing your room. Also, it’s much easier and it will definitely ensure a way faster college dorm moving process.
