I have been to my share of on-campus move-in days: as a resident, student staff and as professional staff! Though it may be extremely stressful, there are some things that you can do to help make the day run a little more smoothly.

Know your time.  If you are a freshman, you may come at a different time and day as an upperclassmen. Be mindful and respectful of that. If you come before your time, it could throw the housing staff completely off. The schedule is there to have things run as smoothly as possible.

Know where to park.  Parking can be the biggest hassle during move in day. Make sure that you and your family know where you can park and for how long.

Know what you get. Make sure you understand what basics come in your room. If you have an apartment-style residence hall, then you don’t need to bring a refrigerator. Also, check to see if you live in community-style or suite-style apartment; both can definitely impact how close the toilet and shower are to you!

Know what to bring.  This goes a little bit beyond talking to your roommates before move-in day. You may have gotten a letter that says what you can and cannot bring. Candles, decorative swords and George Foreman grills are just some of things that are considered banned. It is also important to know the watt limit so that you don’t bring something that can cause an electric surge.

Know what you signed up for.  Some schools may have lifestyle choices like alcohol-free and quiet floors. Those floors have tighter guidelines and not following them could result in you moving out. 

Know the Housing Guidelines.  This document is like the rules at the playground. It is what the housing staff is going to hold you accountable for. Also, housing policies like switching rooms will be included in there too. There should be a copy in your room when you move in, but I would also check to see if it’s online.

Hopefully these tips will help your move-in on campus go a bit smoother! When in doubt, always call or email your school’s housing office.

Me and my roommate moving into our dorm in 2003!