Move-in day is a hectic
time no matter where you're going to, but in a dormitory, it is especially
complex. You and hundreds of other students will be bringing in your stuff,
sorting out paperwork, and meeting new people at the same time. To minimize
stress and help create a smooth transition for you, here are a few things to
keep in mind when you move into a dorm.
Make Sure Everything Is Paid
Before you get to school, the
university is going to want some money. In advance of taking any classes or
living anywhere on campus, you'll need to pay. If you haven't yet—or if the
school has an error on your records—you could have a "hold" on your account that
prevents you from taking any further action until your
bill
is taken care of. This includes moving in.
Before you even get to
campus, try to get hold of the bursar to make sure your bill is taken care of
and everything is up-to-date. With the high volume of students coming at one
time, there are likely to be a few hiccups in the system, and you don't want to
be one of them. Imagine getting there, with all of your stuff, only to be told
you have to turn around and wait in line somewhere else before you can see the
inside of your room.
Bring Some Help
You won't bring as much stuff to a dorm as you
would for another kind of move. Even so, you may have a time limit as to how
long you can park in front of the building (think of how many cars the school
has to deal with on this particular day), so you'll want to get everything
inside quickly. The unloading process itself isn't likely to take much time,
which is some incentive for others to get involved. One other helping hand is
probably sufficient, but if you can get more, why not?
Bring Some Equipment
Some people steal shopping carts from the
local grocery store and wheel loads of stuff in that way. That is not being
recommended or advocated here, but the thought behind it is. If you can get your
hands on a dolly or handtruck, it will make moving bigger, heavier items a
cinch. You can also stack a few boxes on top of one another (biggest and
heaviest on the bottom) and wheel them in at once.
As long as you are
organized and prepared, college move-in day really isn't so bad. It's
fast-paced, to be sure, but once you have all of your stuff in your room and you
have a moment to yourself, the real excitement will set in: that of starting
your new
life at
school.
