Moving into a college dorm is definitely one of the most unusual and exciting experiences for a young adult. The feeling of new life opportunities and endless options brings a certain kind of joy mixed with fear of the unknown. It is completely normal that you feel butterflies, especially if this is your first time going away from home. With our convenient guide and useful tips, you’ll learn how to turn this experience into something positive and memorable.
Relocating as a student can be a fun and fulfilling experience if you follow our essential tips
Learn Our Tips for Moving Into a College Dorm and Make This Experience Less Stressful
Relocating to a new city alone is challenging, and moving into a dorm means a completely different lifestyle you’ll need to adjust to. It’s not unusual that many young adults feel anxiety about relocation and have thousands of questions on their minds.
As the time for relocation approaches, you might notice that you’re getting more and more nervous, wondering how things are going to turn out. Will you be able to adapt to new surroundings? Will you forget to bring something important? Who are you going to stay with? How are you going to cope with stress after relocation if something goes wrong when you’re left on your own? What about the relocation budget? Will this process cost you all your savings?
It is completely natural to have all of these questions on your mind – many before you had the same dilemmas, and many after you will also wonder the same things. One thing is certain – you’ll survive this process and grow into a much more confident adult, so you should be proud of yourself for taking this major and life-changing step. Follow our tips for moving into a dorm, and we promise you that you’ll move efficiently without making unnecessary relocation mistakes.
#1 Start Preparing by Making a Good Plan of Activities and Follow Your Schedule
If you want to follow our relocation guide, you should start preparing by writing a good college packing list and making a schedule of activities. The first thing you need to find out is when your relocation day is and what room size you are going to have. You should also be informed about the furniture that’s already inside the dormitory and try to get in contact with your future roommate. Deciding what to pack without this information is like fishing in an empty pool – it won’t take you anywhere.
Make a List of Items You Should Move
Once you have all the necessary information, it will be much easier for you to make smart decisions. You should write an inventory list and go through every item multiple times until you’re certain that you can’t live without it. If you believe that relocating on your own will be challenging, this is the right moment to contact a professional cross-country moving company and get a quote to find out the price of their long-distance moving services.
#2 Before You Start Packing – Declutter
If you want to reduce costs when relocating when hiring professional cross-country movers, you might as well start decluttering. Getting rid of unnecessary items will make your move much easier, plus you’ll save a lot of money on materials and cross-country moving services. Instead of relocating them, you can donate unwanted items or sell them online. This way, you’ll earn some extra cash that you can use for decorating your new dormitory in the way you always wanted. Also, don’t pack any items movers won’t move, and don’t try relocating them on your own because that can be dangerous.
Roomstyler is a convenient app that you can use to style your space once you know all the details about the room’s dimensions. Once you get a visual tour of the space, as most modern colleges provide, it will be easier for you to decide what to bring.
#3 Get Useful Packing Supplies and Materials
Once you finally decide what to bring with you, you should get appropriate packing materials. Don’t worry if you’re not certain how to pack fragile objects and electronics. Professional long-distance movers can also offer you packing services. They will deliver you the highest quality supplies and ensure everything is properly protected before the transportation process starts. With a professional long-distance moving company, there is nothing to worry about.
This video will give you ideas about useful supplies you should also get in order to be prepared for your classes.
#4 Bring Only Essential Items – Pack Clothes, Toiletries, and Minimum Furnishing
Relocation essentials are something you definitely need by your side – think of it as if it is your survival kit. This box should contain stuff that you can’t live without, such as:
- Toiletries,
- Medicine,
- Documents,
- Chargers,
- Clean clothes and towels,
- Bedsheets,
- Snacks and fresh water.
This will be the first box to unpack once you arrive at your new living space, so if you’re hiring professionals to relocate other stuff, keep this one with you when relocating to a new home.
Check What Items Are Allowed to Be In Your Room and Ensure You Follow All the Rules
Every school and university should have its own Housing and Residence Life guidelines – which you should check and take into consideration when relocating. You’ll probably find a lot of useful information there and solve many dilemmas about stuff you should bring. This mostly applies to electronics you want to use and have in your room. For example, many students wonder if they are allowed to have a small refrigerator in their dormitory.
Relocating with pets in most cases won’t be allowed, so you’ll be obligated to say goodbye to your furry friend and leave it with your family members for the time you stay on campus.
Always Consult With Your Roommate
One of the best tips for living in a dorm is to consult with your roommate about everything. If you want your room to be organized and tidy, you’ll have to become a team, meaning that you’ll have to negotiate about the objects you’re going to keep there and who is going to move them.
For example, if your roommate is already bringing a refrigerator, there is no need for you to get one too. You can get a fan or something else that’s allowed that both of you are going to need. For some things, you’ll need to have duplicates – you probably won’t be able to work with only one laptop.
Prepare a box with essentials that you'll want to use as soon as you move
#5 Consider Renting a Storage Unit
Another cool relocation hack to rely on when living inside a school unit is renting a storage space where you can keep the extra stuff. This can be very convenient, especially if you’re relocating to another state and can’t keep all your stuff at your parents’ home. Obviously, you can use some creative storage ideas and keep some of the stuff in your room (for example, some clothing in a vacuum bag), but for some larger things, such as picnic equipment or a bicycle, you might have to rent a storage unit.
Renting a storage unit for all the extra belongings can be a great idea
#6 Ask Your Family Members for Help During the Relocation Day
One of the best relocation day tips we can give you is to get help from our family members. Ask them if they are available to assist you with your relocation when the big day arrives and split activities, so all of you can have something to do. Follow your moving into the college dorm checklist to ensure you have hacked everything you planned, and you’ll have a stress-free moving cross-country experience.
FAQ
What to Do When You First Move Into a Dorm?
When you first move in, you have to ensure everything is functioning properly. Start inspecting everything that you find inside the dormitory and notify the dorm’s authorities if you find that something is broken. Otherwise, it will be considered your mistake, and you’ll have to pay for repairs.
Next thing – cleaning. After you’re done inspecting every corner of your new living area, you will probably notice some parts that are dusty. Clean everything and use some disinfection spray to ensure everything is properly cleaned and ready for you to put your personal belongings inside.
How Long Does It Take To Move Into a Dorm?
The whole process should not take you more than three to four hours, depending on the way you choose to unpack after the move. You can get everything done in half an hour if you’re quick enough, but in order to arrange everything nicely, you’ll have to be more patient. It will be nice to set up some decoration and give the space your signature. After all, you’ll be staying here the whole year, so you have to ensure this place feels like home.
What to Know Before Moving Into Dorms?
One of the things you have to prepare yourself for is that dorms are usually small, and in most cases, you’ll have to share your private space with strangers. This can be the most unusual thing but also the best part of student life.
You’ll learn to have an amazing time and make the best memories without having to relocate your whole house and all the furniture you own. You’ll also meet new friends and make many new relationships – hopefully, some of them will last for a lifetime.
What Is Living in a College Dorm Like?
We’re all used to the idea of life on campus that we get from movies – parties, loud music, and constant chaos. Luckily, this doesn’t have to be the case. Sure, there will always be some situations like those seen in the media, but in most cases, people will try to focus on their studies and use their private time inside rooms to finish their school tasks.
You and your roommate can work on projects together, or you can have completely different schedules so that you see each other only when you go to sleep. There will also be some rules you have to follow – what time is it allowed to bring guests, when is it allowed to go outside, and so on. It might sound scary at the beginning, but once you get used to it, you’ll definitely enjoy every moment and memory you make during your student days.
Consider Hiring Professionals and Move Without Any Worries
If you are not getting your parents’ assistance and you have to move on your own, one of the best things you can do for yourself is to hire a professional relocation company. With a convenient cross-country moving service, you can relocate everything to your college dormitory in no time.
Professional cross-country moving companies can also lease you an available storage unit close to your college and help you relocate your storage inventory so you can keep the extra stuff there. If you’re worried about the potential prices and how much these services are going to cost you, you can always require a free quote and calculate everything before making any final choices.
