Move-In Planning Tips
If you are helping your college freshman get ready for residence hall living, you have probably come across many lists of must-have items. Mixed in with these suggested lists are images of meticulously decorated and furnished rooms. It can feel overwhelming, to say the least. The truth is, there is no one size fits all approach, and there is no such thing as a perfect packing list. Your strategy will depend on the distance you are traveling, your transportation, the needs of your student, and the amenities near your student’s campus. We have a few tips to help turn a daunting project into a manageable (and not unpleasant!) task.
Consider Your Moving Situation and Plan Accordingly
A family that is driving to a nearby school with a loaded up SUV is going to prepare much differently than a family flying cross-country with a few suitcases. There are a few tips that apply to both of these situations and everything in between.
Everything should be contained / packed. Nothing is worse than walking from a parked car and then waiting in line for a residence hall elevator with a lamp in one hand and a power strip in the other.
Everything you have read about the big blue moving bags (such as these bags sold on amazon) is true. They are sturdy, easily stored under a dorm bed, and easy to stack into car trunks. If you are checking them on an airline, we recommend doubling them up (turning the packed bag upside down into a second bag) and using duct tape and/or zip ties for extra assurance.
The deep moving bins provided by many schools are great, but not that friendly to breakable items because a lot gets packed in there. Consider packing breakable items in a small box that your student can carry in by hand – or using plenty of packing material for protection from breakage.
Many needed items can be purchased close to the student’s university – which is especially helpful if you are flying. Take advantage of Click & Collect services at stores like Target and Amazon lockers. And if the Target near their campus is getting picked over during move-in week, chances are there is a Target within 10 miles that will have what you need!
Some universities accept and hold amazon deliveries prior to move-in – but this is not a universal practice! Make sure you understand the policies if you are trying to do this.
Not everything needs to arrive on move-in day. It is perfectly fine, and often preferable, to see the space in person before buying or ordering bulky things like storage bins and rugs and breakable things like mirrors. Additionally, students might find that they can share certain items or purchase shared items with their roomates. Holding back on some items also allows students to decorate in their own personal style.
The Must-Have List is Short! (And BEDDING Tops the List)
Phone and Charger ✔️Laptop ✔️Clothes and Toiletries ✔️Prescriptions ✔️Fan ✔️
Most of everything else will work itself out, but what about bedding and towels? These are definitely must-haves.
University mattresses have come a long way and seem to be impervious to things like dirt and bed bugs, but they can use some add-ons. Before purchasing anything, make sure your student verifies the bed size – they are almost always TwinXLs, but it doesn’t hurt to check.
The magic formula for comfortable residence hall bed follows:
Mattress encasement (goes all the way around the mattress) (such as this one)
Mattress gel pad (goes on top of the encasement) (such as this mid-range price point gel pad)
Cotton mattress pad (goes on top of the gel pad) (such as this product)
Pillows and comforter (Parent facebook groups can come in handy here, as some will provide some insight into rooms which residence halls run hot and which run cold)
Linens are the finishing touch. Everyone has personal preferences, so make sure your student has the final say when it comes to sheets and a few towels. Many people prefer to wash these before using them, which can pose logistical challenges such as the expense and hassle of checking a bag with washed sheets and towels. Consider options such as hotel facilities and laundromats to accomplish this task.
And in case you are wondering – yes – it’s totally normal to want to make your student’s bed for them. San Diego State University posts this message to incoming freshmen, and it goes viral every year:
Move-In Logistics Matter
Every school has its own way of managing move-in, but it usually includes some combination of a designated moving time, a parking pass, a certain number of very large (and very helpful) moving bins, and hopefully some older students helping out. Make sure you understand the process – your student should be checking email and you might find great tips on the Parent Facebook Group . It helps to have a few things with you, such as:
Scissors, masking tape, and command strips and hooks (if allowed by the residence hall)
Quickly accessible power strip and phone chargers
Door stop
Sanitizing wipes (for surfaces)
Hand soap
Toilet paper
Fan
Water and snacks
And a few tools if you will be putting any furniture together (such as screwdrivers and allen wrenches)
Other Things to Consider for Residence Hall Life
Every student has different needs, but here are some things that tend to be useful for students as they start residence hall life:
Unsolicited advice: Your family’s move-in experience probably won’t play out as you planned it. High emotions, worries, fatigue, crowds, and high temperatures will play a role. Our advice is to roll with the punches. Your student may have had thoughts about how to set up their room, but once they are working with their roommate those plans might go out the door. Your student might want to finish the set-up on their own later, and run around the floor to meet new people instead. It’s okay to pivot. Similarly, plans might shift quickly. A family that has reservations for a celebratory dinner out after move-in might find that their student has an opportunity to go for burgers with floormates instead. We suggest making those reservations the night before. And as move-in time comes to a close and you prepare to part ways, we suggest having one “good-bye” moment rather than a series of check-ins and smaller good-byes, leaving before they get busy with orientation and other activities, and reminding yourself that this moment is usually harder for us than for them.