Seven Tips and Tricks for Moving into Your Dorm

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Photo: Myles Braxton

As summer draws to a close and the school year rapidly approaches, campuses across the country are preparing for the migration of students in the final weeks of August. When you’re preparing for something like moving into your dorm, whether it’s your first time living on campus or you’re a seasoned pro, move-in day can feel overwhelming. You may find yourself asking things like: 

• Where do I sign out bins?
• Is my roommate arriving before or after me?
• Did I forget something important at home? 

Don’t worry, I’ve lived on campus for two years and I’m pretty familiar with the move-in process. I got you (well, for all the practical stuff, not if you left something important 3,000 miles away. Unfortunately there’s very little I can do about the latter). I’ve compiled a list of seven tips in chronological order that will hopefully help you have the smoothest move-in possible, so good luck and happy move-in!

Photo: Eva Trainer

Pre-Move-in: Giving Yourself the Best Possible Start

• Make a list of the things you need beforehand, and if you’re extra keen, separate them by category: Before my first year, I searched the Internet for suggestions on what one should bring to school for dorm life. Being the eager first-year I was, I consulted several websites and watched way too many shorts on what was actually helpful for dorm life. If you’re curious about what to bring, I have a pretty comprehensive list curated into a handy infographic here. Remember, though, that depending on your hobbies/interests/needs, you might have to add a few items here or there. 
   
• Pack items in a way that makes sense: By this, I mean packing clothes together, shower and personal care items together, and school supplies in your backpack. Underrated for packing things are those giant IKEA or IKEA-adjacent bags and suitcases, which have wheels handy for rolling across hallways. If you’re bringing storage bins, you can probably save space in the car by putting more items inside as well, as long as you can still carry them inside the building. In previous years, I stuffed decor inside one bin and laundry supplies in another, which made everything generally more compact. 
   
• Create a vision board/sketch out what you want your dorm to look like before you move in: There’s a lot of helpful content out there on the official UMass and CHC Instagram pages on what students have done to make their dorms feel like home, so use those as resources. While your room may not look exactly like the videos or photos, it’s definitely helpful to see what furniture exists and how you might arrange things. Plus, it’s really fun to make Pinterest boards if that’s up your alley. 

Move-In Day: Optimizing Your Time and Energy

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• Wear something breathable and easy to move around in: Trust me, you want to be able to move around easily, especially when sidestepping other move-in parties and bending down to plug things in. Sneakers will be your best bet here.
   
• Be aware of your surroundings: Usually, during a move-in window, there are multiple students with their families moving in at or around the same time. Being courteous and staying aware, especially when people are moving large pieces of furniture or belongings, is crucial for safety and is just generally a decent thing to do.  
   
• When unpacking, focus on the essentials first: After a long day, you’ll thank yourself for making your bed so that you can get some well-deserved rest. Focus on sweeping the floor and wiping surfaces down, putting a trash bag in your trash can, getting sheets on your bed, and plugging in lights and other appliances. When those tasks are done, you can take your time arranging decor. 
   
• Take breaks for water and snacks: Keep something to munch on that isn’t messy and is satisfying, like a granola bar. Also, remember to stay hydrated; you’re doing a lot of moving, and your body needs fuel and water. This is particularly important if you’re moving in hot weather. Pro tip: most buildings have a water bottle station or water fountain for refilling your water bottle!

Bonus tips:

• Try your best to avoid the Walmart and Target in Hadley, and generally every shopping place for last minute shopping trips. If you forget something, you can always make a weekend trip in the following weeks after you get settled (and the insane lines die down). You can even make a bonding opportunity out of it by going with some new friends via car or the PVTA — just remember to read the displays on top of the bus so you know you’re going in the right direction (the transit app will help with that). If you’re really in a pinch, order what you need online or ask your roommate — they might have extra of what you need.
   
• Another fun thing to do is to film a time-lapse of yourself unpacking! It’s cool to look back on and satisfying to see all your hard work come together: plus, it’s great for the memories.

Alright, that’s all I have for you today. Good luck moving in and happy beginning of the semester!