College Move-In Day Tips to Save Time
Preparation in advance of college move-in day will help you navigate the day as smoothly as possible.
Planning
You may have been inundated with checklists and supply lists. Consolidate your lists, weeding out what is unnecessary for now. (Some colleges arrange shuttle trips to the local big-box retailer during move-in week.)
Plan to spend a few hours getting the room set up, especially if you have a daughter with lots of things. Purchase or borrow a hand-cart to help move boxes in. Get a sturdy one; you�ll be using it every year. Finally, bring dusting rags and sanitizing wipes in case the room or bathroom need to be wiped down.
Packing
A week or so in advance, find a clear area � maybe your living room - to stage everything so you can group similar items for packing.
Large plastic containers with tight-fitting lids are ideal for transporting clothes, personal items, room decorations and books. Beware of making them too heavy, in case you need to carry them on stairs.
For lots of clothes on hangers, get a clothing rod for the back seat of your car. You will need to make a few trips carrying armloads of clothing, but they will be a cinch to hang inside your closet.
Bring a toolbox with you to help with assembly and installation issues.
Parking
Residence halls don�t have parking space for all of their students, let alone all of the parents who come on move-in day. Yours may have sent you instructions or a pass that includes your drop-off time. Make sure you arrive on time, as they limit how long you can park in the lot closest to your dorm.
Going in the afternoon, after the crowds have left, is easier. However, most students want to hurry up and get settled in their dorm as soon as possible. And the day gets hotter after noon.
Girls who are going through sorority recruitment may move in a few days before the general population. Even if your daughter is not going out for a sorority, see if you can at least bring her belongings that day, to avoid crowds and long lines.
Placing
If you purchased a carpet, place it on the floor before you move anything else in the room. Decide where the beds, desks and dressers should go, and move them while you have help. Assemble your desk chair and shelving units.
Hang up any curtains, lanterns or string lights, and bulletin boards and frames.
It�s also a good idea to test all of the electrical outlets as well as the water faucets if your room has a sink or shower.
Praying
Your student may insist that they don�t need anything else, and that you should leave. Even your offers to go to the grocery store and grab snacks may be rebuffed. Know that this is normal.
With the availability of internet shopping and excellent cafeteria food these days, sometimes all you can do for your child is pray for them. And that may be plenty.
Promising
Promise your child that you will send them anything they forgot that can�t be replaced locally. And ask them to promise to call or text you at least once a day until classes begin - just because you are interested, not worried.
Rejoicing
You may be exhausted when you get back home � or to your hotel room if the college is far from home. Take comfort in the fact that you did your best to help, and rejoice that your child has reached this stage in their independence!
