As a parent, the day you move your child into college is stressful and emotional. It’s also a day to be proud as they take another step forward in their lives. As a college student, it’s an exciting moment to be moving away from home for the first time.
Collegeboxes understands this better than anyone, as we have helped numerous college students moving in (and their parents). We are here to give you a few tips on what to expect for college students moving in and how to prepare.
Know Your School’s Move-In Day Schedule
Colleges have made improvements to the move-in day process. To avoid absolute chaos, schools have started to dedicate certain time periods for specific groups to control the number of college students moving in at one time.
It’s important to be on time for your designated move-in window. The schedule is usually divided by floors and roommates to not only help manage the number of people in one area but to get everyone together for the students’ first floor meeting with their RAs. If you go off schedule it can disrupt everyone else’s schedule and the last thing you want is to put your student on the wrong foot for college.
Typically, on move-in day, resident assistants, employees of the housing department, and other student volunteers will help you unpack your vehicle or help you with your belongings for an easy process. They’ve established order of operations and will help make your child’s move-in day as easy as possible.
6 Useful Things You Might Want for Move-In Day
While it is a good idea to simply follow the plan set in place by the school, at the end of the day, they’re young students helping other young students. This is where the parent knowledge comes in. This is your time to shine, mom and dad. You’ve probably already suggested these things, but here are a few items to make move-in day easier:
1. Toolkit
Once your dorm room is accessible, your child will probably want to begin decorating it and make it their room. Having a toolkit with a hammer, screwdriver, a measuring tape, and pliers on hand can make life easier. When it’s all set up you can also leave the kit with your student for the future.
2. First Aid Kit
Any time you are moving, you are bound to get a few nicks and scrapes. Like the toolkit, the first aid kit can stay with your child after moving in.
3. Fan
Move-in day falls in August most of the time, and it’s going to be hot. A fan will help keep the room cooler while you move.
4. Dolly
As for a dolly, there’s a chance you won’t need it. However, bringing a folding dolly or any type of dolly will prepare you to move larger items. Plus, colleges will run low on carts at times – a dolly can keep you moving.
5. Cleaning Supplies
The room is reused and might not be as clean and pristine as you like as a parent. Bringing the cleaning supplies that you planned on giving your student will allow you to make it a clean environment.
6. Snacks
Trust us, moving will make you hungry and you’ll need snacks to keep you going. Don’t forget some water as well!
Enjoy College Move-In Day as a Parent
Move-in day won’t go completely as expected. It rarely does when it’s such an emotional day. Every parent jokes about being happy about their kid moving out, but the moment you drop them off at college, you can’t wait for them to come back. This is a big day for them, and for you, so take it all in as best you can.
Hopefully, you gave your freshman 10 tips on how to pack for college and left them with a lifetime of knowledge. Let them enjoy their college experience. Remind them to call you soon and give your child a big hug because you survived move-in day together. They’ll be back quickly, and we’ll be here to help with your move-out day too.
Collegeboxes can also make your move-in day painless. The No.1 student storage and shipping provider, we serve over 350 schools for the best college moving experience. College students moving into dorms, university housing, and apartments can take advantage of our Storage and Shipping, Ship to School, and Direct Shipping services
Through Storage and Shipping, we do the heavy lifting for you. Ship what you want, store what you want – any combination. We store your belongings at a clean, dry, and secure U-Haul storage facility that you can access at any time. With Ship to School and Direct Shipping, pack your belongings and our dorm room movers will make sure they get to your school or the exact location you desire. If your son or daughter is moving into college soon, make an account at collegeboxes.com and sign up today!