Going to college is a dream and a milestone for almost every teenager. It brings about many life-changing freedoms and responsibilities. Throughout your collegiate career, you will discover many things about yourself and the world around you. Incoming freshmen must be guided accordingly to maximize their experience and keep their mistakes to a minimum. College starts on moving day and these tips will help you get through the culture shock with minimal effort or stress.
The nerves usually set in the day you start school. Moving day amplifies these feelings by 1000. This is many students first time living on their own. Many students choose to attend school far away from home to experience their collegiate career in a new environment. Moving to attend college presents its own share of challenges for students since many of them are dealing with the nuances of moving (along with the other nuances of adult life) for the first time.
Most first-year students move into dormitories. These are communal student housing designed to gradually ease freshmen into a life of independence. Dorms will often come furnished with items that do not come with a typical apartment. These items usually include beds, desks, and dressers. Dorms will often have multiple students living within the same confines as roommates. Roommates will often bring many items of their own as well to contribute to the living space. You will see more cardboard boxes on moving day then you will at any subsequent point in your life! Some students opt to live on their own in typical apartments. Apartments come equip with far fewer amenities but often include necessities like air conditioners, refrigerators, and stoves.
If you’re moving into a dorm make sure to check the website to see what amenities the dorm will have. Take the time to talk to your roommates about what they’re bringing. This will save you time and effort and allow for an opportunity to bond with your new roommates. Also look up your dorm’s policies and make sure that they allow everything you plan on bringing with you.
If you’re moving into an apartment ensure your daily commute to class isn’t strenuous. There’s nothing worse than having to leave home an hour early just so you can make it to class on time! Try your best to move around other students or young professionals and sync up your schedules. Making it through this transition is much easier when done with like-minded individuals. Lastly set a budget for living expenses that includes utilities, groceries, and other necessities.
Upon moving to campus make sure you have a plan of action. Many people will be moving around and it is easy to get lost in the business of moving day. Make sure you take care of the essentials first, then move in the rest. You must make use of the cart! Most dorms have a large wheeled cart that you can utilize to move your luggage and cardboard boxes. When you are done lend a land to the other students moving in, or at least get out of the way so they can move in as swiftly as you did. Congrats! You survived moving day.