Make the Grade on College Move-In Day

Make the Grade on College Move-In Day

With the 2023-24 academic year fast approaching, parents across the country are alternately dreading and looking forward to college move-in day, that milestone in the life of every family in which they travel to their child’s university of choice and help the newly minted freshman check in to the dorm. It is a moment fraught with occasion, as parents grapple with how swiftly the years have passed and children with a mix of excitement and daunting take their first steps into adult life.

On a more practical note, move-in day can be accompanied by a range of logistical challenges. Here are a few strategies parents can employ to ensure their family aces this entrance exam.

Plenty of Preparation: Given that you know where you teen in bound this fall, summer should be a season of preparation. Make sure you know how move-in day is expected to proceed by familiarizing yourself with all relevant university guidelines. Work with your incoming freshman to determine what items need to be transported and which can be picked up on campus.

Limit Who Tags Along: Such is the importance of move-in day that your entire extended family might wish to be on hand for the occasion. Do your best to discourage this, as move-in day even at its most organized borders on chaos, with hordes of parents and children navigating cramped hallways and small dorm rooms. The fewer people involved the better for all concerned.

Snack Time: Moving in might take far longer than you imagined, easily stretching past traditional mealtimes. That’s why it never hurts to bring along some favorite snacks to keep the wolf from the door. In addition, after going up and down the same staircase a dozen times, a cooler full of cold drinks will look like heaven.

Don’t Pack Those Bags: For parents driving students to campus, duffle bags, or even large black garbage bags, are ideal for packing. There is no place to leave luggage in a small dorm room and garbage bags allow you to easily organize ahead of time into bedroom, bathroom, winter clothing and items your student will need right away. White garbage bags make great garment bags and allow you to move clothing from closet to car to closet without taking items off their hangers or getting them dirty.

Take a Meeting: Depending on your student’s needs, you might want to set aside time to visit the offices of financial aid, disability services or even the freshman dean while you’re on campus. Plan ahead if you need to have any of these meetings and make sure to schedule an appointment to avoid long lines.

Clean Up Time: Most universities make an effort to clean dorm rooms over the summer in anticipation of new residents but it’s wise to bring cleaning wipes or paper towels and soap in case you discover the room is dirty or the closets or drawers need wiping before they are filled. A small dustpan and brush can be useful as well but remember to pack these last so they can be unpacked first.
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At Harmony Communities, we feel strongly that each resident has a sense of home. That they come home from work and feel pride in their environment and in their place in the greater community. That families are comfortable raising children in our neighborhoods, and that couples and singles know that they belong to something bigger than their four walls. In other words, we seek to create harmony within each community, making our communities not just passable, but peaceful, safe, functional, and beautiful.