The countdown for college move-in day is ON! Yes, even with COVID, college kids are getting out of the quarantine mode & are heading to campus. Today, I am sharing with you 3 College Dorm Room Move In Day Essentials You Probably Already Have…this short list is for boys AND girls. At the end of the day, a dorm room is just that….a dorm room!

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In the past four years, we’ve moved our daughter into a dorm room, a sorority house & an apartment. By far, the most challenging was that freshman year dorm room move in day. Streamlining what you need critical. Space is limited, and sometimes items like these that are marketed to college dorm students just never get used. (Yes, that cute bunk buddy will be kicked under the bed faster than you can say who is your R.A!)

SO, I want to pass on 3 freshman move in day hacks to help you this August!

The items listed below should be the LAST items you toss in the car because they will be the first items you unload. 🙂

PRO TIP: I recommend getting a small bin to put these items in so they are super easy to find when you are unloading. As a matter of fact, the move-in bin actually was the first thing we took into her dorm room!

Stop the traffic! Be prepared to navigate other move-in day mamas & dads as well as structured university transportation systems upon arrival. Plan ahead to arrive on campus at your designated move-in time.

Some of these items will seem like no-brainers….and they are! But freshman move in day can be stressful. This cheat sheet will help you start the day from an organized perspective.

Here’s the deal: on move-in day  

there is no such thing as a

QUICK RUN TO THE STORE!!!!

DO YOUR TARGET RUN FIRST!

Think about it for a moment. You are moving into a building with hundreds of other families. Parking near the dorm may or may not be possible. Leaving the dorm, going to a store, and getting back may take several hours.

The photo above was taken in August when we moved our daughter into her second apartment. Her truck pushed thru 4 states -with a U-Haul!!! She stored most of her large furniture pieces at a facility in Lexington over the summer. After she was unpacked & unload, Copa & I flew home. 

And get this- the college may have a restricted move in time. At our daughter’s university, parents & move in helpers had to be finished and off the property by 3PM.

3 Dorm Room Move In Day Essentials

You Probably Already Have

1. POWER STRIPS & EXTENSION CORDS
   Bring more thank you think you will need! Even if you end up taking them back home with you, at least you will have them. This6 outlet strip with 4 USB ports is popular for dorms, but the regular, old fashioned power strip that is probably in your garage right now will work just fine.
2. CLEANING WIPES, PAPER TOWELS & GARBAGE BAGS
   This is a no-brainer, but make sure when you open that dorm room door for the first time that these babies are CLOSE by! Most colleges spruce up their dorms over the summer. Fresh paint, carpet, etc. And, they are cleaned prior to move-in day! That said, your level of cleanliness for Junior may not be the university’s level of cleanliness……just saying!
3. SPACE SAVING TIERED HANGERS & WALL HOOKS
   These tiered hangers are a lifesaver! From my college days, I remembered how TINY my closet was in Plunkett Hall at Mercer. But boy, I’d truly forgotten how small SMALL is until we walked into our daughter’s dorm room! These 4 tier hangers allow for multiple pairs of shorts, skirts, or pants to be hung up with one hanger. It’s brilliant. She even used these hangers to hold bulky winter scarves so she could save her limited drawer space & wall hooks.And, dig those adhesive wall hooks out of your junk drawer! Put them in your move-in day bin. Boys will use them for their ball caps, belts & university lanyard. Girls will use them for belts, wash clothes, necklaces & more.

Best of luck on move-in day! Please leave a comment if you have other tips or if you want to share your move-in day experience. We are all in this together! Before you know it, Family Weekend will be here. (Reserve that hotel room now!!) 🙂 If you want tips for College Exam Care Package Ideas, check this out!

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