First Day On Campus: The Move-In

The last of the graduation parties have come and gone, you've enjoyed the soon-to-be luxurious comforts of home for the last time, and the luggage is finally packed. You're ready to trade in the life and familiarity of a high school student for the long hours and crazy nights of the college student. Depending on where you come from, your first contact with your new neighbors can be amazing or absolutely overwhelming.

If you are sharing a dorm room with one or more roommates, struggle to be the first one to the room. If you're flying in, come a day early so that you can be first in the move-in line at the crack of dawn. At the time, I thought it all that wasn't important, and let my roommate move in first. This would later lead to a conflict, no doubt, because he chose the bed farthest from the door. Personally, I did not like having passers-by (often loud passers-by) look in on me while I'm sleeping. My roommate, however, was not going to let me stop him from opening the door to cool off the room. Not a good night, for either of us! So be sure to get to that room first.

For the hour or so it takes to move all your stuff in, you should take at least 30 minutes to sort out non-essentials. Now that you've realized how very small dorm rooms are, you'll likely have WAY too many items crammed into that small space. Remember, once you learn your school's layout, you can purchase extra supplies later.

Once the flurry of parents unloading dorm gear clears away, things will quiet down as the reality sets in. During this period, play your favorite music and LEAVE YOUR DOOR OPEN. Make sure people can hear it down the hall. You're almost guaranteed to attract someone in the hall with your music, so you immediately have a shared interest (a fast friend). Most of the folks you meet in those first few hours will form the core of your support group this first semester. Some might even become lifelong friends. If you're the shy type, DON'T miss this opportunity.

By now, you've probably met the RA, or Residential Advisor. You might think that s/he's the hall gestapo, but you'll soon learn s/he's more like the hall ombudsman. They'll probably be a slew of activities for freshman...make "brain like sponge" and attend them all, soaking it all in. Because you've read this site, however, it'll be review!

Don't be afraid to spend some more time with your family before they leave. Everyone is so caught up in the whole experience, nobody cares if you look like a lady's man or momma's boy. You probably won't see them again for several months, so make this last day count. You'll have a whole two semesters to live away from them, so give them a good memory!

Finally, avoid any drinking your first night. I'm sure this will scare many parents, but most move-in days have many a party where the kegs flow freely. While your new-found friends might say that this is the only time you'll have free, so live it up, avoid temptation. First, your time is better spent getting to know people instead of getting hammered with them (you won't remember anything you learn). Secondly, odds are you'll make it a habit that WILL bite you in the butt when you hit your first exam. At least TRY to start off on the right foot!

Most likely you will be too tired from all those activities and heavy lifting to do much that night, so you'll find it easy to fall asleep. The old adage, "Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise," could not be truer when it comes to college. If you stay up late during the first few days, it could take weeks for your body to adjust back to an academic schedule. You can get a good night's sleep knowing you've finished the first day of your college life!