Now that you have bought all the things you need for college and your room is filled to the brim with piles and piles of small stuff that needs to be placed somewhere so that you can have a quick college move-in. Where do you begin? I know it can be overwhelming. Move-in day can be stressful for all parents and their children, especially if it's their first year away. I hear you! I've been you! I did this when I had to go off to college and move in by myself. Then, 28 years later, I helped my son move into college. And this year, moving my daughter into her dorm is an adventure in itself. I've become somewhat of an expert in the quickest way to move it. Today, I'll provide you with practical tips on packing for a fast college move-in day this year.
Jump to:
- Questions to ask yourself to help you decide what to do first.
- Connect with your roommates.
- Have small tools handy.
- Move items in bins with lids.
- Divide your stuff into zones before leaving the house.
- Label your bins before you leave.
- Check the website with the dorm information the day before your move-in day.
- Get a safety box and security cables to protect your valuables.
- Wash ALL the clothing.
- Gather the hanging clothes and place a kitchen bag over them, allowing the hangers to show.
- Have all your decorating items in one bag.
- Take advantage of the rental opportunities for dorm fridges and microwaves.
- Purchase bedding packages from a third party and deliver them to the dorm.
- How to pack up the car
- Additional Things to Consider.
Questions to ask yourself to help you decide what to do first.
Let's start by asking some questions to help you determine what is most important and what needs to be organized.
- What do I want to hang on the walls? Will I need to access these items right away?
- What should I set up first upon arrival?
- Who will be coming to help me?
- Do I need to bring furniture (Affiliate Link)?
- Do I need a chair (Affiliate Link)? Or, a refrigerator?
- Will I need to have my essential papers handy? Do I need rental property insurance for my belongings? Where will I place items with sensitive information?
- Do I need to get my car repaired? Do I need to get my car parking pass? Where do I need to get it?
Here are some additional questions to help make your planning easier on the day of. Be sure to get this information as soon as possible, so you are not stressed during the day and you know what to do.
- What dorm will I be in, and is there a contact person if I have any questions?
- Where is the check-in area for the dorm? Do I need to bring anything for checking in?
- What time will I need to be at the dorm? There is usually an assigned time range for each dorm to help with crowd control.
- Does the school offer large carts for use during move-in? Where will they be?
- Are there elevators at the dorm, and are they easily accessible and usable to students?
- Will there be helpers at the dorm unloading area?
Now, it's time to start organizing tasks and packing up.
Connect with your roommates.
Reach out and communicate with what you are willing to make communal items in the dorm or suite. The university will provide you with the email addresses of the other roommates. Discussing what each person will bring, such as refrigerators, microwaves, bathroom supplies, bathroom organizers, and cleaning supplies, will save you money and minimize the number of items you need to carry. It's a win-win for all. Also, ask them what time they will arrive so you know if you will see them when you arrive and if the dorm will be crowded.
Have small tools handy.
Having a small toolbox (Affiliate Link) of essential tools (Affiliate Link) should come with you. Do not keep them in another box; make sure they are readily available.
Some items you will need in the toolbox (Affiliate Link) are:
- Bringing a hammer (regular version),
- Rubber mallets (which work well for hammering something together)
, - Screwdrivers (Affiliate Link) (Phillips and flathead),
- WD-40 (for squeaky doors),
- Zip ties (works well and are sturdy to hold things together)
- Possibly a cordless electric drill (Affiliate Link).
- A supply of 3M Command strips if permitted,
- Recommended adhesives (such as painter's tape (Affiliate Link)) for posters, suction cups that hook to the wall,
- Optional: other items that help adhere objects to the wall make for a faster setup.
- Carry extra batteries, just in case you forgot to add batteries to something when assembling it at home.
- A quick first-aid kit. This helps, just in case anyone gets hurt. And, it can be used all year round.
- Bringing a folding cart is optional, but it can be helpful when moving things if the large bins are not available at the university.
- Cleaning supplies for moving in may include disinfectant wipes, paper towels, Windex, toilet bowl cleaner, shower cleaner, a vacuum (Affiliate Link), a mop and bucket, Swiffer Pads (both wet and dry), and a Swiffer wand.
, 
(Phillips and flathead), 
) for posters, suction cups that hook to the wall, Placing all these items in one go-to bag gave us a single point of reference to find them.
Move items in bins with lids.
If you have to drop off your belongings in a large bin and then move them to the dorm, it can be stressful with small items falling all over the place while transferring them into this bin. Storing items in containers where they will be staying for the remainder of the year works best. I like these large drawer bins that can be carried and stored directly under the bed (Affiliate Link) for easy access.
Divide your stuff into zones before leaving the house.
Organize and sort the items into the following zones:
- Cleaning,
- Closet,
- Drawers,
Cooking (including fridge and microwave supplies), - Bathroom,
- Deck areas.
If possible, do this at home before leaving to see what you don't have. Gather the remaining items around the house and place them in these zones. Then compare your stuff to our checklist (Affiliate Link): TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL COLLEGE YEAR. Next, check off the items you have. And purchase the things you don't have. Remember, the list is complete, but if you don't need something on the checklist (Affiliate Link), cross it off to customize it to your situation.
Label your bins before you leave.
"Assign a place for every single item" is a mantra that every organizer knows and teaches to their clientele. This mantra also applies to dorm rooms. After you create zones, determining what goes in those zones is where you get more precise. This step involves determining which group will be assigned to this zone. Then, you can determine what to label (Affiliate Link) your bins. Using a label maker (Affiliate Link) like these, I found on Amazon (Affiliate Link), with a larger ½ inch or bigger label (Affiliate Link), works best so you can see it no matter where you are in the room.
You can also make your labels (Affiliate Link) by using Avery Templates. If you choose to make them yourself, they will most likely be made of paper and have extra glue on the back, as they are intended for shipping.
You can also get sleeves and slide paper labels (Affiliate Link) into them. Be sure to find tighter sleeves at the opening, as they can easily slide the papers out in transit.
Check the website with the dorm information the day before your move-in day.
Sometimes, things change. Checking the day before will give you a heads-up on what will be happening the next day. Visiting the floor plans and layout of the dorm also helps you know where you will be walking when you enter the dorm.
Get a safety box and security cables to protect your valuables.
Place these valuables in them and secure them in a large bag to conceal their contents. It's better to be safe (Affiliate Link) than sorry. Investing in a safety box and security cables is essential. Your roommates may be great, and you trust them. But, they may accidently leave the door open or invite someone in that isn't so honest. Before you leave, fill up the safety box with all your valuables. There is usually a large amount of space inside the safety box that you can utilize to store items. If you don't have a lot, you can wrap the items in the towels you are taking and place them inside the safety box so the pieces don't rattle around and break.
Include a doorstopper to help open the door when moving in. These dorm doors are heavy and can easily lock you out.
Be sure to keep all your cables, surge protectors, and other power cords together. Label (Affiliate Link) them with a permanent marker (Affiliate Link) so you know what they are and where they go.
Wash ALL the clothing.
Instead of dealing with dirty clothes and laundry, be sure to wash ALL the clothing and then pack it up neatly. You can place them in compression bags if you don't mind that they are slightly wrinkled. Try not to use hard-totes (Affiliate Link) for these items, because you will have to figure out where to store the totes (Affiliate Link) when they are emptied.
Gather the hanging clothes and place a kitchen bag over them, allowing the hangers to show.
Leaving the hanging items on their hangers and covering them up with a bag will save you time having to place items on hangers. Find hangers that are thin with grips to help keep the things on the hangers when moving them.
Have all your decorating items in one bag.
Keep your posters and adhesives in one bag so you can put them up immediately. This can be placed near the tool bag you created to decorate the room quickly.
Take advantage of the rental opportunities for dorm fridges and microwaves.
Some schools require you to rent refrigerators and microwaves if you wish to have them. This is an excellent option because you don't have to carry them; they are usually delivered directly to your dorm room.
Purchase bedding packages from a third party and deliver them to the dorm.
Many schools offer this as an option, so students don't have to carry bedding to their dorms. It contains the comforter, sheets, and other things. It tends to be bulky so that it will occupy a significant amount of space in a dorm. Using an extra-large vacuum (Affiliate Link) seal bag with all the winter linens in it, vacuumed down to about 3 inches thick, works nicely to save space in the car.
Set up the sweaters and winter accessories in bins before you leave home.
Having a bin (12 in. x 12 in. x 12 in.) with all the winter accessories is extremely easy to set up when you're home, as you're not using these items. Filling up the bins with sweaters, fuzzy socks (Affiliate Link), gloves, and scarves allows you to easily transport them to the dorm with minimal disruption to the items.
How to pack up the car
Packing the car can be tricky. Start with the larger items first, such as the TV and folding chair (Affiliate Link). Then, go for the other medium-sized items. Be sure to store things inside empty and clean trash cans (Affiliate Link). Think of packing your car like doing a puzzle; you don't want any holes anywhere.
Be sure to make room so that the driver can see out the back window. And, if the student needs to be in the backseat.
Keep the toolbox (Affiliate Link) and dolly/cart accessible, if you are using one. The valuables should also be handy.
Additional Things to Consider.
Make Travel Reservations
If you are flying or driving, your family may need overnight arrangements for the trip. Be sure to pick a place that is close enough and has parking for their vehicle. Some Airbnb options may also be available, allowing parents to have some flexibility in their departure time. Additionally, it will be convenient to have an extra space to park and store belongings in case of any issues moving into the dorm.
Ensure you have a meal for lunch or dinner.
The college student may need to be doing other things, and you may be helping them set up their dorm room. Therefore, it is likely that you will need to purchase some food for the parents. You can pack a lunch, make a reservation, or pick up food on your way out after a long day of activities.
Taking the time to follow all these tips before moving into your college dorm will allow you to enjoy the decorating process and spend quality time with your family. I hope this post helps you make your college transition smooth. If you have any tips from your own experience, please share them in the comments below. I would love to hear from you.
Lucy Kelly says
Great strategies, Sabrina! Good luck with your daughter's move - not that you'll need luck, you have everything set up for success 🙂
Julie Bestry says
Great advice, though I can't imagine a single tool we'd have been allowed to use in my dorm back then -- certainly not hammers or drills. This brought back so many memories of preparing to go off to college, long before Container Store had spread beyond Texas, and just before IKEA even came to the US, with only the advice from Seventeen Magazine to guide us. We categorized and measured and contained everything, and my mom and I managed to get the entire room set up in 90s minutes, including clothes put away and the bed med. We had fewer container options, and I still think nylon duffel bags for sheets, towels, and other soft goods (neatly stored under the bed, even without risers, gave us a miraculous amount of space. I can only imagine how amazing it would have been to have all of this advice back then. Dorm fridges are the best and do triple duty: food storage, a table top, and magnetic message board! 😉
Diane N Quintana says
Fabulous tips, Sabrina. Putting all the handy helping tools in 1 bag or container is a huge benefit. I found that tempers were short on move-in day. My sons wanted help but they wanted it quickly with a minimum of fuss. Having things containerized in advance and easy to access relieves some of the pressure and makes it easier to put things away quickly. Anyone moving a child into a dorm (boarding school or college) will benefit from reading this post.
Janet Schiesl says
Great advice. Moving to college can be so emotional. Being organized so it's easier can certainly help.
I only moved one son into a dorm (and then an apartment). We were organized, so it was quick. But I keep learning. My sister used the large IKEA blue shopping bags to pack her for her daughter's moves. That way they could keep the bags (because they fold up) to repack when it's time to move out.
Sabrina Quairoli says
Large jumbo bags are great! We have a stack of them for each kid's move. I take them back and store them at the house and when I see them again before they move back, I give them the bags. It saves on space in their dorms and they don't get very dusty because let's face it, kids don't clean under their beds in a dorm. =)
Sheri Steed says
These are all excellent tips. We’ve also done this a number of times, and observed roommates and others doing it as well. Just thinking through things in advance and resolving issues before they arise is so helpful. You’ve demonstrated exactly how to do that.
Ronni Eisenberg says
Sabrina,
Every tip here is spot on. I think setting up a dorm room is an organizer’s dream come true. It really tests are skills.
When my oldest went off to college, I was so impressed with the moms and dads who had tools with them. As you pointed out, a hammer, screwdrivers (Phillips and flathead), maybe even an electric drill helped. Also, having a supply of 3M Command strips.
Reaching out to roommates and collaborating on what to bring is so smart. It does cut down on duplicating items that are unnecessary.
I thought the bed risers, so that we could store as much as possible under the bed but on wheels was helpful.
I also liked buying everything at Bed Bath and Beyond locally, then picking it up near campus. The bonus was being able to use coupons for that 20% discount.
You have so many amazing tips here, tried and true!
Sabrina Quairoli says
Thanks! Recently, when I was researching my daughter's university, they sent us a notice that they were working with Bed Bath and Beyond and having the items sent right to the dorm room when we were planning on arriving. WOW! This was very helpful for families, especially ones from out of the country or state.
Sara Skillen says
Although I kind of dreaded taking our girl off to school two years ago, I actually had a blast moving her into the dorm. In addition to your recommendations about Command strips, labels, and bins, we found those IKEA duffle bags to be indispensable - and still use them for all kinds of stuff now. Good luck to your daughter this year!
Janet Schiesl says
Dorm move in day is super chaotic, so any bit of organization helps. I once wrote a blog post called "what not to bring to college". Those dorm rooms are usually small, is NOT bringing something is just as important is what you bring.
Linda Samuels says
I agree with Seana about how much fun it was preparing, organizing, and moving our daughters into their dorm rooms. What an exciting time of transition! Each college had very different procedures for moving in. But even so, the more organized we were in advance, the easier it was for them to unpack and prepare their spaces. It all started before they left with making the lists of things we needed, collecting the items they wanted into labeled bins, and preparing emotionally for the big "move-in" day. One of the containers I found especially useful was the large foldable fabric zipper bag/bins. We used them to move big and bulky items like shoes and bedding. The great thing about them was that after we emptied the bags, they folded up small and stored away easily until we move-out day.
Seana Turner says
This is such an exciting time! We had so much fun moving both of our girls into school. One thing I learned is that different schools have different policies about what can be brought into the rooms and hung on the walls. Some schools, for example, allow kids to only cover a certain percentage of their walls with decorations. I totally agree on renting the microfridge. So much easier than toting your own, especially if you will be living in a dorm into which the school will deliver it. I have to laugh remembering how much we prepared, and how some of my girls' male friends threw a bunch of stuff into trash bags the day before they left 🙂