It is almost that time of the year to move into college for the first time, or maybe moving back into school if you are an upperclassman. This part of starting off the school year can be long and hard. Here are some tips to make moving into the dorms a much better process!

1. Make sure to check with the business office before you even arrive!

Most schools will let you know if you need to go somewhere to get things finished before you can even move in. Try and avoid needing to go and finish things up. Make sure to check due dates and if something is late, see if you can get it fixed before move-in day! It will be one less thing to deal with.

2. Find out where you are living!

You should have already found out what building you are in, but make sure you know where the dorm is on campus. You don't want to be parked on the wrong side of campus, or go into a building that is not yours and have to possibly travel across campus, or be blocked in if the parking is limited.

3. Check out your room first

If there are things in the room that need to be moved around, do that before you bring anything up to your room and unpack. For example, if there is no place to set up your TV to the cable connection, move your desk maybe to that spot so you have a place to put your TV.

4. Start with the heavy/bulky stuff

This will make it all easier in the end. The big stuff needs a place first, before any of the little stuff. Refrigerator, TV, Keurig, printer, etc should go in first because anything small will be more versatile for where it can go.

5. The faster, the better!

Get everything at least up to your floor, or even in your room quickly. There are so many people that need to move into the dorms before and after you and there are going to be lots of cars with little space to park in. The best bet is to get everything out so that the car can be moved so someone else can get moved in!

6. UNPACK EVERYTHING!

You will not have time at all to organize your room the first week you are there. Whether there is orientation or classes start the next day, there will be little time to be able to unpack. You will be stuck trying to find clothes out of your suitcase, or trying to find where your parents packed your pens for classes. This will also give you an opportunity to find out if you need anything after you move in.

College is one of the best times of your life! Following these tips will help you start that journey sooner and you will not run into many complications on that first day! Make the start of the school year less stressful!