With Move-In Day just two weeks away, here are some helpful tips to make the whole Move-In experience better for you. The Move-In Day event can be relatively stressful because of the sheer number of people that are all trying to do similar things in closely located places, so here are some tips and things that you should figure out before getting to campus to make you feel a little more in control before you get there.
1. The Basics About Your Dorm
It's important to know the name of your dorm; you need it to go to the right table and get your keys. It'd be awkward to tell everyone that you're living in Mendoza when you're really living in Morrill, just because they're very different dorms. It's also important to have a general idea of what's around your dorm before you get on campus because you don't want to get lost trying to find your home.
2. Your Roommate(s)
Even if you haven't met them face to face yet, it's important to at least be communicating about what you're bringing to campus. There's no need for you to each have your own printer, TV and Keurig, and if you've talked to each other ahead of time, this can be avoided, especially before the money is spent on these items. Also, knowing what time slot your roommate(s) signed up for is helpful just to avoid trying to put all your unorganized stuff in a small space.
3. The Basics of Your Room/Hall
It's important to know what's already in your dorm because while most halls have the same basic furniture in them, there is still some variation from room to room in the same dorm. All rooms should come with enough beds for the number of people living in them, a micro-fridge, dressers, desks, chairs, and other storage space, like shelving or a filing cabinet. Some dorms have kitchen spaces in them or within the rooms, so depending on that and whether you plan to utilize that space, you need to pack different items. Some of the most important items to bring are a clip light for your bed, multiple power strips, and a fan if your dorm doesn't have air conditioning. The list of what amenities each dorm has and what all they have in a room can be found here.
4. Where Your Buck-ID Is
Your Buck-ID is how you get into your residence hall, and for some dorms, it is also your room key. Last year, I put my Buck-ID down on a table and didn't think about it again until about this time and panicked when I couldn't find it, so that's something to worry about sooner than the day before Move-in Day. It's important to not lose your key or your Buck-ID because you have to pay to replace both of them. It's also important to have a plan as to where you're going to keep it because you'll need it multiple times every day.
5. Your Living Style
It's important to know your habits and what you don't like when other people do. For example, I'm fairly disorganized and will just leave stuff where it falls. So I'd take off my shoes and just place them wherever and because my roommate addressed that she didn't like that, I'd try to keep them more organized and contained to my side of the rule. Moral of the story: communication is key. You have to be willing to admit that you're not perfect and know that not everyone is going to love your habits.
6. Your Meal Plan
The meal plans at OSU are pretty complicated. There are three options and three ways that you can pay for your food, so here's an unofficial explanation of it all in the way that I think makes the most sense. With the Unlimited plan, you can eat at any Traditions hall as many times as you want a week. The Scarlet 14 and the Gray 10 can be used at almost any dining establishment by using your swipes, but these expire weekly on Sunday night. The swipe exchanges are equivalent to $8 with the Scarlet and Gray plans in dining establishments on campus other than the Traditions halls. The other ways you can pay with Dining Dollars and Buck-ID cash, neither of which expire until you graduate. With Dining Dollars, you can get a 35% discount on food in places other than the Traditions Hall, and Buck-ID cash can be used both on campus and at select off campus restaurants.
7. The Buses
There are two types of buses that run near campus: CABS and COTA. The CABS buses just run throughout campus and are free for everyone to use, and you don't need to show your Buck-ID. The CABS schedule can be found on the Ohio State app. The COTA buses run throughout Columbus, and as a student, you can have free access to these buses so long as you swipe your ID; it's $2 for a non-student to use them. I strongly recommend using this and exploring the city.
8. What to Bring
The dorms are all very small, and you have to share the space with at least one other person. One of the things that people can tend to do is over pack. It's important to keep in mind that something you forget can either purchase forgotten items while on campus, or your parents can bring forgotten items to you. Things like winter clothes can be brought to campus at a later date, but it's also important to bring things like an outfit for an interview or a few pairs of jeans. The most important part of packing is making sure that you're not over packing, but also not forgetting the essentials; it's something that is mostly personal preference.
