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Oh my gosh, you are going to college? At the ������ý? 

Congratulations! You picked a great school. Good luck! And don’t forget, you are welcome here. These are about to be the best days of your life, so get ready.

And, hey, while we’re here, just a little advice… PLAN FOR YOUR MOVE-IN DAY!

The first piece of advice I would give you to prepare for moving in would be to double check the day and the time that you move in. Everyone may have a different time, and if you need help figuring out when you are supposed to move in, you can always contact Housing or over the phone (606.539.5316).

Then, after figuring out when you move in, ask who can help you move in. Unless you are moving in by yourself, in which case, I believe in you, you got this! I personally prefer to move in by myself, but if you want help, that’s completely okay. Make sure these people are actually able to help you, do not just assume that they can.

Once you know how you will be getting there and who is coming with you, the next thing you need to do is create a list. I’m serious, make a list, do not wing it, I repeat do NOT wing it. You will forget something important. (For a cheat sheet, look at our “What to Bring” list on our website.) Write down the things you need and the things you want. (And rest assured, we have a Walmart super close to campus, so you can get some last-minute things if you need.)

If you have the chance to go home often, do not overpack for moving into the dorm. You’ll just overfill your room with stuff. Learn your space, see what’s needed and what’s not. Every dorm is different in its own way.  And if you do not have the option to go back and forth between home and campus often, it’s okay to “overpack.” Bring what you know you will need for the amount of time you plan on being on campus before your first trip home. Pro tip: It’s pretty warm in southeastern Kentucky, so you don’t need to bring all your winter gear for the fall semester before Thanksgiving Break. Just bring one winter coat, one hat, one scarf, and a pair of gloves, and you’ll be fine. You can get the rest of your warm clothes from home during Break – maybe trade it out for some summer clothes you bring home from your dorm, so you don’t overcrowd your closet when you get back to campus.

Be sure to pack the basics! If you take medicine every day, bring your medicine. If you use prescription eye contacts, don’t forget them. And so on.

A few specific items that you might not think about but I would recommend bringing are a mattress cover, house shoes, shower shoes, and a robe. I would also recommend bringing a few items to help your room feel like your own. People may argue that your room is not a permanent living space, so why bother decorating like it’s home? To that I would say, you are going to spend most of the year in this room. Make every moment count. Bring a sentimental item from home, and bring a decorative item. No one likes a plain dorm room, so personalize your space as you can. Coming from someone whose mental health heavily relies on my surroundings, a sad-looking dorm room really does affect your mood. So even if it’s something small, bring something that will make you happy.

When you get to the dorm, you are going to want to first check in with the RAs (resident assistants) on duty. They’ll be located inside or immediately outside of your dorm. They will give you your key, and, if you have any questions, they are who to ask.

When you get into your room, and BEFORE you move in ANY of your stuff (unless it’s something that can’t sit in the car), the first thing you need to do is move around your furniture. Set it up the way you like it! After you have your furniture organized the way you like, start bringing in your stuff. And if you don’t have to bring it all in at once, I’d recommend doing it little by little. Bring stuff in, organize that stuff, and repeat until you are done.

After you have moved your stuff in and unpacked, take a well-deserved break. Relax a bit. Give yourself a pat on the back. You just moved in!

When you feel ready, I’d take a walk around  to get used to the area. Maybe find out where your classes will be. Grab your books from the  on campus (located in the middle level of the Boswell Campus Center, or “the Mid,” as we call it) when you can, and get ready for classes. 

I hope you have a great year! Be sure to study, but also just make friends and memories!