Everything You Need to Know About Moving to College

England and the World Cup, a summer with the sun for a change, beach parties, BBQ’s, hanging out with friends, that pretty much sums up your summer of 2018.

But sooner or later you are going to have to prepare to move to University or College.

I know, it is the last thing you want to think about when the sun is shining and the beers are cooling, but get organised now and your moving day with be a whole lot easier.

So whether you are going to university or college for the first time or returning for another year, there are ways to make moving away easier.

And the sooner you start planning, the more chance you have of snapping up the free things from recycling websites that everyone will be after once they move to their new digs at college.

But first on your to-do list should be to make sure any paperwork that needs completing before you go to college or university is done well in advance of moving-in day. It is one less thing to worry about when there will be so much going on.

A must do is making a moving to-do list which will help keep you organised and ensure you don’t forget to do something.

Things to Know Before Moving to College

It makes no sense to go to the trouble of moving things that you don’t need or you are not allowed to take.

So the first job is to speak to your halls of residence or landlord to find out:

• What they are supplying
• What they recommend you take
• What you are prohibited from taking
• How much storage space is available to you
• What the move-in date is
• What times you can move in between
• Where you collect the keys from
• Try to get a map of the campus so you know exactly where you are going

If you are moving into a shared house agree on the things each of you will take, there is no point in transporting two toasters or two sets of saucepans for example.

• Talk to your housemates before you start planning what to take
• Agree between you, and then make a list, of everything you will need for the home
• Decide who is responsible for getting which household items
• Use websites such as freecycle.co.uk to get as much free stuff as you can to kit out your new home
• Find out the addresses of the local second-hand shops around the college or university where you may pick up some bargains
• Plan to get as much stuff local to your college as you can to save having to transport it
• If there is a group of you moving from your hometown to the same college, why not consider hiring a removal company to transport everybody’s things all together. It will be easier and cheaper.
• Contact the landlord and confirm if you need to arrange connection of an internet provider for example.
• Arrange an arrival time with the landlord so that you are all there together to get the keys, take meter readings and note the condition of the property when you move in.
• Double check that the utilities will all be connected for when you arrive
• It is a good idea to video or photograph everything in the property so that there can be no dispute about damages when you go to get your deposit back
• Agree with your new housemates how you will pay the household utility bills, and how you will split the costs of cleaning products for example.

And before moving out of home for the first time, one of the most crucial things to do is to learn how to budget. Getting yourself into a financial mess will be one stress you can do without and your coursework will likely suffer as a result.

So, learn how to set a household budget and how to manage your finances. Better to get to grips with that part of your new life now than struggle with it when you are also juggling with writing 4 or 5 essays and a pile of coursework.

Useful Link: Here’s a link to the gov.uk site regarding student finance.

How to Pack for Moving to College

• The first thing to decide is how you are going to move to college, by car, train or hiring a removal company.
• This will dictate what space is available and therefore how much you can take.
• Avoid using boxes if going by car as they do not use the space available efficiently
• If using a removal company, get free quality boxes from local retailers
• Pack things within things you are going to need at college. For example, use bin liners, bins, rucksacks, the insides of pots and pans.
• Approach the packing with Russian dolls in mind, pack things inside each other.
• Use clothing, towels, and blankets to protect fragile items.
• Leave clothes on hangers, just slip a bin liner over the top. Then they can just be popped in the wardrobe or onto a clothes rail when you get there.
• Label your moving bags / boxes / sacks so that you know what is in each one
• Buy any groceries or toiletries you need when you get to college to save space
• Pack a bag with all your essentials for moving in day, like important paperwork, or medication. Ensure you have plenty of wet wipes and disinfectant for cleaning before you unpack your things.
• Take only the clothing you need for the season, you can swap over your wardrobe during your next visit home
• If taking a load of college books, pack them in small boxes or suitcases, as the combined weight soon adds up and they will be easier to carry in smaller loads.
• If you need to order books online, why not get them delivered directly to your college or new home. Just arrange a delivery date after you move in.
• Cleaning materials and groceries can be ordered online too, and arrange for delivery the day after you move-in which will save time and effort going shopping.
• Make sure all your packing is done well in advance of moving day so that there is no last minute panics.

Essential reading: How to pack a car when moving home

Top Tips for Moving Day

• Dress for the weather, but make sure the clothes you choose are comfortable and that you don’t mind getting them grubby when moving all your kit into your digs
• Wear flat, enclosed, comfortable shoes, especially if you will be lugging stuff up flights of stairs
• Traffic is likely to be heavy as everyone moves back to college, so plan plenty of time for your journey
• Consider where you will unload your vehicle, as parking on campus will be at a premium
• Check with the landlord if renting, if there are any access issues or parking restrictions
• Keep that essentials bag with you at all times.

Worth reading: How to distress after the stress of moving day

How to Settle Into College Life

Any home move can be daunting, but if it is your first time moving away from home, then it can be quite stressful. But there is plenty you can do to help you settle in quickly and make the most of your exciting new life.

• Every college and university will have an orientation week and will likely pair you up with an older student so you get to know the layout of the college and how everything functions.
• Bear in mind that you are not the only one who is unsure or a bit nervous, there are many of you all feeling exactly the same, so go talk to other new entrants and support each other.
• Keeping in touch with old friends will really help, especially if they have moved away to college or university too.
• But don’t plan on going home every weekend which may be tempting if your boyfriend or girlfriend lives there. College is your new home now and you need to nurture new friends and create a new life.
• Get involved in college clubs and activities where it will be easier to make friends as you will have a common interest.
• Find a safe sanctuary where you can retreat to if you just want some time alone.
• Plan something to look forward to such as a trip back home in the next holiday. Chances are you will be having far too good a time at college to keep to the plan, but it is good to have a plan anyway.
• Keep a balance between work and play, there will be plenty of partying going on, but it will be exhausting, so pace yourself.
• Find out what support is available to you. The Students Union will be a great source of information.
• Give yourself time to settle in and get used to everything. Nothing will be familiar straightaway, but give it a few weeks and you’ll soon feel at home.
• Remember that there is lots of support available to you. So if you are struggling for whatever reason, with coursework or loneliness, there will always be someone who has been there, done that, and can help.
• And finally, don’t forget that you are there to learn, so make sure you attend classes, otherwise, you will spend endless nights at the end of the year trying to catch up.

Useful link: Here is the link to the NUS (National Union of Students) website which has loads of information you will find useful about college life.

Good luck with your studies and if you have any hilarious college moving day stories please share them with us in the comments below.

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