Move-in day is one of the first moments when IMSA starts to feel real. After months of getting ready, you’re finally hauling your belongings into a dorm, meeting your roommate, and figuring out how to turn a pretty empty room into a place that feels like home. It can be exciting, chaotic, and a little overwhelming all at once. Here are a few ways to make the process easier.
Bring a Helper
Moving everything by yourself is possible, but why make it harder? Bring a family member, friend, or anyone willing to help carry boxes and rearrange furniture. Upperclassmen are also usually around during official move-in to lend a hand. Having another person can make the difference between a smooth move and spending an hour trying to maneuver a mattress by yourself.
Pace Yourself
You do not have to unpack your entire life in one afternoon. Take breaks, drink water, and grab something to eat. If you’re rearranging your room or putting up decorations, give yourself time to figure out what actually works instead of trying to finish everything at once.
Take Advantage of the Carts
Those dorm carts are there for a reason! Use them to transport heavier or bulkier items between your car and your room. They can also become your best friend when you’re bringing things back after breaks or long weekends.
Make Your Room Feel Like Yours
Once the boxes are unpacked, the fun part begins. Your dorm room doesn’t have to look like a Pinterest board; it just needs to feel comfortable to you and your roommate. A few personal touches can completely change the atmosphere.
Bring Lights
Fairy lights or other approved indoor lights can make a dorm feel much warmer, especially during late-night studying. Just make sure whatever you bring follows IMSA’s dorm safety rules. The rules (Student-Parent handbook) can be found on IMSA’s website under Parent Resources and Student Resources.
Bring Photos and Posters
Photos, posters, and other decorations are an easy way to add personality to your walls. Bring some sticky tack or another approved way to hang things, because realizing you have decorations but nothing to put them up with is an unfortunate move-in-day classic.
Keep Snacks Around
Snacks can be a small but surprisingly important part of dorm life. They’re useful after a long day of unpacking, during late-night study sessions, or when you simply don’t feel like leaving your room. Consider bringing a few of your favorite snacks from home—they can make the first few weeks feel a little more familiar and give you something to look forward to after a busy day.
Don’t Overpack
It can be tempting to bring everything you think you might possibly need for the entire school year. Resist the urge. Start with the essentials and add things later if you realize you need them. You’ll thank yourself when you don’t have to squeeze an unreasonable number of boxes into your room on move-in day.
Most importantly, don’t stress about making everything perfect immediately. Your room will change throughout the year, and so will your routines. Leave some space for the unexpected—the random decorations, inside jokes, and memories that eventually make your dorm feel like home.
Good luck moving in, and welcome to IMSA!
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