Preparing for dorm life
Moving In and Out
Before you go shopping for anything to put in your dorm, the very first thing that you should do is contact your roommate. You need to decide who is bringing what. It would be a mess if you each brought doubles of things, especially televisions and microwaves.
Moving In Day
Students will be informed of the day they will be able to move in. This will be one of the most chaotic days of your life. The dorms are usually packed with students, their dorm items, and parents. Try to pack everything you will need from home well in advance and in an orderly way. This will save time when you need to haul your stuff up stairs or in the elevators. There are 4 wheeled carts available to you at the front desk but they are always in short supply. If you have a lot of heavy items or boxes, a two wheel dolly would be perfect to assist you in moving in.
Room Inventories
When you finally get settled your RA will do a room inventory and give you a long list of things that are damaged in your room. Don't forget to write down everything that is wrong with your room so that you don't get charged for it later on.
Things to bring
Remember, BSU has some “Guidelines” that should be followed on what you can bring up to your dorm. BSU doesn't want anything that could be considered a fire hazard in your room, including; toasters and coffee makers or anything with a heating unit inside of it. You may however use those items in the kitchen. Keep in mind you are not moving into a 5 story mansion, you get to own half of a 17’ by 11’ room.
A view of an empty room from the counter area looking at the door going out of the room.
Food and refrigerators
When you live in a dorm you’re not ready for a full refrigerator, with a freezer compartment that doesn't’t do anything besides grow frost. Along with this freezer compartment you get a Chick-let ice cube tray to cool your drinks with. Be prepared to bring boxed food and dry snacks because Wally's gets old fast. Remember that if you do bring milk or any dairy products, make sure you realize that those little refrigerators won’t keep foods fresh for long. Before you take a big gulp of that milk that you left over Christmas break, smell it first.
After Mom and Dad leave
Moving in when you are a freshman will be a difficult task. You won’t know exactly what you need, especially when it comes to decorating your dorm. You won’t know what fits in your drawers or what kind of clothes you need. Don’t worry you will eventually figure it out. Make sure Mommy and Daddy leave a nice chunk of money for you. You may forget some small crucial objects like light bulbs, a mattress pad or a can opener.
Moving out
Moving out is a challenge because you will probably have your room packed with a lot of dorm items at the end of the year. This is also the time of year that you are dealing with the horror of all horrors: finals week. The best idea for freshmen is to start packing early. Try to figure out what are not essentials and pack them as early as possible. This will make the moving out process a lot easier in the long run. Moving out sometimes is difficult because it's during quiet hour, so lofting times, vacuuming, and cart usage is restricted. R.A.'s are also required to check your room right before you leave in order to make sure that everything is clean and the way it was before you moved in.
Room damages
This is the time to watch out for any damages that may have been caused to your room. If at the end of the year you have stains on the carpet, holes in walls and screens or leaving your room extra dingy, may cause a heavy fine. Double check that you hide that soy sauce stain on your carpet with your chair.
Asking Mom and Dad to come back
Parents are a great help when you are moving out because they provide not only an extra hand but also more vehicles. This speeds up the moving out process. Don't be ashamed to ask them for assistance.