Move-in day is hectic and stressful for all college students, especially those who will be living on campus for the first time. Arriving on a new and somewhat unfamiliar campus can be hard enough without having to worry about moving all of your belongings into a room half the size of the one you have at home. However, planning ahead, staying organized and communicating with your roommate(s) can save a lot of time and energy when you’re moving into your new home away from home.

Organize your belongings

Before you leave your house, organize your clothes, shoes, outerwear, etc., and separate them from your personal items and your school supplies. Know what items are in each box, bag or suitcase, and label them if you have to. This will save a lot of time and energy once you start unpacking and moving into your room.

Plan your layout

Talk to your roommate about the layout of the room before you both start moving in. Do you want bunkbeds? Do you want your desks facing toward one another or toward the wall? Do you want the TV in the corner of the room or on the adjacent wall? Once you have a plan, test it out when you first get there. If the dresser ends up blocking the window, you might have to move things around again, but it’s a lot easier to move furniture around before you start moving your personal belongings into the room.

Do your research, know your room

Before move-in day, make sure you know all the amenities your dorm has to offer. If your dorm doesn’t have Wi-Fi, for example, you might want to look into buying a longer Ethernet cord than the one provided. If your dorm doesn’t have air conditioning, fans will most likely be a necessity during the first month or two of school. Additionally, some dorms provide you with a refrigerator and a microwave, some give you the option of renting them, and some don’t offer those amenities at all. Knowing what your dorm has to offer ahead of time will eliminate surprises when seeing your room for the first time.

Coordinate move-in times with your roommate

No matter how neat you are, moving into a dorm room usually results in a hectic, cluttered mess until you are entirely moved in. Boxes and bins block the doorway, clothes lay strewn across the bed, and suitcases are scattered across the floor. In the midst of trying to get yourself organized, there is nothing worse than trying to unpack when your roommate is doing the same. Schedule your move-in times a few hours apart, so you have the space you need to organize. Once both of you are mostly unpacked, you can come together to finalize your room decor. Hanging pictures and posters together can be much more fun once your room is ready and organized.

Bring a toolbox

When my parents helped me move into my dorm freshman year, my dad brought his toolbox. I remember teasing him about it, telling him that he was being a little too excessive, but I instantly regretted it when we ended up opening that toolbox multiple times throughout the move-in process. We used tools to put together my TV stand, to fix my desk chair, to open my window and to put together a nightstand. We also ended up lending our tools to some of my floormates who didn’t think about the necessity of a toolbox ahead of time. Because we didn’t have to go to a hardware store, my dad’s toolbox ended up saving us a lot of time and energy.

Ask for help

Most dorms have volunteers that will help you move in throughout the day. They can direct you to the sign-in desk or show you where to retrieve your keys. They can lead you to your room or show you where the bathroom is located on your floor. Sometimes, they even help you carry your belongings to your room. Additionally, resident advisers and other housing staff members will be available to answer any questions you may have about moving in or living there for the rest of the school year. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.

Lauren is a junior in Media. She can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @LaurenRohr.