First off, congratulations! Your summer is in full swing and in the fall — or early August, semester schools are weird like that — you head off to college. You worked hard this past year to complete your applications, gather letters of recommendation, research schools, — maybe even visit schools — fill out what seems like mountains of paperwork and choose a place where you’ll spend the next two to five years. But hey, your job’s not done yet — well, what I consider the boring and stressful stuff is — now comes the fun part, planning your move!
For most people, a move to college marks the first time they no longer live at home with their parents or other family members. This is tough, especially when everything else is also new. You need to create your new normal. What better way to jump in than with a couple of tips to start your official move-in checklist!
Tip 1: Find your college’s packing list
Most universities offer pretty extensive housing and dining resource web pages filled with checklists and pre-arrival information for you to review. When you know what items are helpful to bring and what aren’t, you save money and time while you pack and shop for back-to-school essentials.
Tip 2: Subscribe to your college’s social media accounts and newsletters
Don't just take my word for it — hear from our experts!
“Stay tuned and check in for exciting events planned by your school’s dining and housing teams this next year. These are fun opportunities to relax away from classes and also make friends, so don’t miss out!
Also, the dining commons are a student’s best friend, not just for the food, which at UC Davis is top-notch but also for meeting friends, studying and creating a community that is your home away from home. A pro tip from us to you is to get to know ALL your campus’ dining locations early on! You don’t want to wait to know things like that the Spokes has incredible milkshakes, The Gunrock has killer events, Silo Market has epic sandwiches and Latitude Market has the best Hawaiian BBQ.
Get involved early and you’ll end the year full of memories and friends that’ll last a lifetime.”
— Kristen Stephens, marketing and communications specialist, UC Davis Student Housing and Dining Services
Laureena Gladwin, marketing specialist, UC Davis Student Housing and Dining Services
Lizanne Shera-Seitz, marketing specialist, UC Davis Student Housing and Dining Services
The first week of school goes by in a blur. Every department, campus group and programming coordinator offer events to help you make friends and get excited to live on campus. Follow social media accounts and newsletters — I suggest new Aggies subscribe to The Aggie Reader, Davis Dish or Instagram accounts like @ucdavishousing and @ucdavisdiningservices, to learn about student housing and dining happenings — so you don’t miss out on fun and often free events.
Tip 3: Attend fun housing and dining events
Fun events are a great way to make friends and connect to your new home. Be on the lookout for themed events, movie nights and special programs. At UC Davis, Student Housing and Dining Services puts on a series of quarterly movie nights and hosts themed dining meals ranging from honoring cultures through heritage months to exciting events, like a sci-fi themed meal. They also create interactive programs, such as Aggie Passport, to encourage everyone to visit on-campus dining locations! Sometimes, you even win prizes or gift cards for going to events. So, honestly, what’s stopping you from going?
Tip 4: Find or make your own college bucket list
This is a perfect time to explore something new. Everyone is in the same boat as you. Feel prepared to jump into this adventure and create your own bucket list of things that excite you about your new home. You’ll never know if you missed something special unless you try it out!