Hello, my dear readers! This is my first Experience Iowa! blog and the first installation of my How To: series! My goal is to share tips and tricks I pick up through trial and error so you don’t have to. I am the eldest of four siblings, so I didn’t have a lot of guidance going into college, and I wish that I had. Hopefully, this series can shed a little light on the process!
Today, I’m going to break down how I moved to college. It can seem like a daunting process, so let’s break it down:
Step 1. Pack.
Yep. Step one starts before you even get to school, and in my opinion, this is the hardest part.
The first thing you want to think about is necessities. This includes school supplies, personal care items, technology, clothes, and bedding. You actually need to like, live, in your dorm. For most things, you only need one, specifically for hygiene refills. Go to the store when you need to; your dorm is small, and it won’t be fun to try to organize a year of refills. Though buy a soap pump and a refill bottle; that is both greener and more convenient than buying a new hand soap every time you run out! In addition to soap, bringing two pairs of sheets is smart. That way, you can make your bed while washing the other set. I also wish I had brought two pillows. I thought it would take up too much space on my bed and in the car without being worth it; if you sleep with two pillows normally, bring two pillows.
Speaking of, you want to make our room feel like home. After all, it is home for the year. If you sleep with a stuffed animal, bring them. If you need to plan your week on a whiteboard, do it. If you keep plants in your room, bring your children with you! What helps you succeed at home can help you at school and will ease the transition. Other things I brought to make the space mine were some art pieces I had on my walls, a bedside lamp, my plants, some fairy lights, and my typical desk setup. I also brought a few hobby items, specifically, a box of acrylic paints, brushes, markers, pens, and a sketchbook. I use these often enough that I know I would miss them if I didn’t have them with me at school. However, my art supplies at school take up a fraction of the space that they do at home. Pack with the process of unpacking in mind, and be space-conscious.
One more tip for packing: Pack seasonally. If you’re a traditional student, you’re coming in at the end of summer into fall. Pack both warm weather and cool weather clothes, and get your heavy-duty winter stuff when family comes up or you go home closer to Thanksgiving break. Maybe bring one warm coat, though. I forgot to do that, and it can get chilly as the weather turns!
Finally, you must box up all of your carefully prepared items. I began with things I knew I would not use in the days leading up to move-in day, like my lamp, my art supplies, and cold-weather clothes. I also labelled each box in case the contents were fragile and to aid in unpacking. As the days tick down, start packing your warm-weather clothes, beginning with formal/less warm pieces and ending with what you wear most often. Lay out your move-in outfit and any hygiene products you’ll need in the morning, and then go to bed, knowing you are all packed and ready for move-in day!
Step 2: Move-in day!
Arrive at your dorm and stretch. You’ve probably driven a long way, and you might be feeling a lot of things. That’s completely normal, so take a second to center yourself. Then head inside, grab your key and a cart, and start taking your stuff to your room. I chose to leave my stuff on my bed and beneath it, unpacked, and continue getting checked in and oriented, but it is also completely fine to unpack partially or fully as soon as you arrive! It is all down to personal preference.
After dropping my stuff off, I headed to the IMU to check into On Iowa! and get some swag (including the Block I photo shirt!). After that, I got lunch with my parents and went to Walmart for some last-minute dorm essentials, including toilet paper, paper towels, and cleaning supplies. I also looked for a storage unit/bedside table; I recommend putting off purchasing extraneous storage until you arrive at the dorm and see what space you’re working with.
Then, I took a walk with my parents to postpone saying goodbye. Leaving my parents for the first time was very difficult; I had never had to be apart from them for so long. This is why I chose to save my unpacking until I was alone; I used it to decompress and reorder my emotions. It helped me clear my head, and by the time I was done, I wasn’t as sad anymore. Don’t rush yourself when you’re moving in; this is a brand-new, monumental experience, and you can feel however you want about it. Give yourself space and time, and try to get a good night’s sleep that first night.
Step 3: Roomie 🙂
Meet your roommate(s). I met my roommate as soon as I moved in. I didn’t know her personally before I arrived, but luckily, we clicked and live together peacefully. Most roommate situations are like that, but sometimes there are problems. At college, we’re all adults, so talk those issues out and get an RA involved if needed. Being a good roommate is a skill, and it’s okay if you’re not excellent at it immediately. Communicate clearly and promptly, and most people will respect that.
Step 4: On Iowa!
On Iowa! is a week of fun programming designed to get you acquainted with campus and all it has to offer. Nothing is required, but get out of your dorm and have some fun! You can learn about academic and social opportunities on campus, sports teams, student orgs, and get acquainted with the city itself! Don’t worry if you have no one to go to events with. During the first week, everyone is on a pretty steep learning curve and is open to meeting new people. Just be kind, open-minded, and ready for a good time!
Pro-tip:
Go to the Block I photo and Kickoff at Kinnick! They’re freshman traditions, and no one wants to be the that person who has to confess to skipping when their friends and family ask where they were standing in the photo. It takes like ten minutes, just go. Kickoff is fun, too! You don’t get to go on the field any other time, so take advantage.
Step 5: Finding your way around
Familiarize yourself with your schedule. There are no On Iowa! activities on the Sunday before classes begin, but all the academic buildings are open. Walking your schedule, or at least finding all of your classrooms, is a great way to spend that time. That way, any kinks you may need to solve won’t be when you actually need to be somewhere on time.
To demonstrate, one of my friends had a class in the Public Library, which was strange. We went there while following her schedule on Sunday, and they redirected us to the Main Library on campus because there was a glitch in the schedule. That was a great thing to find out on Sunday instead of Monday.
Step 6: School, actually.
You made it to day one of classes! You should be proud. Hopefully, you’ve made a friend, met your roommates, unpacked, and done some cool stuff on campus already. Now, you actually have to go to school. It’s going to feel weird at first, but you will find your rhythm.
One effective strategy is to block out every section of your day. Add all your assignments and due dates as soon as you can. College is different than high school in that most professors will provide you with a schedule of assignments, tests, and projects in the syllabus. Moreover, block study and homework time. On the “Add a description” line in Outlook, you can also add which assignments you must complete ASAP and which you simply need to begin. This way, study time is structured and efficient. You can also block in meals, naps/rest times, clubs, and friend hang-outs. Make your calendar work for you. Personally, I use Outlook because it automatically syncs to my Apple calendar on my phone.
Step 7: Wash, rinse, repeat.
So. You’ve started college. You’re thriving! (Hopefully). If you are having doubts, friend troubles, roommate issues, or homework problems, though, all you have to do is ask for help. Everyone knows that the transition to college is difficult, and there are so many people at the University of Iowa whose job it is to support you. You can succeed here, and you will. It’s only a matter of time.
Catch you in the next one!
Kiah <3
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