Preparing for university move in day

Moving to university for the first time for me was both slightly daunting and very exciting. You may be unsure where to start when it comes to preparing for the big day. Which is why I’ve written this blog, to share everything I’ve learnt, from packing to dealing with those emotional goodbyes when your parents leave. I moved from Hampshire to Yorkshire, so it was a pretty big move for me. I hope my experiences and what I’ve learnt helps you. 

How I prepared for the big day

In the weeks leading up to moving to Leeds, I got a lot of emails from the university. I found these emails really useful as they gave me essential information, including where to park and whether I needed to book a time slot. Keeping on top of my email inbox and all these messages was definitely crucial in helping me get organised for the day itself. As well as regularly checking my emails, I also watched lots of student vlogs. While I can write all day about the information you need in order to move in, there’s nothing quite like watching other people’s real experiences (can you tell I’m a film student?). Watching vlogs gave me more of an idea about how busy move in day is, they also showed me how long it can take to buy everything you need and get everything packed

What I’ve learnt about packing

As someone who has lived in four student homes, I’m very experienced in moving into new flats and houses. Which means, along the way, I’ve learnt a lot about packing.

One technique I find useful is to have one bag packed with my overnight essentials, like my pyjamas, slippers and toiletries. I do this so I know if anything delays my move in time, I don’t have to spend ages searching through my many bags looking for the things I need to prepare for bedtime. Even if it’s just for peace of mind, making sure you’re able to easily find everything you need for the first night is something I always do. I mean, who wants to be scrambling through suitcases at 11:30pm on their first night looking for their toothbrush - not me.

Another thing I’ve learnt is it’s much better to separate your packing into specific themes, for example, you could separate by room and pack all your kitchen items in one bag. This will help make the process of unpacking less chaotic and stressful. Unfortunately, I’ve learnt this the hard way and the last few times I’ve moved in I’ve ended up with a bag of miscellaneous items on my bed. This isn’t ideal and only makes unpacking overwhelming. I’d definitely recommend trying to pack as sensibly as possible. Don’t end up like me with about twelve individual bags for life with random bits and bobs in because I couldn’t find bigger bags!

Checking everything works in your flat and bedroom

I always think it’s best to check everything works when you first move in so you can get any issues sorted as soon as possible. If you’re living in student accommodation then your halls will have a maintenance team who can come out and fix things. You can find their details in your welcome pack or on the halls website. There'll also be lots of helpful staff around on move-in day too who you can raise any issues with. When I moved in, the staff were so lovely and welcoming. Thankfully I didn’t have anything I needed to report but I knew if I did there was friendly staff I could approach.

Meeting flatmates

In my flat the kitchen was a prime spot for hanging out. It’s also likely to be the first place you meet your flatmates, as you all busily unpack your shiny new pots and pans. If you don’t meet your flatmates while you’re unpacking, and you’re feeling a little bit nervous, I always think going into the kitchen under the pretence of making a cup of tea is a great thing to do. As you can let the conversation brew naturally while you wait for the kettle to boil. Also, offering to make someone a cup of tea is guaranteed to get you off to a good start.

While your flatmates are probably the first people you meet at uni, there’s lots more freshers to meet outside your flat. When I moved in there were several parties and events in and around my halls, Woodhouse Flats, that gave me the perfect opportunity to socialise with everyone else in my block. I loved my first night, playing giant Jenga - it was for sure the best way to have a laugh and break the ice!

Dealing with goodbyes

Even though move-in day is incredibly exciting, it’s also normal to feel a bit emotional. When my mum left I felt a bit overwhelmed as the realisation I was in a new city hit me. You don’t quite realise how you’re going to feel until you’re in the moment. On reflection, I think if I’d have planned an activity to do, like my food shopping, it might have helped take my mind off what I was feeling. The most important thing I think to remember though is that everyone else is in the same boat as you and they may also be feeling just as emotional. So don’t feel ashamed about talking about this or bringing up how homesick you are in conversation as the weeks go on

Overall, moving day is the start of an exciting new chapter and the start of making new friends. However, it’s also bound to feel a little nerve-wracking too. The best thing you can do is be as prepared as possible, and remember that everything will work itself out.