Thoughts on moving in early

College Confidential Community
1

At my school, the returning students (non-freshmen) move in the day before classes start, which usually falls on a Sunday. Note that this only applies for students who live on campus only. You can move in anytime if you live in an apartment or house off campus.

I was just wondering why some schools do this. I mean, if everyone moved back during the week before classes, then this would give everyone time to join clubs/organizations and meet new friends during the weekend.

Overall, this would be good for everyone because when you move in the day before classes start, you have to unpack and organize your room all in one day. You also have to get ready for classes the very next day. Why not move in early and have an entire weekend of freedom before school starts?

2

New students move in the week before, in part, for the reasons you mention. Returning students, in theory, would already have had a year or more to join clubs, make friends, etc.

It’s a dorm room, not a 5000 square foot house. It does not take a lot of time to unpack.

A couple of reasons. From the returning students perspective, they don’t need the extra time on campus, and might prefer to spend the time making money with their summer job or just relaxing. From the university perspective, it’s a logistical challenge to have everyone move in at once and it carries financial implications - more students = more staffing.

3

My daughter’s school has a policy that if you live more than a certain distance away you can move in early. It would be hard for us to move her in the day before school starts because we have an 8-hour drive. She would be exhausted if we drove straight there and she had to unpack in a day.

4

There are hassles/expense/concerns for the school of having people move in earlier. Here are just a few examples:
–The deep cleaning done in the summer would have to be finished earlier.
–Any repairs/refurbishments would have to be completed earlier.
–Food services would have to be available earlier adding to the cost of the meal plan.
–Utility (electric, water) usage would be higher for that week adding to the cost of the dorm.
–RAs would have to start earlier.

–(and likely most important) Having lots of people on campus with very little to do can create dangerous situations (ex. lots of time for people to drink/party too much) that schools look to avoid.

5

My son’s college lets students move into the houses during the week of freshman orientation, but that is because the members of the houses are involved in the process by which freshmen are sorted into houses. It’s a very small college, though.

Athletes often move in several weeks early.

6

My guess is that if they had everyone move in a week before classes, students would have too much idle time and end up spending the majority of it partying.

7

I’m not sure they particularly want to grant you “an entire weekend of freedom” with no strings attached.

They WANT the obligations of classes, tests, labs to keep limits on the behavior. That’s why you move out the day exams end in May/ June.

8

The logistics of having all those people and the extra vehicles on campus unloading near the dorms would be horrible. First year students aren’t even allowed to have cars on campus, partially due to parking. The RAs need to check people in and be available to solve housing problems. Sometime the non-first year dorms are still being refreshed on a predetermined time schedule and aren’t available yet.

At DS’s school, the first year students who live far away could chose the last orientation, move in and then participate in off-campus welcome type events. DS went camping for three days then did class registration back on campus. Other people moved in while he was on the three day event.

9

@happy1 My thoughts on your thoughts:

–The deep cleaning done in the summer would have to be finished earlier:

True, but it really shouldn’t take that long. The work should start when everyone leaves campus for summer break. Then, everything should be finished at least a week or a few days before the students move in. Plus, some buildings can still be worked on during the school year and breaks.

–Any repairs/refurbishments would have to be completed earlier:

Same as above

–Food services would have to be available earlier adding to the cost of the meal plan:

Just a little extra money added to your bill shouldn’t hurt you too much.

–Utility (electric, water) usage would be higher for that week adding to the cost of the dorm:

This wouldn’t be a problem if you live on campus because you already paid for your dorm room, but this would affect off campus apartments and houses only if you move in early.

–RAs would have to start earlier:

They already move in before all of the students arrive, so…

–(and likely most important) Having lots of people on campus with very little to do can create dangerous situations (ex. lots of time for people to drink/party too much) that schools look to avoid:

Partying happens every weekend, so maybe increasing security during this time would help? It definitely worked during homecoming weekend this year at my school: No parties on that Friday, but then it picked up again on Saturday. Also, some of the freshman orientation activities & events should keep some of the “rookies” occupied.

Overall, moving in early might be slightly harder for everyone, but the cons definitely outweigh the pros. So, maybe it’s not meant to be. The only way that you can move in early is if you’re an athlete or if you request special permission.

Although, since I’m helping out with freshman orientation next year, I’ll have to move in a few days earlier than everyone else.

10

I have to disagree with the above. Your perspective is one of a student who likes to party rather than someone who is paying the bills.

–When you say the extra food money won’t hurt you too much – well, if you are paying a ton, going into debt for college as many are then every little bit is important.

–The dorm price would also likely go up slightly to cover the cost of being open the extra weekend with utility, water, personnel etc. costs needed to staff a full building. Again, not an issue if you aren’t the one paying I guess.
–The RAs would likely have to start even earlier so they get the requisite training in before students arrive – so if students come a couple of days earlier the RAs will too. And at some point it cuts into their summer jobs.

–I’d also imagine that insurance costs could go up for the school if students start earlier. And every additional cost will find its way into a bill one way or another.

–There is no need for one extra weekend of partying. With the issues of students drinking to excess (at times sadly leading to tragedy) there is no reason in the world to add a weekend of pure partying to the school calendar when there is no reason for students to be at school, nobody has classwork etc. There is plenty of time for students to have fun during the year.

As a parent I would not pay 2 cents extra so my kids could have a full party weekend in college before class starts. We dealt with moving kids in to colleges both near and far away. My parents and I handled it when I was a student. It isn’t likely to change.

And as you noted for people who do want to move in earlier there are always ways like becoming an orientation leader, becoming a RA, having certain on-campus jobs etc.

No need to tag me on a reply as I have no interest in a more detailed discussion with you on this.

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