Moving to college for the first time can be scary and stressful because you’re veering away from your comfort zone. Thankfully, there are a lot of things you can do to ease your fears before the big move. Here are some steps you can do long before you move, so you can feel right at home in your new environment as soon as you get there:
Tip #1 – Plan Ahead
Organize your things and make arrangements with your new dorm or apartment way before the school year begins. Think of what you need to bring from home and make a list of the things you can buy when you get there. If you are driving to school, remember to get your Toronto tires checked if is a long drive. You may consider hiring professional moving services to help you move the big stuff.
Tip #2 – Sign Up for School Notices
Majority of colleges provide freshmen updates to let them know about upcoming activities and events within the school year. Check the school website for policies, join the school mailing list, and sign up for events ahead of time, so adapting to your new environment will be much easier.
Tip #3 – Join Online Communities
Thanks to the advent of technology, you can join school forums and be a part of the college community before the actual move. You can ask questions, read tips, and make connections, which will help ease your doubts.
There’s a big chance that you’ll meet college freshmen in the same boat as you, who feel excited and scared about moving. Share tips on planning and hiring college movers. Touching base with them will help reassure you that you’re not alone.
Tip #4 – Get Settled Before Orientation Begins
Make sure you are able to move all your essentials, and you are settled in your new place by the time orientation begins. This orientation season is the best way to make new friends in your class, course, campus, and residence.
Getting the chance to join events and touring your new school will help you become more comfortable in your new environment. On top of that, you can do a little reconnaissance to find out where the nearest drugstore, grocery, church, and bookstores are, so you can easily find them should the need arise.
Tip #5 – Bring Mementos from Home
Last, but most definitely not the least, an important tip in adjusting to a new environment is to bring some sentimental belongings from your home to help ease the homesickness. You can bring an old teddy bear, a family picture, an old baby blanket, and the like. Being in a new place isn’t so bad when you have a little something from home to cling onto to alleviate your loneliness. Mementos remind you of happy memories, which help you adjust to your new place and life.
