Back To School 2012- Move In Day 101

The big day is swiftly approaching.  During the next few weeks, residence halls at colleges across the country will reopen their doors to incoming and returning students.  Move in day is a certified circus. Everybody, and their mama, is on campus moving clothes, refrigerators, computers, etc.  It’s a day of long lines, heinous parking, crowded hallways & sweaty stairwells.  The day can be overwhelming, especially for freshmen and first time dormers already dealing with the anxious excitement of a new school year.  I'm back to share some information that will hopefully help you manage your move in and get you settled as soon as possible.

 Photo Courtesy of http://www.fairfield.edu

 

Call and Confirm- There is nothing worst than hauling all of your stuff to campus to find that there has been an administrative gliche and you don’t have a room. Call/visit your campus prior to move in day to make sure that things are in order. Try not to wait till just the day before you're scheduled to arrive.  The earlier you catch a problem the better.  Start by calling the student accounts office.  Verify that your room deposit has been received and once they give you the green light call the residence life department to confirm that you have a dorm room assignment.

Get There Early and Come Prepared- The earlier you can get to campus the better. Early risers typically benefit by shorter lines and better parking.  Before you can even start moving your things in, you’ll have to receive your room assignment get your keys and sign some paperwork.  Peak hours are typically between10am-2pm. Try your best to beat the rush. Also, be sure to bring all of your paperwork with you on move in day. Get a receipt after paying your dorm room deposit and be prepared to present it in the event that  res life “misplaces” those records and tries to start some funny business.

Be Quick About It- Bear in mind, everybody is moving in with you.  Don't take all day. Try to park as close to your dorm as possible and focus first on moving the stuff from the car to your room.  Get all your stuff out of your car and move it so that someone else can take advantage of your space.  It’s easy to get distracted with cleaning, decorating and rearranging furniture but you can do all of that stuff after you’ve emptied out the car/van/truck.  

 

Dollies/ moving cart, can make your move a lot easier.  Some residence life offices have them available for your use.  They are usually available on a first come first serve basis and it can be hard to track one down, especially during the rush.   You can rent one for the day from FedEx Kinkos or UHaul.  But ask around, I'm sure you have an uncle or family friend who has one that they can lend you. 

Dress Appropriately- There’s always that one girl wheeling her suitcase up the stairs in a tube top, 3 inch wedges and a full face of makeup.  She may look fabulous but the bottom line is just she can’t move as fast as she could in jeans and sneakers.   I’m all for looking and feeling fantastic at all times, but move in day is not a time for eyelashes and open toed shoes.  Safety first. You’ll be walking up and down stairs, lugging heavy boxes/bins, rearranging furniture and more. Wear something that you can move in that fits you well.  If you’re wearing jeans wear a belt and make sure you can bend over and squat down without your entire tail falling out of your jeans.  Save all that for the first campus party ;-). Also, do yourself a favor and wear a closed toe shoe. There is no pain like that pain of a storage bin full of winter sweaters falling on your bare naked foot.  I'm not telling you what I heard I am telling you what I know.

Be Functional but Still FABULOUS- Finally, please don’t take my last bit of advice to mean you should move in looking like you’re about to take a nap. On the contrary, I’m encouraging functional fabulous fashions, combed hair and fresh faces. You are making a first impression, don’t do it in some ole basketball shorts with a scarf on your head.

 

Please be advised, many colleges and universities enlist campus athletes and fraternities to assist families with move in.  GIRL, get your lip gloss poppin and make some FRIENDS!

Professional Conferences- A Few Things to Keep in Mind When Planning to Attend

So a few days back I did a blog post encouraging all students and graduate students to attend professional conferences.  If you haven’t had a chance to check it out.. click here..   Today I’m sharing some do’s and don’ts of professional conference attendance for all of those who may be considering attending  a conference in the coming weeks.  The spring usually kicks off the conference rush and hopefully you plan to get in on the goods this year. 

As always there are some things that the novice conference attendee should be versed in to ensure your conference attendance is all that it can be.  That’s where I come in.

1. Register Early- Conference registration gets more expensive as the days roll on.  The earlier you register the more you save. When researching what conference to attend look out for those with early bird registration rates  and other perks that come along with taking care of your business early in the game.
2. Emphasize Your Student Status- Most professional conferences and organizations target student populations with reduced registration fees and/or travel & accommodations stipends.  If you don’t see this information published on conference websites or printed materials, make a phone call  or send an email inquiring about them specifically.  Organizations usually make concessions for starving students with genuine desires to attend a conference.  You won’t know what’s out there unless you ask.
3. Don’t Go Alone-  If you can help it, try not to travel alone. These conferences can be huge and having a buddy to travel with is usually much safer and smarter especially if you’re traveling out of state/overseas.  Also, having a buddy can ease the tensions of networking as well.  It is often easier to approach someone you don’t know, when someone that you do know is in close proximity.
4. Dress the Part- Yes, you are a student but now is the time to prepare for career that you’re aspiring towards.  Most conferences have a business casual dress code for most events.  A three-piece suit and briefcase may not be necessary, but a clean, polished and groomed appearance always is.  I say, don’t even pack your frumpy clothes. You may meet a potential boss, professor, colleague in the elevator or at the ice machine, don’t let them catch you slippin in your cutoffs and cropped graphic tee. 
5. Participate As Much As You Can-  If there are opportunities for you to join student panels or present your research at symposia or poster competitions, then take advantage of them.  These things shine on resumes and really put you in the position for some prime networking.  In your planning, check the conference marketing materials for calls for student ambassadors or to join conference-planning committees.  Not only is this a great look for your resume but it just may get your registration fees waved and VIP access while at the conference as well. 
6. Have Fun- This is not supposed to be a painful experience.  If you are dreading attending a particular conference chances are it might not be the event for you.  Seek our conference opportunities that meet all of your needs and interests.  Look for conferences in sunny locations and/or cities that you’d like to visit.  Plan to stay an extra day and make a little vacay of it.  Research planned events attached to the conference and in the local area and make plans to do as much as you can. I assure you, good times will be had!            

The great thing about most conferences is that they tend facilitate a professional, but quite relaxed, learning environment. You’re joining a group of people that share a significant interest in and passion for the same thing. It’s invigorating. There are countless opportunities to extend not only your knowledge base but your professional network as well.  Additionally, I’ve always had a fantastic time meeting, mingling, such at the social programming featured at the conferences that I’ve attended. So it’s basically an all around WIN! I hope you’re considering hitting us a professional conference soon.  Let me know if you need any help in finding the right one for you.