*Please note that this blog includes general information about what move-in looks like during a "normal" year. Due to COVID-19, this process will look different than previous years. This blog is for those looking to learn more general information about UVA and it's typical on-grounds housing experience. If you are an incoming first-year, please visit the University's Return to Grounds website for the most updated information, or visit orientation.virginia.edu to learn more about Wahoo Welcome 2020.
First Year Move In
For first years, move in takes place the weekend before classes begin. First years move in over a period of several days based on your dorm. When you first arrive, you will check in with your Resident Advisor who welcomes you to your dorm! After you check in, you will have a few hours to move your belongings into your room - this process has been made so much easier with most of the dorms being renovated, including elevators and air conditioning. After your designated move in time, you can say goodbye to your family, organize your room, and meet your new roommate and hallmates! Get some rest, because the rest of the move-in weekend will be a whirlwind!
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| There will be plenty of older students and staff to help you pick up your keys and other important items, making your move-in as stress free as possible! |
Move-in Tips
My biggest piece of advice when it comes to moving in is to make a huge packing list. Bed Bath and Beyond has a great one that I referred to: the ultimate dorm checklist. Throughout the summer leading into my move-in I color coded items for either needing to buy in-person, taking from home, or ordering online. I came in with absolutely everything I needed!
Don’t overpack! I remember bringing my entire wardrobe with me my first semester and only wearing about 30% of it. Do not pack 30 t-shirts, odds are you will only wear your 10 favorites. You also likely won’t have tons of closet space, so it’s better to be minimalist if you can.
When you pack clothes, it is a lot easier to move them if you have them already on hangers and side-by-side next to one another. Basically, transfer the clothes from your home closet by placing them exactly the way they are into your suitcase. You can also use a garment bag and hang them in your car.
GET A WAGON! There are foldable wagons for 15 dollars at various stores and they are the most helpful tool you can imagine. It is so much easier to load your stuff into a wagon than it is to carry it to your room.
Pack for the elements! Make sure you have a raincoat and an umbrella, and when it approaches winter time you will need a warm jacket for walking.
Be creative with how you organize your room. You want to maximize the space as much as possible. Your desk will probably serve as your work-space, vanity, and kitchen all in one!
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Many upperclassmen students volunteer to be "greeters," helping first-years move in to their dorms. It's so nice to have an extra set of hands and meet older students on your first day of college! Photo via news.virginia.edu |
And they were... Roommates?!
Whether you choose to pick your roommate randomly or to pick someone that you already know, you will know who they are by around the middle of the summer before your first year. I recommend reaching out and touching base with them before you both arrive on Grounds. Lots of roommate pairs coordinate things like whether they want to buy a mini fridge and microwave or a rug to make the room a little more homey. Even if you decide you don’t want one of these in your room, it can be fun to send cute decorations back and forth and have someone who will be getting just as excited for college as you are. You won’t need to worry too much about setting expectations about cleanliness or quiet hours during the summer-- your RA will help you and your roommate write up a roommate agreement about these habits once you arrive on Grounds.
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| Summer intern Ben and his first-year roommate- their room is all set up! |
Wahoo Welcome
Wahoo Welcome takes place the week after move-in and is your welcome into Grounds and the UVA community! Starting after you move in, you will have hall meetings with your RA, academic advising, and informational events designed to ease your transition into college. But Wahoo Welcome is not just informational! Events such as the Wahoo Welcome concert in the amphitheater and Convocation on the Lawn make your first week at UVA an incredible experience. For incoming first years, even though move-in might look a tad different this fall as the University takes the necessary precautions to keep everyone safe during the COVID-19 pandemic, we’re all so excited to give you a warm “Wahoo Welcome” here in Charlottesville and eagerly await your arrival!
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| Convocation occurs on the Lawn and features a variety of speakers who address your class, including student leaders like the President of Student Council and the University Judiciary Committee. Picture via news.virginia.edu |
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