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Moving to College Checklist

Moving to College

That moment when you receive your Letter of Acceptance is one of the most exciting and life-changing moments you can ever feel. Next, there is the big party that you totally deserve and soon enough the move-out day will come. Leaving your college preparation for the last few days can turn into a real havoc. There are a lot of moving-to-college tasks you have to take care of. In order to avoid a false start, make a checklist with all the jobs you need to handle before moving to college.

Paperwork comes first

Learn it, embrace it, and love it. There is no other way. Leaving paperwork for the last minute because it’s too tedious for you to deal now, or underestimating it is a big mistake.

Perhaps, you are moving to another country to get your degree, and then you’ll have to manage your visa. And, obtaining a visa is neither a fast nor an easy process. Once you have your Letter of Acceptance, apply for a visa so you can get it in time before the big move. Make sure your passport is not expiring soon. Get to know the immigration policy in advance.

Next, research the health insurance options. You might start with contacting your admissions office. Many colleges and universities offer health plans to their students through insurance companies. You can also look for insurance on your own online.

Along with taking care of your health, take care of your financials. Check whether there is a local branch of your bank nearby college. And, if you are moving abroad, then you have to dig deeper. Look up local banks, requirements to open an account and take in mind currency exchange rates. Moreover, mind that there most probably will be strict requirements on importing money.

For example, if you are bringing $10,000 or more in currency or negotiable monetary instruments to the USA, you must fill out a “Report of International Transportation of Currency and Monetary Instruments” FinCEN 105 (former CF 4790). And, if you fail to declare your monetary instruments in amounts of over $10,000, they may be subject to forfeiture and could result to civil and criminal penalty.

Moving to college – the Packing List

Before rushing into packing any of your stuff, decide where you will live. Explore college residence halls and local rentals. College housing might be cheaper, but you will enjoy less privacy. Besides, there might be a lot of restrictions. Perhaps, some dorms don’t allow any pets. You have to follow some rules regarding smoking, noise and disturbance, and guest. On the other hand, college residence halls are located conveniently nearby the campus and provide some basic furnishing. Both have their pros and cons, make your choice timely. College halls have deadlines for applying.
If you are moving to a furnished property, then you will move with a lot less stuff. Here is a list with some must-haves to keep at hand.

  • Personal care necessities: soap and shampoo, flip-flops, toothpaste and toothbrush, deodorant, hair products, and cosmetics
  • School stuff: pens and pencils, notebooks, sticky notes and highlighters
  • Medications: headache pills, cold and flu medicine and first aid kit

If you are moving with some furniture, you might consider the help of a full service moving company. When looking for movers, check operating authority and do not forget to check movers’ reputation online. Moving home electronics and appliances requires special packing materials and they can be easily damaged if they are not handled professionally.

Having a Moving-to-College checklist to help you with your move to college will help you stay focused and organized
during your transition to college. Moving to college should be fun, so start your preparation as soon as possible to enjoy a stress free move.

Manuella Irwin is a relocation expert at MyMovingReviews.com. She provides news from the moving industry and in-depth advice on moving related issues.

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