{"id":224626,"date":"2024-08-12T13:53:34","date_gmt":"2024-08-12T17:53:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/?p=224626"},"modified":"2025-08-21T11:52:10","modified_gmt":"2025-08-21T15:52:10","slug":"college-move-in-day-tips-from-the-pros-how-to-plan-pack-and-say-goodbye","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/2024\/08\/12\/college-move-in-day-tips-from-the-pros-how-to-plan-pack-and-say-goodbye\/","title":{"rendered":"College Move-In Day Tips from the Pros: How to Plan, Pack and Say Goodbye"},"content":{"rendered":"

(Updated: August 21, 2025) <\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Sarah Potter vividly recalls the mix of excitement, jitters and stress of moving into a Montclair State University residence hall. Now, as a Res Life Community Assistant, she\u2019s one of the pros helping new students unpack both their belongings and emotions during the move-in process.<\/span><\/p>\n

Fom August 24-27, 5,200 students will move into Montclair\u2019s residential halls, many leaving home for the first time. The University\u2019s Residence Life team has compiled tips<\/a> to help make the transition into campus life easier.<\/span><\/p>\n

For Students: Peer-to-Peer Advice<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\u201cFreshman year had its struggles,\u201d admits Potter, a Social Media and Public Relations major. \u201cIt\u2019s hard to let go of the comfort and security of having your family close by, and that first night without them felt strange and lonely. Saying goodbye to my family was tough, but over time, FaceTiming every weekend helped.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

For Parents: How to Say Goodbye<\/strong><\/h2>\n

There\u2019s no one-size-fits-all answer to dealing with the high school-to-college transition. It varies depending on the student\u2019s cultural background and on each individual family\u2019s needs and dynamics, says Dr. Sudha M. Wadhwani, a staff psychologist on Montclair\u2019s counseling team and mother of two college students.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEach student has their level of readiness depending on how the high school years have gone, depending on whether they may have mental health concerns, whether they may have a peer-support system or already have built certain skills,\u201d she says.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s all about finding that balance of how much to support and guide your student and how much to let go and empower them to learn to adult.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

On the Big Day, ID is a Must-Have<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Something Montclair students notice immediately is that their ID card is used for just about everything on campus, including accessing the residence halls, vending machines and meal plans. <\/span><\/p>\n