Tips and Tricks for moving to college as an out of state student
Choosing to go out of state for college comes with its challenges - and in my opinion, moving is the most difficult part. I am originally from the Bay Area, California then went to The University of Texas at Austin. The out of state journey can be overwhelming to even think about, but I promise it doesn’t need to be! I found it helpful to plan it out step by step. I never did the drive from California to Texas… so here are my tips for how to have a great move in from out of state!
plan ahead:
Begin planning the decorations and storage for your room about 1-2 months before move-in. Think about what you use most at home, and check out my Ultimate College Packing List blog or Youtube Video here! Now, look at your list and think, “What can you buy there?”, “What can you fit in a suitcase?”, “What can be ordered online post move-in?”. A tip I found super helpful was placing pick up orders to stores like Target so you don’t have to spend as much time shopping in the store. My other out of state (OOS) friends, regardless of if they flew or drove, found it helpful to send packages to their dorm or apartment before move in day. You can check if you’re allowed to send packages by calling or emailing your dorm. I, however, I was never able to do this with any of the places I lived. Instead, look to see if the local UPS store will hold packages for you.
items that will help:
Suitcases are a classic to travel with, but are hard to store after move-in. I recommend using these blue storage bags. You can check these on a plane and they’re great for packing a car or putting your things in storage units. Just be careful about overfilling them as the handles may break but even so, they’re great to transport.
On the topic of flying, you will likely be traveling with a lot of bags (I flew with 7 suitcases for freshmen move-in day!), so airtags are a great way to have peace of mind. Be at ease that your bags have made it to the same destination as you by putting airtags in each of them, and after you move in they’re great to put on your keys, in your backpack, and anything else you carry around campus!
One of the most dreaded parts of packing for a flight is having to weigh your suitcase and the fear of it being over fifty pounds. With overweight bag fees costing as much as $200, save yourself the stress by purchasing a suitcase weigher. This way, you can move your items to a different suitcase if needed after weighing it at home before your flight!
what to pack?
Need ideas on what to pack specifically? Check out my Ultimate college packing list that will have everything you need for college!
For out of state students specifically, here are my tips for packing.:
Be selective with the clothes you bring. Chances are if you’re moving to a new state, styles and trends may be different and you’ll start to build a new wardrobe. If you’re going to a climate that won’t get cold until after winter break - leave your winter clothes at home and bring them for the second semester if you’re planning on going home for break.
Buy all room decor and necessary items once you get there. There’s no need to take up suitcase space with things you buy at home that you can just buy when you get there. Unless you already have the items - it’s not worth the space. It will take more effort once you get to school, but planning all your shopping lists and ordering ahead will help.
If you have a roommate/suitemate who is instate, consider coordinating with them to have shared items shipped to their house. Most in-state students drive to school with multiple of their family’s cars packed full of things they are bringing, so there’s a high chance they can squeeze your items as well. This is especially helpful if you and your roommate are coordinating your decor, since they can order two items, allowing you and your roommate to get a head start on decorating your shared space together.
What about summer break?
Summer can be tricky for out of state students. Typically, leases don’t overlap and your dorm will need you out when the spring semester ends. Here are some options I found helpful:
Rent a storage unit: Almost every out of state student I know rented a storage unit to keep their stuff in for the summer, and even split the cost with several other OOS students. This gives everyone peace of mind knowing their belongings are safe, and makes the flight home lighter and easier!
Use storage/moving services: Many areas have services that will pick up your stuff, store it for the amount of time you need, then deliver it to your new address in the fall. These are pricier than just doing a storage unit yourself, but I used them my sophomore year into my junior year and it couldn’t be more convenient. At that point I didn’t have a car to drive things to a storage unit, so it worked perfectly.
Take things home: If you don’t want to store your stuff, you can also take the route of packing everything up and putting it on a plane (or a car if you’re driving - which is easier!). I would recommend packing in these storage bags (*link*) if you don’t have enough suitcases.
How did I do it?
If you’ve watched my move in vlogs - you know that I personally had a good family friend living in Austin that helped immensely with all of my moves. Freshman year they let me store my stuff there for the summer, and they were always happy to receive packages I wanted to send early. As for my sister, she goes to Ole Miss and doesn’t have that connection - but we’ve still been able to move her without driving a car! You can see more details in my vlogs below.
try not to stress! (i know that’s easier said than done)
Going to college out of state is such a fun and unique experience. Meeting so many new people from a different state is so exciting, so don’t let the stress of moving get in the way! There are so many helpful and accessible packing hacks and storage options to use now. I learned the best ways to move in and out after my freshman year and you will too, I promise it will work itself out! And remember, you can always buy what you need when you get there! ;)
