By Ashley Rittenhouse
The Marietta Times
arittenhouse@mariettatimes.com
Article Photos
ASHLEY RITTENHOUSE The Marietta Times
Nick Green makes his bed in his dorm room on the Marietta College campus Tuesday.
Marietta College students Paige DeVriendt and Alex Weissling are both volleyball players and they live in the same suite on the campus, but when it comes to their dorm rooms, they are quite different.
"I decorate my room a lot," said DeVriendt, 19, of Bowling Green, Ohio. "I have a lot of posters and we have a lot of rugs and pictures...and we tried to coordinate so it's black and white and a lot of bright colors."
DeVriendt is a sophomore, so this is the second dorm room she's lived in.
Fact Box
8 tips for moving into college housing:
1. Before you begin loading up boxes, go through all your belongings and weed out items you don't want. There's no point in adding this clutter to your new place.
2. If you have the option, plan to move mid-week. This way, you can move at your own pace and don't have to compete with others cramming their move into one hectic weekend. Also, moving trucks are typically cheaper to rent in the middle of the week.
3. If you have bags, suitcases or even coolers, think about how you can use them like boxes. The fewer trips you have to take back and forth, the more time and money you'll save.
4. Before you buy expensive packing materials to protect your precious possessions, consider what you already have around. Dish towels, T-shirts and pillows all make for great packing materials. Your local grocery store will usually contribute some free empty boxes if you ask nicely during off-peak times. To cover more delicate furniture, hit a thrift shop for cheap blankets and tape them in place.
5. In many cases, you won't need nearly as much as you expect. Fill in the space with what you already have before picking up a new sofa or coffee table. Once you know what you need, go shopping with roommates and save on some shared items.
6. Even though temperatures are dropping, mid-day heat is still strong at the end of summer. If you have items that can melt or will be damaged by the sun, make sure to pack them in an easily accessible place and unload them first. Don't forget about the bathroom, either. Aerosol products, such as body spray or sunscreen, can explode after sitting in the sun.
7. Ask about student discounts. Whether you're picking up packing supplies, a new couch or just some snacks, there's no harm in asking about a student discount.
8. Once you get settled in there's going to be plenty of time to unpack your knick-knacks. Instead of worrying about the small stuff, get major items out of the way first. Couches, beds and tables should all be in place before you begin putting up posters.
Source: Kinoli Inc.
"Having a lot of storage containers is essential," she said. "You need to make extra room for things and that's a good way to stay organized."
College classes will be starting up again soon, which means students have already moved into their dorm rooms or they will soon be doing so. Classes begin Monday at Marietta College.
Transitioning from a bedroom at home to a dorm room on a college campus can be tricky, as there is sometimes not as much space and there are often rules about what can be kept in a dorm room.
For some, like DeVriendt, decorating is important. For others, like Weissling, it's better to have only what is necessary.
"I'm more about having the essentials," said Weissling, 21, a senior from Columbus.
Weissling noted that it's a good idea for college students to really look at their clothes before hauling them to college, because they may be taking more than they're really going to wear.
"I had way too many clothes my freshman year," she said.
Nick Green, 19, of Pataskala, Ohio, is a freshman at Marietta College this year and moved into his dorm room when football practices began earlier this month.
A new comforter is among the things he got for his dorm room.
"My mom did most of it," he said. "I told her what I like - basic colors - and that was about it."
Bruce Peterson, dean of students at Marietta College, offered some tips for students moving into dorm rooms.
"It's always good to go see (the room), then make purchases," he said. "When you arrive, a lot of times people bring things and...it won't fit."
"Wait a few weeks then go home and pick up more if you need it and leave your winter clothes at home until winter," he added.
