College move-in day is supposed to be exciting. But for hundreds of students at California State University, Long Beach, this year’s move-in didn’t go according to plan.
ABC7 Eyewitness News recently reported that hundreds of students and some staff were placed in temporary accommodations after CSULB’s new La Playa residence hall was not ready for move-in as scheduled.
Read the ABC7 Eyewitness News coverage
NBC4 Los Angeles also reported on the situation, including students temporarily staying in hotels while construction on the residence hall was finalized.
Read the NBC4 Los Angeles coverage
When College Move-In Plans Suddenly Change
For students and parents, a last-minute change to a move-in date can create a serious logistical headache.
You’ve packed the car or moving truck. Boxes are labeled. Furniture is ready. Family members may have taken time off work. A moving company may already be scheduled.
Then suddenly, the room isn’t available.
Situations like the one at CSULB are a reminder that during college move-in season, flexibility can be just as important as preparation.
5 Things Students and Parents Can Do When Move-In Is Delayed
1. Keep Essential Items Separate
Pack medications, chargers, toiletries, important documents, a few changes of clothes and school essentials separately from belongings that can remain packed.
If your permanent room isn’t immediately available, you won’t have to dig through dozens of boxes to find what you need.
For more ways to prepare before moving day, see our Student Movers Packing Tips.
2. Confirm Access Before Unloading
Before unloading a vehicle or moving truck, confirm that the residence hall, apartment or building is actually ready and that you have access.
This is especially important at large universities and apartment communities where move-in times may be staggered.
3. Label Everything Clearly
College moves often involve small rooms, shared spaces and a lot of people moving at the same time.
Clearly label boxes with the student’s name, room number and contents. If belongings have to be temporarily stored or moved twice, good labeling can make a huge difference.
Our Moving Checklist can also help students and parents prepare in the weeks leading up to moving day.
4. Have a Backup Plan for Your Belongings
If housing isn’t available, determine where furniture, boxes and other belongings can safely stay.
Depending on the circumstances, that could mean keeping belongings loaded temporarily, arranging short-term storage or rescheduling part of the move.
5. Keep Your Moving Company Updated
If you’re using professional movers, communicate changes as soon as possible.
The earlier your moving company knows about a delayed move-in time, access restriction or change of destination, the better chance they have of helping you adjust the moving plan.
College Moving Is Different From a Typical Household Move
A college move may look simple because students often have fewer belongings than an entire household, but these moves present their own challenges.
Residence halls can have restricted loading areas, elevators, narrow hallways, assigned move-in windows and hundreds of families arriving at approximately the same time.
Apartments around Long Beach, Orange County and Southern California can present similar challenges, particularly during the busy back-to-school season.
Planning the order in which belongings are loaded — and keeping the things you’ll need immediately accessible — can save considerable time and frustration on moving day.
Student Movers Started With College Students
College moving isn’t just another service for Student Movers. It’s part of our history.
Student Movers was founded at UC Davis and has grown from its college roots into a Southern California moving company with more than 16 years of moving experience.
College moving continues to be an important part of what we do. Our crews regularly help students move into and out of dorms, apartments and student housing at Cal State Long Beach (CSULB), Chapman University, UC Irvine and other Southern California colleges and universities.
That experience has shown us that college moves can change quickly.
Move-in windows get adjusted. Elevators become crowded. Parking and loading areas fill up. Students discover they brought more than will fit into a dorm room.
And sometimes — as students at CSULB experienced this year — housing simply isn’t ready when expected.
Having a flexible moving plan can make those unexpected changes much easier to handle.
What About Everything Students Don’t Take Home?
Move-out day presents another challenge: what to do with furniture, household goods and other usable belongings that students no longer need.
Student Movers also assists with donation pickups during student move-outs, helping give usable belongings another destination rather than simply leaving them behind or throwing them away.
For students moving out of dorms or apartments, deciding what will be moved, stored, donated or discarded before moving day can dramatically simplify the process.
Our Moving Checklist includes additional tips for sorting and donating unwanted belongings before a move.
Once You Finally Get the Keys
Getting everything into the new dorm or apartment is only half the battle.
Prioritize setting up the essentials first — including the bed, bathroom necessities, chargers and the items you’ll need for the first night.
We’ve put together 10 Tips for Moving In with additional ideas for getting settled after the moving truck leaves.
Moving Students Throughout Orange County and Southern California
Today, Student Movers provides professional moving, packing and moving labor services throughout Orange County and surrounding Southern California communities.
But our college roots still influence the way we approach moving.
Whether it’s a student moving into a dorm for the first time, moving from a dorm into an apartment, returning home for the summer or graduating and moving into a first home, every move is a little different.
The CSULB situation is an unusual example, but the lesson applies to almost every move:
Prepare for the move you planned — and have a backup plan for the move you didn’t.
Planning a College Move?
If you’re preparing for a move to or from CSULB, Chapman University, UC Irvine or another Southern California college, planning ahead can make moving day considerably easier.
Student Movers provides professional moving, packing and moving labor services for college students, families and residents throughout Orange County and surrounding Southern California communities.
Student Movers
Professional Moving & Packing Services
Serving Orange County & Southern California
Official College Move-In Resources
Move-in dates, check-in procedures, parking rules and housing instructions can change. Students and parents should always check their university’s official housing information before moving day.
CSULB Moving In & Student Housing
Official Cal State Long Beach information on move-in dates, assigned check-in windows, parking locations and residence hall move-in procedures.
Chapman University Moving In
Official Chapman University information on move-in dates, parking, what to bring and preparing for residence hall or apartment living.
UC Irvine Student Housing
Official UC Irvine housing information for students and families, including residence halls, housing communities and move-in resources.
Visit Student Movers to learn more or request a moving estimate.
