What to Expect on College Move In Day

Welcome to College Move In Day!

There are many unknowns surrounding Welcome Weekend. The anticipation of college move in day, meeting your roommates, and saying goodbye to your family can be overwhelming. 

The first step is knowing that you’re not alone. Thousands of students have been in your shoes.

According to Anna Vanderbur, a third-year student at Grace, “Move-in day was full of all kinds of emotions. I was thrilled about what the Lord was going to do at Grace! After a couple of days, He provided me with some strong support from roommates, leadership on the hall, and also professors!”

Recent 2024 graduate, David Schramm felt similarly. “I was really nervous about meeting new people and living away from home, but at the same time, I was looking forward to making new friends!”

As you prepare for this big life transition, here are some things you can expect as you begin your first year of college!

The College Move In Guide

When you approach Welcome Weekend, you may feel overwhelmed with new names, an unknown campus, and countless events. Don’t worry about keeping it all straight; you will receive a Welcome Weekend Schedule as your guide to review and prepare for the coming days. This weekend is intended to help you get settled into your residence hall, meet your hallmates and breakout group, and learn about what it will be like to live at Grace College.

If you feel overwhelmed by the schedule or don’t know where to go next, there will always be someone to help direct you, whether it be residence life staff, faculty and professors, or Health and Counseling Services. We want Welcome Weekend to be one of your favorite weekends at Grace!  

The College Move In Checklist

We want to make your journey to Grace stress-free, so preparation is key!  One way to make your transition smooth is to complete all the steps on your Virtual Registration checklist. Your post office box number will be emailed to your Grace email. At check-in, you will receive your ID card, your room key, and other helpful information.  

We want to help you have clarity and confidence as we share this new journey with you!

The College Experience

Between the moment you step on campus and the day of your first class, you will make memories that last a lifetime. Here are a few events you should familiarize yourself with because you just might be talking about them for the rest of your college experience.

The Hike

The Hike is the “initiation” to Grace. Scavenger hunt meets cardboard engineering meets boat racing. That’s right; it’s a combination of challenges you won’t want to miss, and it may require jumping up and down, cheering for your fellow classmates, and running across campus. Hear from some of our students.

“My freshman year Hike was a great introduction to Grace and its community,” said second-year Maria Ignas. “My nerves dissolved in all the excitement, and the event created a bonding experience between the people in my breakout group. I even got to be a rower in the cardboard boat race, though I didn’t get very far!”

“The Hike was really fun!” said Jakob Haber, a second-year student. “It was great getting to know my peers and learn the layout of the campus.”

First-Year Follies

This highly anticipated campus event calls on all student leaders (resident assistants, student mentors, growth group leaders, etc.) to plan and perform a theatrical show to officially introduce you to campus culture. From the lingo we use to the people we know and love — you’ll learn it all at this event. Get ready to laugh!

These are just two events on a long list of Grace traditions that set your college experience off to a great start.

Here are a few other resources for you to get your college move-in day questions answered:

Welcome Weekend: Find campus resources, a list of what to bring to college, information about family lodging, and more on this page.

Residence Halls and Dining: Familiarize yourself with our dorms on campus. One of these twelve residence halls will become your future home!

Your First-Year Experience at Grace: Look at an overview of the courses, events, and community initiatives of the first-year experience at Grace.

Items to Add to Your College Packing List: Check out our packing list with items you are likely to forget!

Ready to become a Lancer? Learn more about Grace College!