Blogs - July 20, 2021
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. Here are some thoughts from students who were once in your shoes:
“As a freshman, there isn’t much that seems more intimidating than move in day,” Shelby Cook, a 2017 Grace College communication student said, “As the days drew closer, I began to feel a surge of anxiety mixed with enthusiasm. I knew Grace was the right place, and I immediately felt right at home.”
“I remember being really excited and nervous!” Josie Adair Ladig, an incoming second-year student at Grace said, “It was a very full day, but being able to meet my hallmates as we all started settling in was good. College move in day was awkward at times, but I didn’t let that ruin the fun memories!”
As you prepare for this 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 inundated 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 floor-mates and breakout group, and learn about what it will be like to live at Grace College.
If you feel overwhelmed by the schedule, or if you 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 the Health and Counseling Center. We want this transition 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 (details will be announced soon!). 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 life.
The Hike
This is somewhat of an “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 with your new squad. But don’t take our word for it. Hear it from one of our students.
“The hike is a fun group activity that gives you the opportunity to make friends outside of your regular circle in a relaxed environment,” said Hunter Metzger, a second-year exercise science major.
“The Hike was absolutely insane!” Nikki Knoerr, an incoming second-year student said, “My most vivid memory from that day is when I rowed the cardboard boat my breakout group made through the lake.”
First-Year Follies
This highly anticipated campus event calls on all student leaders (RAs, Students 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. Oh, and 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.
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