“My favorite feature of Emory housing is the amount of community that residence halls bring,” says rising senior Lola McGuire, who is double majoring in history and political science. “Through Songfest and weekly events put on by sophomore advisors (SAs), first years have enormous opportunities to connect with the people they live with.”
While these and other events enhance an exciting start to the year, McGuire says they also are some of the first opportunities incoming students have to explore what kind of person they want to become while at Emory.
But before forging new connections, students must first get to campus — and unpack.
Knowing what to bring, and what to leave at home, can be stressful for even returning students.
Fortunately, students who are serving as orientation leaders (OLs) and resident advisors (RAs) have insights to share.
Reusable totes and crates are a convenient — and ecofriendly — starting point for packing (and recycling is available for materials that cannot be reused).
Top tips for incoming first-year students
The very first semester of college comes with a lot of unknowns. Orientation leader and rising senior Jo Noble recommends that students begin preparing by doing a little research on what residence hall they’ve been assigned. Since each building has its own floor plans — and therefore slightly different amenities — what a student wants to bring may differ.
When deliberating about whether to bring something or leave it at home, remember that less is often more when it’s time to move into a residence hall. Plus, a variety of shopping options are close to campus, so necessary items are usually easy to find.
Here are a few other tips to help make transitioning to campus easier.
What to bring:
- Decorations and/or photos of things you love. Not only will this help personalize your space, it’s a quick way to ground yourself when things get stressful. Pro tip: Use poster putty or painter’s tape to hang things.
- Lamps. Softer lighting will help make your room feel more comfortable and will enhance your environment for studying and hanging out.
- Snacks. For late night study sessions or early mornings, having a few snack options that are easy to grab will make life easier. This can be leveled up with a MicroFridge (combination minifridge and microwave) that can be rented from Emory’s preferred provider. Pro tip: Standalone microwaves and other small appliances with open coils (toaster oven, etc.) are not permitted.
- Over-the-counter medications. While students should bring any relevant prescription medications, having a few over-the-counter options is an easy way to make sick days more tolerable. Take things up a notch with an air purifier. Remember if you catch a cold, you can make an appointment with Student Health Services.
- Basic back-up supplies: Extra chargers, a flashlight with fresh batteries and a few bottles of water are always good to have on hand.
- Items to stash in a backpack. To be ready for time spent on campus — or just with others — RAs and OLs recommend also bringing a deck of playing cards, noise cancelling headphones, stain remover (for days when dinner clothes and interview clothes are the same outfit), a pencil (for tough papers or assignments where a pen won’t do), an umbrella or rain coat, and blue light glasses.
What to leave behind:
- Lots of extra bedding. Atlanta stays warm for most of the academic year and part of the coldest months happen during breaks. Having a comforter set and one extra set of sheets should be enough.
- An excess of clothes. Housing experts across campus point out that students often get rid of clothes at the end of the year or need to find ways to stuff them into luggage. Students coming from colder areas of the country may also be surprised at how little winter wear usually is necessary.
- A printer. Campus offers plenty of options for things that need to be printed, including poster and photo printing through EaglePrint.
- A TV. For most students, a TV isn’t necessary in the residence halls, plus students can stream on their laptops. One notable exception? Those who love to use gaming consoles may prefer having their own TV readily available. Gaming options are also available to borrow through the RecRe lockers in the Emory Student Center. Pro tip: Check out the student technology recommendations for more about specs and set-up on campus.
- Treasured valuables. Personal belongings can sometimes disappear, even on safe campuses. Items of worth — whether a grandmother’s heirloom jewelry, a first-edition copy of a favorite book or something else not easily replaced — are best enjoyed at home.
- Too many extra notebooks or paper. While it’s a great idea to bring supplies for class, there are plenty of stores around campus where you can replenish your school supply stock if necessary.
What to know:
“Take your time. There’s no need to do everything all at once,” says rising junior Hepzibah Srithas, reminding students that they’re human. “Oftentimes, we get lost in our course schedules, exam seasons, attending club meetings and more. As a result, we forget to take care of ourselves.
“So that’s my biggest advice: Take at least half an hour to yourself every day to do something that makes you feel better, gets you motivated and gets you out of your head,” says Srithas, who is majoring in human health and minoring in theater.
“When I first came to Emory, I thought friendships and relationships were just going to fall into my lap. I learned that isn’t the case during my first year,” McGuire says. “You have to take a deep breath and walk into the busy room … Don’t let anxiety or insecurity prevent you from being vulnerable and making friends. If you ever need a buddy to help you walk up and meet people, let your orientation coordinator know! They will be more than willing to show up and support you.”
Resident advisor Coco Zheng echoes McGuire’s advice. “Your RAs and SAs are valuable resources!” she says. “Don’t hesitate to reach out — they were once in your shoes, too.”
Top tips for returning students
For returning students — especially those living in apartment-style housing — here are a few things to keep in mind.
What to bring:
- Cleaning supplies. Things like a vacuum, Swiffer sweeper and sanitizing spray for bathrooms come in extra handy. Pro tip: Coordinate with roommates to avoid overlapping on supplies.
- The correct size bedding. While first-year residence halls have XL twin beds, some for returning students have XL full beds instead. Check the specifics for each housing option.
- A tall kitchen trashcan and bags. After all, those used cleaning supplies have to go somewhere.
- Food storage containers. Whether it’s reusable silicone bags, disposable bags, plastic wrap, aluminum foil, glass containers or another storage method, make sure there’s an easy way to store leftovers — or have them ready to eat on campus.
- A Phillips head screwdriver. This comes in handy for tightening knobs, putting together furniture, and more.
What to know:
“Communicate with your roommates,” advises Zheng, who is double majoring in neuroscience and behavioral biology, as well as biology. Not only will communicating before move-in day help reduce duplicate items, but strong communication during the academic year will also help head off conflict.
“And don’t forget to call home! Schedule a weekly call time with your family or close friends. Their support is so valuable when you’re navigating college and new experiences,” Zheng adds.
Noble, a rising senior double majoring in environmental science and biology, began her Emory journey at Oxford College and has some words of wisdom for returning Eagles making that same transition.
“You’ll find your community in Atlanta, but get involved on this campus. You can’t just wait for friends to come find you,” she says. “And just know you’ll miss Oxford a little bit, no matter what.”
Resources around campus
Once students are settled in, there are plenty of on-campus resources available throughout the year to make life comfortable.
- Students can choose from a range of shuttle options to get around campus and even into the city. For those bringing a car, parking registration is now available (note that first-year students are not permitted to have a car on campus).
- Students may also use the Saferide service or late-night shuttle to safely navigate campus between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m.
Final pro tip: When the end of the year comes, everything moved in must be moved out. While Emory Housing does offer many move-out resources, students are responsible for making sure everything is removed from their rooms.
Access more move-in advice
For more personalized information about move-in, download the Emory Welcome App. Also check out the New Student Programs page, with specific information for Atlanta first-year students, Atlanta transfer students, Atlanta families and Oxford College students and families.
More details are available at these quick links: