What to Expect During Move-In
You're finally starting your time at Purdue! The first step you have to take is to move in to your dorm- read below for helpful tips on the move-in process!
1. Packing
Moving in can be stressful for everyone, but knowing what to do can help you feel prepared and ready. From the start of your journey to Purdue, follow the steps below to successfully move in. Note: This only applies to on-campus students. For off-campus advice, please consult your residence’s website.
What to Pack:
Doing some last-minute packing? There are some items you may want to consider bringing to Purdue. Though Purdue University Housing provides items such as a bed frame, mattress, desk set, and trash can, that doesn’t mean you should walk onto campus empty-handed. Here are some recommended items:
Necessities/Self-Care Items
- Linen sheets (sized twinXL), pillow, blankets
- Laundry basket
- Umbrella
- First Aid Kit
- Towels, washcloths, and a bathrobe
- Shower caddy
Stationary
- Pencils and pens
- Scissors
- Tape
- Notebooks and folders
Winter Items
- Warm coat
- Gloves
- Hat and/or earmuffs
- Snow boots
- Warm socks
Other Recommendations
- Fan
- Clothes hangers
- Command Strips*
- Desk organizer
*Tip: Command Strips/Hooks are highly recommended to bring, as they are often sold out at nearby stores. These are perfect for hanging up any decorations or clothing without damaging the walls of your dorm.
What NOT to Pack:
Purdue provides clear guidelines on which items are strictly prohibited in University Residences. The possession of these items can result in a fine or other academic punishment as they can become a danger to yourself or others. The following items should NOT be brought to Purdue:
For Residence Halls:
- Anything that you would burn: Candles, incense, etc.
- Electric bed warmers/blankets
- Fireworks
- Grills
- Electrically charged modes of transportation (hoverboards, electric scooters, electric bikes, electric skateboards, etc.)
- Paintball guns
- Pets (with the exception of small fish)
- Portable AC Units
- Any cooking equipment other than a small microwave oven
- Bed loft products sourced from anything other than Bedloft
For Hilltop Apartments:
- Hot plates and burner plates
- Candle and wax warmers
- Portable washers
- Electric woks, toaster ovens and electric skillets
- Space heaters
- Halogen lamps
- Pizza ovens and pizza bakers
- Electric blankets
- Plug-in air fresheners
- Indoor grills
2. Route to Dorm
The route you should take to arrive at the dorm depends on which residence hall/apartment building you live in. Purdue regulates these paths to reduce traffic from the thousands of vehicles traversing the campus throughout move-in time slots.
To find the correct route:
- Navigate to https://www.housing.purdue.edu/move-in/directions/index.html and select your building.
- Find the directions at the top of the website. A visual of the route on Google Maps is additionally provided.
Make sure you follow the provided path, as some roads are closed off throughout the move-in period.
3. Arrival
You’ve finally arrived at the dorm! Follow these tips to prepare for a smooth move-in.
- Once you arrive at your dorm during your assigned time slot, go to the Purdue Housing Portal and select “Check In.”
- This will activate your Purdue ID for later use and notify University Residences of your arrival.
- You will not be able to move your belongings inside before completing this step.
- To move into your dorm room, there will be student workers outside of your residence building ready to guide you.
- They will assist you in relocating your belongings using wheeled containers and will find your dorm room efficiently.
- Make sure to listen to your student helper for instructions, as they are here for you!
- Depending on when your roommates are moving in, putting everything together can be chaotic.
- If possible, you may want to schedule your move-in times with your roommate(s) so there is no overlap.
- Communicate with your roommate(s) about preferences within the dorm.
- This includes subjects such as bunk height, closet type, desk locations, and other aspects one should know before moving in.
- By doing this, you can know which bed, closet, and desk to expect before entering the room.
- Start to unpack everything you brought to Purdue.
- When putting up decorations, make sure to avoid damage to University property.
- If you find any damages in the room that were not from you or your roommate(s), document them with pictures so you are not fined.
- Be conscientious of your roommate(s) space, and be sure to decorate so you are not imposing on their “part” of the room.
- Try to unpack as much as possible during your time slot. You will thank yourself later!
- Ensure that you follow Purdue’s University Residences guidelines.
- You can find topics such as emergency preparation, safety, student conduct policies, and more on this website:
- Purdue Housing Guidelines