Residence Move-In Tips and Advice

Example of a double room in Chestnut Residence [Source]

Moving in is one of the very first things you will do as a university student, and we are here to help you through it! Even though the experience can be stressful, it is also very exciting. So, here are some of the things that you can do that will make the transition to residence go as smoothly as possible! 

ShapeBy now, you should have accepted your residence offer. Many U of T Engineering students usually stay at Chestnut Residence, which used to be a hotel that was converted to a student residence. So, you know where you will be living for the next 8 months, what’s next? 


Packing List

Below are some of the things that you should have during your first year in residence. Try and bring as many of the recommended items as possible when you move in. You can also purchase some of the items during your first few days on residence. There are many stores nearby, including Canadian Tire and the Eaton Center, where you can purchase some of the necessities. Get them before you get busy! 

For the optional items, you can wait until you see your room, residence hall, and laundry facilities to decide if you need the items. 

Highly recommended items:

  • Bedding — check your residence’s website for bed size information!
  • Duvet or comforter — main blanket
  • Mattress cover — goes over residence mattress
  • Duvet cover — covers main blanket
  • Pillow(s) 
  • Pillowcase(s)
  • Towels
  • Toiletries
  • Laundry hamper or laundry bags
  • Laundry detergent (liquid or pods)
  • Flip flops for shower if your residence has communal showers. Please don’t use flip flops in your Chestnut shower without consulting your roommate first.
  • Something to make you feel at home
    • Books 
    • Movies 
    • Board Games
    • Etc.
  • School supplies
  • Clothes! (Our advice is not to bring all of them; try to pick a diverse range of clothes that work for multiple situations!) 
    • For International students who may not be familiar with the climate in Toronto, check out the pre-arrival page by the Centre for International Experience (CIE) to prepare for all 4 of Toronto’s seasons. 

Optional items:

  • Extension cord/power bar — some residence rooms only have one power socket, or they might not be conveniently placed
  • Good pair of headphones — residence can be loud, and you have midterms!
  • Mattress topper good for making quick changes to your mattress

A dorm room in Morrison Hall at University College, U of T [Source]

What NOT to Bring:

There is a list of items that are not allowed in U of T Residences. If you are renting, you should also check for banned items. 

If you are staying at Chestnut, you cannot bring: 

  • Candles, incense, etc. 
  • Cooking appliances (i.e., hot plates, rice cookers, toasters, kettles, coffee makers, etc.) 
  • Extra furniture 
  • Large stereos or DJ equipment 

These are only a few items listed, be sure to check with your residence for a more comprehensive list. A packing and moving-in guideline for students staying at Chestnut Residence can found on their Fall Move-In page


Room Decorations and Designs 

So, you have all the basics to make your dorm room livable. But you want more. You are ambitious. You want to have the best-looking dorm room in your residence, and maybe even on campus. But how can you make your room look really good? Here are some ways to decorate a little more.

  • Lighting – nothing improves how a room looks better than lights. There are many different options and guides on how to light a room well. Here are just a few of the most popular types of lights to add life to your room.
    • LEDs 
    • Lamps 
    • Hanging lights 
    • Desk lamps
    • Note: Most of the time, you cannot bring items that have open fire, such as candles. Always check with your residence on what you can and cannot bring.  
    • Be careful with the adhesive LEDs as they may leave marks on walls and cause damage.  

  • Posters: these are a nice way to personalize your room and make the walls feel less bare.
    • Every September there is a poster sale in the Med-Sci buildings, a 5-minute walk from the Engineering buildings. You can find tons of interesting and fun posters here, which will be sure to add colour and personality to your dorm! Best of all, the posters are almost all $10 or less. (Note: the poster sale is not guaranteed to happen this year)

    • Although not strictly a poster, a great thing to put up on your wall is a dry-erasable 4-month wall calendar. This will help you keep track of your deadlines throughout the semester. You can also highlight reading week, giving yourself something to look forward to! You can find such calendars at the U of T Bookstore.

  • Alternatives to Posters: Tapestries
    • Although there is no tapestry sale on campus, tapestries add colour and take up wall space like a poster. They are easier to pack and bring to second-year residences without worrying about folding or wrinkling.

Posters and lights add a lot to an otherwise standard room. [Source]


Room Tours

Some residences may offer room tours throughout the summer. If you are renting, you should also check out the unit in person, or ask a friend to do it for you, if you are not in Toronto. 

Chestnut Residence offers in-person room tours until mid-August at 2 pm. This is a great way to check out what your room will look like and get an idea of some of the items you might need to bring. During these tours, you can also see some of the building’s amenities and get a better understanding of what the building has to offer, so you can make the most out of your residence life experience! There is also a virtual residence tour that can be found on their YouTube page


Tips for Move-In Day

Here are some tips to make your move-in as fun and rewarding as possible. The main thing to keep in mind is that it is everyone’s first day, so everybody is as excited to meet new friends as you are! On move-in day the goal is to just meet as many people, learn as much as possible about your residence, and have fun! 

  • Introduce yourself to your neighbors. This is the most important thing you can do, as having a good relationship with your neighbors will improve the rest of the year! Also, if you get along with them, they are convenient people to be friends with as they are very close by.

  • Rearrange your furniture to make your room feel like your own!

  • Understand that people will be nervous and out of their comfort zones when they first get to university – be accommodating!
     
  • Don’t worry about moving in with or without your family. Many students from out of Toronto move in on their own or with friends. Many students move in with their families. Both are valid methods, and there will be help available to carry luggage and move in if you need extra assistance! 

As we like to say, the last step is to have fun! Enjoying your move-in experience is all about having a positive mindset.