Written by Zachary Landry
Zachary Landry is a 4th-year business student from New Brunswick. He is a Resident Advisor and a Student Content Creator. A creative at heart, Zach can be found taking photos or drawing around Wolfville鈥攆eel free to say hi!
Moving to Acadia is an exciting adventure! Living on campus offers incredible opportunities鈥攄uring my first year in Dennis House, I met my best friends. These lifelong connections might not have happened if I hadn鈥檛 chosen to live on campus.
The first step to a smooth transition is careful planning before you pack. This will save you the hassle of rummaging through your belongings to check if you remembered everything.
First, consider the key essential components of your room:
- Function
- Comfort
- Appearance
Function
When it comes to functionality, it鈥檚 crucial to assess your needs. Knowing what your room includes will help you plan. Each room typically comes with a bed frame, mattress, desk (which often includes a light and a shelf), armoire, nightstand, desk chair, dresser, recycling and garbage bins.
Bedding and clothing:
- Ensure you bring bedding and pillows, as these are not provided
- Hangers for your clothes are also essential
Laundry and cleaning supplies:
- For laundry, the machines are coin operated, so bring $1 and 25垄 coins
- Don鈥檛 forget laundry detergent and consider fabric softener and dryer sheets if you prefer
- For cleaning, pack supplies such as a broom, mop or Swiffer, and unscented cleaning products to keep your space tidy
Things to keep in mind if your room doesn鈥檛 have a private bathroom:
- Communal bathrooms are regularly cleaned, but it's a good idea to wear shower sandals
- If you prefer not to wear sandals, a chunky shower mat is a good alternative
- For shower organization, I used a shower basket but later switched to a hanging shower caddy. The caddy didn鈥檛 fit on the shower head in my building, so I hung it on the wall handle instead
- A housecoat is handy for trips to and from the showers
Food storage:
- There is usually a communal fridge in each residence but bringing a personal fridge can be a convenient option if you prefer extra storage space for your groceries
Protecting your belongings:
- Consider purchasing tenant insurance to protect your belongings against unforeseen events like fires
Comfort
To ensure your comfort, consider bringing items that will make your space feel like home:
- If you like your bed to be softer, a bed foam topper can be a great addition
- A door mat is useful for preventing dirt from being tracked into your room, especially during winter
- Adding a rug can enhance the coziness of your room
- Since most residences don鈥檛 have air conditioning, a fan will help keep your room cool and comfortable
Appearance
Adding some personal touches to your room can make it feel more inviting. It鈥檚 also an easy way to express your interests:
- Plants can enhance your room鈥檚 appearance and benefit your health. If you don鈥檛 have a green thumb, fake plants offer the best of both worlds.
- Posters are an easy way to decorate. I found great posters on Amazon and at Walmart. There鈥檚 also a poster fair each semester with giveaways. Make sure to choose art that fits your room! If you're bringing posters, use something like sticky tack to avoid damaging the walls and incurring fees.
What to leave behind
To avoid wasting your packing space on prohibited items, let鈥檚 review what you should leave behind.
- Anything that poses a fire risk, such as cooking appliances like toasters, microwaves, and air fryers, are not allowed. Fortunately, your building will have shared stoves and microwaves for your use.
- Candles are also prohibited, as they are a fire risk and violate Acadia鈥檚 scent-free campus policy. Many students and staff are sensitive to scents, and exposure can make them quite ill, so it鈥檚 important to be considerate of others.
- Additionally, subwoofers and large speakers are banned to prevent noise disturbances.
- Finally, pets are not permitted on campus.
Your go-to contacts
Moving to university can be stressful and intimidating at first, but there is support available.
- Residence Life is available Monday-Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM at (902) 585-1417.
- Safety and Security can be contacted 24/7 at (902) 585-1103.
- A Resident Assistant will be on duty in your building every night from 8 PM to 8 AM. Their contact number will be provided upon your arrival. They can help with room access and any questions or concerns.
- If you get locked out or have any issues, contact Residence Life or Safety and Security using the provided numbers.
- For emergencies, call 911.
- To stay updated with events, follow the Acadia Instagram and the Acadia Residence account .
Never hesitate to ask questions; there are people everywhere willing to help!