I just came across this audio slideshow that Barnard (my alma mater) put together about Move In Day, and I got all nostalgic.

I was never much of a rah-rah college person — Barnard created, at least in me, a student that was more attuned to New York than to the campus itself — but I think no matter what direction you ended up going, move in day will always be as vivid as ever.

I remember going shopping with my mom at the 5th Avenue H&M the night before, and picking out a few new outfits. I then tried them all on one by one, picked my favorite, and stood in front of the mirror assuring myself that "Yeah, I'd be friends with me." Haha. It's a particular kind of terrified and excited.

What do you remember about your move in days?

Not a personal experience, but I have always loved the move in scene from White Noise: bit.ly

On the personal side, I went to a big state school in Raleigh, NC. There wasn't much of a welcome experience- mostly "here's your cinderblock room, here's your roommate, good luck". I was pretty nonchalant about the whole leaving home thing (My mother still hasn't forgiven me, she bawled her eyes out in the parking lot saying goodbye). After the usual settling in/meeting people, I spent the next few days reveling in the college freedom: low key parties, eating pizza for breakfast, sleeping in til noon, etc.

Basically, your normal "American dude goes to college" experience. Pretty sad when I think about it. I really should have done something more outrageous, but I guess it was nice having zero expectations or accountability for a few days.

Haha, funny you mention that - all the girls were impeccably dressed (mind you, I spent the first week going to class in basketball shorts and my Columbia Athletics tee) and that intimidated the sh*t out of me. Needless to say I quickly stopped giving a damn. (Still wore sweats and my CU Athletics tee through senior year. I'm an unrepentant slob sometimes... elastic waistbands make it way. too. easy.)

Also, the risers I bought for my twin XL conveniently buckled and gave out the same night I found out I had mono. I slid backwards off my bed and into my air conditioner. It was like the gods of freshman year took (in the words of Triumph, the Insult Comic Dog) a big poop on my college parade.