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A Mom's Guide to Move-in

August 08, 2025 - Tiffeny Crow

The time has come. You’ve packed the car and made the drive to Arkadelphia. Your child is about to move into their room at OBU! If you’re feeling a mix of excitement, exhaustion, sadness and hope all at once, you’re not alone. This is a monumental day, and every parent and student experiences it in their own way.

I remember this day so well with all three of our children, and each experience was completely different. Our son Caleb, for instance, only requested a string of lights to go with his stereo. Our second son, Isaac, just wanted a blanket — not even a comforter! Our daughter, Lydia, on the other hand, had a detailed plan with her roommate to have everything matching, right down to the headboards they made themselves. The point is: your student's needs and desires for their new space will be uniquely their own, and that's perfectly okay.

Move-In Day Strategy

Ouachita student leaders helping families unload their cars on move-in day.

Photo by Meghann Bledsoe

Before you get to campus, you might want to talk with your student and their roommate about how you'll arrange the furniture. You can find the room dimensions on the Ouachita website. If you want a lofted bed, be sure to let Residence Life know beforehand. Bed risers are another great way to add extra storage space under the bed, which is perfect for plastic drawers. Some students in halls like Frances Crawford also like to hang a single curtain panel on the closet opening since there's no door.

The best piece of advice I can give you for move-in day is to let your student lead the way. You have raised them to be independent, and this is the first step in that wonderful journey. Some students want to place everything themselves, so they know where it is and feel a sense of ownership. Others will be happy for your help with cleaning, unpacking and organizing. Follow their lead and let them set the pace.

The Best Part of the Day

Before you head home, make sure you attend the New Beginnings ceremony with your student at 3 p.m. in JPAC. I get chills just remembering sitting in the auditorium for this beautiful event with each of our kids. It's truly a special experience that you won't want to miss.

Encourage your student to get out and meet people! Ouachita does an incredible job of helping freshmen meet new friends, upper classmen, faculty and staff through their WOW (Welcome to Ouachita's World) orientation events.

As we were leaving Caleb, our oldest, he gave us a hug and said, "This is going to be the best day of my life." We asked him what he was going to do, and he said, "I don't know, but it's going to be great!" At that moment, we knew Ouachita was going to be his second home.

To help you get ready for move-in day, here's a suggested list of items you might want to pack (and Ouachita has more info here). Don't worry if you forget something – there's a Walmart in town, and a quick run is always an option.

Dorm Essentials Checklist — Remember to label all your boxes with your room number!

Trash can & cleaning supplies
Extension cord & multi-plug outlet
Mattress topper (a must-have for dorm beds!)
Twin XL comforter
Shower caddy, shower curtain and toiletries
Umbrella or raincoat (for those rainy Arkadelphia days)
School supplies (stapler, scissors, etc.)
Laundry supplies
Curtains
Shoe organizer for the closet
Compact storage units
Command strips for hanging pictures on cinder block walls (A tip: wait a few days to hang things. Move-in day is very humid with all the doors open!)
Carpet or rugs
Fan and/or dehumidifier
Water purifier
Small vacuum cleaner (talk with suite mates) — you only need one per suite/room
Dads, remember your tools for the day (including the screw gun)
Have snacks and water on hand while moving in. It will be hot!
A door stop for move in day

We loved Ouachita as students, and we love it even more now as parents. This is a day of goodbyes, but it's also a day of exciting beginnings. Take a deep breath and enjoy this special milestone. Your student is a Tiger for Life!

Tiffeny Crow ’95 is married to Zac ’97, and they have three children.

Lead Photo: The Crow family, from left to right: Isaac ’24, Caleb ’21, daughter-in-law Abby ’21, Tiffeny, Lydia, a current junior at Ouachita, and Zac.