Move-In 2013 - FAQ

What should I bring to campus?

 Visit our "things to bring" page for suggestions on items to bring to campus and items to leave at home. If you are driving to campus, please remember that you can save space in the car by purchasing items once you arrive in Evanston. 

Will there be help moving in on move-in day?

If you are moving in on September 16 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00p.m., Peer Adviser and Purple Posse move-in volunteers will be available to assist in moving your items to your room. For returning students, Purple Posse will be available from 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on September 20 to assist with move-in.

Do you have carts for move-in?

A limited number of carts will be available in each area to check out on move-in day. If you are able to bring your own, we recommend you do so.

How do I ship items to campus?

If you'll be living in University housing and intend to ship some of your belongings before you arrive, please refer to the information on the Ship to Northwestern webpage for the process, important dates, and other useful information to ensure a smooth experience.

Can I move in early?

Residential Services occasionally gets requests for students wanting to move in earlier than their assigned move-in days. Selected students deemed essential for the opening of the residence halls and residential colleges are permitted to check in on Sunday, September 15, 2013 (after 1:00 p.m.). Examples include Peer Adviser staff, Purple Posse volunteers, selected hall government officers, and selected staff working in the Information & Mail Centers. Students with one of these groups are encouraged to confirm with their advisor or supervisor that they are permitted to move in on Sunday. NOTE: There are representatives of some student organizations that are given the opportunity to participate in Wildcat Welcome. However, most of these groups are not approved to move in early. Students not in one of the groups listed above should assume that the earliest they can check in to the residence halls is 8:00 a.m. on Monday, September 16, 2013. Early arrival requests should be directed to housing@northwestern.edu.

Can I see my room before I move in?

Unfortunately, we are unable to provide access to view your room before move-in day. During the summer months, conference participants and summer residents occupy many of our buildings. We also use the summer to complete renovations and routine maintenance. Closer to the beginning of the academic year, the Housekeeping staff is busy cleaning your space and the Community Assistant staff is preparing for your arrival. For more information about your specific building, visit our webpage featuring profiles for each housing option. 

What size is my room?

The residence halls at Northwestern come in all shapes and sizes. Unfortunately, we are unable to provide dimensions for each room. For more information about your specific building, visit our webpage featuring profiles for each housing option. 

What size are the mattresses?

All mattresses on campus are 36" by 80". They are sometimes referred to as "twin extra-long" mattresses. Please refer to our list of things to bring for information on a program that the Residential Housing Association coordinates to help students find the right linens. 

Why do I need to sign up for a move in time?

All of our over 2,000 first-year and new transfer students move in on the same day. To help reduce the time you spend waiting to check in and to allow more people to unload vehicles closer to each building, the move-in appointment time process is utilized. The move-in times are planned so that you will be able to place your items in your room before the Wildcat Welcome activities begin.

Do I need a move-in permit if I am not unloading a vehicle at move-in?

If you are not bringing a vehicle to unload, you will still access the move-in permit system to let us know this. You will not need to print a permit; instead simply bring a photo ID to your building tocheck in and receive your key.

I signed up for a move-in time but need to change it.

Please call Residential Services at (847) 467-HOME (4663) on a weekday between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Central Daylight Time to see if your preferred time is available.

My building assignment changed. Do I need to confirm my move-in time?

If your building assignment changed, please call Residential Services at (847) 467-HOME (4663) to confirm your move-in time. If your unloading zone changed, you may need to choose a new move-in time. If your unloading zone remains the same, simply log back into the move-in system and print two new move-in permits.  

What do I do if I have any questions about the move-in process?

Please call Residential Services at (847) 467-HOME (4663) or email housing@northwestern.edu.