Move-In Day at Pepperdine: Tips from Students Who’ve Been There

'Tis the season! Summer is slowly coming to an end. But before we cue the last-minute road trips, cannonballs in the pool, and deeeeelicious barbecues, we’ve still got some time before the school year starts.

For our new, incoming Pepperdine students, you’re probably thinking about a lot of moving parts right now. You already got into Pepperdine (congrats again!), but now you’re probably wondering, “How do I actually move in?”

As a Pepperdine alum, I asked some of my closest friends, who were Resident Advisors (RAs) and Spiritual Life Advisors (SLAs), for their advice on preparing for move-in day. Let’s see what they have to say about moving to the ‘Bu!

Our Mantra? Focus on the Essentials

Getting started with packing is probably the biggest headache. If you are someone who needs a list, check out our Housing and Residence Life Office’s General Recommended Items.

However, you may be wondering, do I need to get everything on this list? Or, do I need to fit everything I own into my new dorm room? My entire wardrobe? All my school supplies? All my posters of Tom Holland? Wait no, that last one was just a thought from former SLA, Madilyn. Either way, the answer, according to my trusted sources, is that less is more.

Students who are making a far drive or flying into Pepperdine, like Alex, a former RA from the Bay Area, or Jon, former RA from Pennsylvania, will find this framework especially helpful. Overpacking can add unnecessary stress to an already stressful day. The best way to mitigate this stress is by focusing on the essentials first.

Each bedroom in our suite-style residence halls is 170 square feet. If you’re more of a visual learner, you can take a virtual tour of our residence halls or watch the short video below to get an idea of how much space you will have.

Clothing + Shoes

Narrowing down clothing essentials can be tough for some people. But, let me at least tell you about what the weather typically looks like so that you can prepare accordingly.

At Pepperdine, we have a beautiful Mediterranean climate, meaning we have periods of dry, hot weather from June to October and see more cool, rainy weather from December to March. On a year-round basis though, you can expect mostly warm and sunny temperatures in the 60s and 70s.

By process of elimination, I can tell you you will not need heavy layers of clothing, especially during the fall semester. If you plan to go home over the winter break, that’s when you can focus on bringing warmer clothes, as the temperature can drop in the evenings of the spring semester. 

But for your fall move-in day, bring a good assortment of shorts, dresses/skirts, short-sleeve shirts, or any clothes with a breathable material that you are comfortable in. This will keep you fresh throughout the fall!

While Malibu is typically warm and sunny, you’d be surprised by how cool the nights can be due to the constant ocean breeze. Former RA, Diana, recommends you should definitely still bring a few light jackets, pants, sweaters.

But, leave yourself some room in your closet and dresser so that you can add new pieces along the way. It’s more likely than not that you’ll have to pick up some professional clothes for class presentations, and you will get free merch from campus events.

For shoes, the main recommendations we have here are the following: comfortable walking shoes (we’re not nick-named Stepperdine for no reason) and flip flops (beach days are key). I’ll let you sneakerheads reading this blog determine the other kinds and how many pairs of shoes work best for you!

Bed + Bath

For bedding, make sure to bring two sets of twin-XL sheets, a fresh comforter and a warm blanket (can swap these out depending on the weather at night), and a few pillows. 

Now, when it comes to a mattress topper, some people did just fine without, since the mattresses we provide have a firm feel on one side, and a soft feel on the other. But, others needed the extra comfort, and deemed a mattress topper a necessity. Consider your preferences now: do you like a firm mattress feel, or do you need extra support for a comfortable sleep? Let this guide you about whether you should bring a twin-XL mattress topper for your new room.

In our suite-style houses, you and your suitemates have a bathroom with two showers, two stalls, and two sinks all to yourselves. To stay organized, bring a small shower caddy. Plastic is the way to go since it’ll be easier to clean. Don’t forget to bring a set of towels, and of course, shower shoes!

Prior to your move, you can fill your caddy with essential care items. I’m talking your favorite hair, body, facial, and dental care products! But don’t worry about forgetting one of these items during the initial move. Remember, you will inevitably need to restock your caddy, and you can find basic essentials at nearby stores.

Decorations

Nearly all of my former RA/SLA friends advised to wait until after you move in to shop for decor items. This piece of advice came especially from those who were traveling long distances to Pepperdine, like Novashua, Alex, and Jon.

This might feel downright backwards to you. And I hear you; you’ve got to add your own personal flavor to your room! Stay with me though. We’re still using that same guidepost from above: focus on the essentials first. 

I know that one full-length mirror and plush rug from IKEA is totally your style, but is there a chance that you can buy it after you move in? If you think about it, you can purchase decor all over the US, and we’ve got a number of stores around the Malibu and greater Los Angeles area that may carry similar items that you’re looking for.

My question to you is: what are your personal items that cannot be purchased when you’re away from your hometown? Our lineup of RAs and SLAs made sure to bring their unique, prized possessions that they could not easily duplicate here. 

For example, Madilyn brought special family and childhood photos. Jon had to bring his one-of-a-kind pencil jar and a few of his favorite vinyl records. Former RA in our Switzerland International Program, Norvashua, did bring a rug, but it was one that his beloved granny gave to him (i.e. he couldn’t find it at the local IKEA).

Keep in mind that in your room, walls cannot be more than 10% covered by posters, frames, banners, etc… So it may be most beneficial to you anyway to move into the space first and THEN go on a fun shopping spree for the more standard, decorative pieces.

Non-negotiables

I’ll get straight to the point here. Each one of these former RAs/SLAs said that you need to bring a fan. Pepperdine residence halls are not air-conditioned, as we experience a more moderate climate on the Malibu coast than in surrounding inland areas. 

But, even with the cool ocean breeze flowing through campus, this group says that you will thank yourself later during the hotter, fall months that you have a fan to keep you cool (Former RA, Nelly, also says that a reusable water bottle is a must!). Alex vouches for portable desk fans for easy mobility, but it’s also worth looking into slightly larger fans to keep your whole room cool. Just make sure to coordinate beforehand with your roommate!

Everyone’s in the same boat! 

I know you probably feel like you're wearing a ginormous badge that reads “Hi, I am the new kid here,” but what you have to remember is that everyone in your class is also doing this for the first time, too.

You are all learning each other’s names, how to find your way around, and what on earth all the acronyms mean (BPC, TCC, CAC, CCB, TAC, etc…!).

So as you're moving in all of your belongings and settling in, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Madilyn especially encourages this, whether that means asking your RAs or SLA for the mallet to adjust the height on your bed, or your suitemate’s dad to borrow their screwdriver. Maybe sharing a toolkit or lending a hand with your roommate’s XL heavy-duty storage bag could be an unforgettable start to a lifelong friendship!

And remember how we said to wait until after you arrive to buy decor for your room? This could be a perfect opportunity to start building connections with your roommate and your suitemates!  

Take this chance to schedule a Target or TJMaxx run with them. I can’t think of a better way to form bonds with your suite than taking a nice drive through the canyon, scouring the aisles for the perfect trinkets to customize your rooms, and stopping by In-N-Out before heading back to campus (mmhmm).

Moving to college is a whole ordeal. But with these suggestions, we hope you feel more prepared to make the trek and that it can be as smooth as possible. We can’t wait to welcome you to Malibu in the next few weeks!