RENO, Nevada (KOLO) – From the third floor of Peavine Hall, Sydney Dunn and her family can be seen on one of their many trips from the family car to their dorm room.

It’s an exciting time for them. There are a lot of unknowns.

“It’s like meeting new people and trying to make new friends,” Sydney says. “Because I know a few people who come here, but not many.”

One of these people is her roommate Paris Duvall.

Unlike decades before, freshmen can now choose their dorm, room, and roommate within a set period of time, so there are fewer unknowns on move-in day.

“We were able to get to know each other,” says Paris. “She’s also from Vegas. So we went to lunch and hit it off, which really took the tension out of the day.”

Under the relatively new system, in which freshmen move in at a set time over a three-day period, elevators and stairwells no longer resemble the Grand Central Station system of old.

Paris says her brother Brayden will miss her and she will miss her bedroom.

“When I said goodbye to my house and my room this morning, I actually had to cry,” she says.

But if one of them has forgotten to pack something, such as light bulbs or a coffee machine for the room, there is no need to cry, because help is just around the corner.

Retailers like Home Depot prepare for this time of year by sending extra merchandise to local stores near colleges and universities about three weeks in advance.

“Often they need moving boxes, microwaves, power strips and extension cords,” says Kyle McCrae, assistant merchandising manager at Home Depot. “Cleaning supplies are another example. Mini fridges are another example.”

McCrae says products like paper towels and toilet paper are also big items. Storage boxes are also important for things that are packed but will be needed at a later date, he says.

It is a busy time for the staff in his store.

But not half as stressful as starting a new chapter in life like in Sydney and Paris.

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