Mustang Move-In
We are very excited to welcome you to the Hilltop!
We are currently working to provide a seamless Move-In experience. As we have additional details about the process they will be posted below.
Welcome home
Fall Arrivals
New students
New First Year Move-In Days: Wednesday, August 16 & Thursday, August 17
Transfer student Move-In Day: Thursday, August 17
Welcome to the Hilltop! Fall Move-In Days are an exciting series of days that occur before Stampede, giving you time to settle into your new home.
New student Move-In Days are announced in late-May of each year. You will receive an email notification when these dates are announced and Move-In timeslots become active in the SMU Housing Portal. Students must register for a Move-In timeslot prior to July 31. Please do not book travel until you have a timeslot to ensure your travel plans align with your timeslot.
Returning students
Returning student Move-In Days: Friday, August 18 & Saturday, August 19
Welcome back! We are happy to have you join us for another year on the Hilltop.
Residence halls will open for returning students after New Student Move-In Days ends but before classes begin. Returning students should inform RLSH of their arrival date on the SMU Housing Portal starting in late-May. Please select a timeslot before making travel plans.
Early arrivals
Early arrival Move-In Days: Varies by program
Early arrival programs allow students to attend structured program-specific events that focus on preparation for the academic school year.
Residents participating in certain University-sponsored programs may be eligible for early arrival. Students who are eligible for early arrival will be notified and can select an appropriate timeslot in the SMU Housing Portal.
Below are additional examples of programs that allow for early arrivals.
- International Orientation
- Rotunda Scholars
- Stampede Guides
Packing for the Hilltop
Packing for university life can seem like an overwhelming task - what exactly do you bring to college? Don't worry! We've got your back. Read through our informative packing guides below, which include suggested items to bring, items that SMU supplies, and policies about specific items, such as coffee makers. For further specification on items permitted in residence halls, please refer to the housing policies webpage, and the fire safety page.
We want you to be comfortable during your time in SMU's housing, but we also want to make sure that you pack appropriately and safely. Residence Life & Student Housing discourages bringing a U-Haul to campus as parking for U-Hauls is unavailable and student rooms have limited space to store a large number of belongings. To ease space and travel issues, students are allowed to send up to 10 packages to SMU prior to Move-In. Students will receive an email with their PO Box information prior to Move-In, and additional information can be found on the SMU Postal Services website. Even with limited items, unpacking a car can be a lot of work. You are welcome to bring up to four guests to Move-In Days to help unpack and set-up your room.
Sometimes it can be helpful to view the typical student room for your community. We encourage you to view the 360 videos, photos, and floorplans of your Residential Commons or Upper Division Housing, to get a feel for your future residence. We also host a series of Instagram Live Sessions for each Commons every July. This is a perfect place to learn more, see the Commons and ask any questions you may have. We will post the date and time of these sessions here, in July.
Packing Guides
Residential Commons Move-in
Details on what we provide and what Mustangs should bring to your room in the Residential Commons.
Upper Division Housing Move-In
Living in upper-division housing is a bit different from the Residential Commons. Explore this guide for what to bring with you.
Follow a Community
| Residential Communities | Instagram Handle |
| Armstrong Commons | @armstrongcommons |
| Boaz Commons | @boazcommons |
| Cockrell-McIntosh Commons | @cmcommons |
| Crum Commons | @crumcommons |
| Kathy Crow Commons | @kathycrowcommons |
| Loyd Commons | @loydcommons |
| Mary Hay/Peyton/Shuttles Commons | @mhpscommons |
| McElvaney Commons | @mcelvaneycommons |
| Morrison-McGinnis Commons | @momaccommons |
| Virginia-Snider Commons | @vscommons |
| Ware Commons | @wareyoubelong |
| Upper-Division Housing | @upperdivisionsmu |
| SMU Service House | @smuservicehouse |
Useful Move-In links
Overflow housing
Overflow housing
SMU is committed to housing all incoming first-year, and continuing second-year students on campus!
Stampede
Stampede
A four-day, student-only orientation event designed to welcome and prepare the newest Mustangs for the Hilltop!
Dining
Dining
Housing and meal plans go together like milk and cookies, which our Umphry Lee Dining Hall is famous for! Don't loose out on daily fresh-baked cookies; find the meal plan that's right for you.
Parking
Parking
Students may order their parking permit online by logging into the SMU Parking Portal. Payment is made after the permit is ordered through my.smu.edu, and not on the parking website.