It's move-in weekend for students in Waterloo region and Guelph. Here's what you need to know

Heading into the Labour Day long weekend, thousands of university students will be moving to Waterloo region and Guelph.

With some having already moved in, Waterloo's university district will be filled with first-years acclimatizing to their new homes ahead of classes beginning next week. 

Each school has a guide for incoming students on their website. 

Students began moving into University of Waterloo residences on Thursday with the process continuing through until Sunday. 

"Students get to pick their move-in time ahead of time so we know when to expect them and it spaces them out pretty evenly throughout the weekend since we are moving in over 5,000 students over those four day periods," said Pamela Hurvid, manager of marketing and communications with campus housing at the university. 

Hurvid adds school officials are encouraging students to get out of their comfort zones and take advantage of the opportunity to live with diverse students from around the world. 

"It's a really nervous time but also an exciting and proud time for students and their families who are sending them off."

Every first-year student who opted to live in residence was guaranteed a room, added Hurvid.

At the nearby Wilfrid Laurier University first-year move-ins for the university's Waterloo campus begin Friday morning at 9 a.m. and will continue until Sunday. 

Meanwhile, at Laurier's Brantford location, Sunday is the student's only day to move in. 

Chris Dodd is the director of residence at Wilfrid Laurier who has been with the university for 25 years. 

"Every year something different comes up but I really believe that the team here has done amazing work and we're ready to roll," he said. 

Dodd adds since the Waterloo campus is small, all residences are within a five-minute walk to main campus buildings. 

In the Royal City, first-year students will move in on Friday and Saturday.