Frustrated parents and excited students crowded campus Sunday as thousands moved into the dorms — their new homes for the next nine months.

In addition to the nearly 5,800 students who moved in Sunday, more than 4,200 moved in early, most of them arriving Thursday as Ohio State Welcome Leaders to help with the big move on Sunday. The OWLs said the biggest problem Thursday was the traffic.

“I thought(the move-in process) was really good,” said first-year and OWL Kyle Forrester. His parents “didn’t like it, though, because it was really backed up.”

First-year Jason Schultz and his mom weren’t fans of the traffic, either.

“It took a long time,” Schultz said as his mom laughed. “We were waiting in line in the car for two hours.”

Besides traffic and the occasional tearful goodbye, the move-in process seemed to run smoothly.

“I thought it was fantastic,” said incoming first-year and new Morrill Tower resident Connor Slone. “It was really efficient, everyone was really friendly … I felt like I was in the right place.”

Few complained about this year’s room and board increase. The Board of Trustees voted earlier this summer to increase room and board from $8,409 to $8,874, but most students and their parents didn’t even know, or care, that they would be paying $465 more for their room and meal plan.

One parent said the increase wouldn’t have been a deciding factor in picking a school, and although another student called it “bad timing” because she has to shell out more money than the previous freshman class, she said she is sure the increase will be worth it.

“I’m paying for a good education,” said Hannah D’Souza, a first-year in speech and hearing. “I do believe they have a reason and I’m OK with that.”

The increase will help pay for the $172 million renovations to the South Campus residence halls, including Steeb and Park halls, along 11th Avenue.

The dorms will be receiving more beds and study spaces, and the public bathrooms will be converted into semi-private bathrooms that will service up to six people, said Vice President for Student Life Javaune Adams-Gaston at a media briefing last week.

The renovations also will include a geothermal well below the South Oval, which Adams-Gaston said will make heating and cooling the South Campus dorms easier and cheaper. Because OSU is converting to semesters and students will move into the dorms in August, the high-rise dorms will be air-conditioned.

Assistant Housing Director Gabi Bockelman, who also hasn’t heard many complaints about the room and board increase from incoming students, said the renovations will be worth it.

“With the new Union, combined with renewed residence halls, we believe South Campus will remain as popular among students (as it currently is) as we move forward with semesters,” Bockelman said in an e-mail. “Also, with the construction, we will be adding some new spaces, as well, which will allow us to accommodate even more students on South Campus.”