Personally dropping kid off at college freshman year?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When you say it’s the cheapest option, op, did you include travel ( and storage) costs in the comparison? Having to travel cross country can easily add $5000 to 10,000 per year, depending on how often your child comes home but it’s impossible to avoid at least 4 trips, and most kids come home for Thanksgiving and leave campus for spring break. Something for those in this thread with high school kids to keep in mind.

OP here. The comparative calculus isn't as simple as it my first appear. Budgeting for 2 or 3 roundtrip trips for our son each year ($1,000-$1,700), the paper cost is very similar and may even slightly favor the flagship. But DS's college provides a number of not-immediately-obvious financial benefits such as a generous book-and-supply stipend, travel costs for study abroad, funded non-profit internships, etc. that I think make it cheaper overall. Or, at least, the benefits of DS's college arguably outweigh the travel limitations. FWIW, we discussed the financial and travel ramifications of each college early in the process and again after DS received offers. Every option necessitated some sacrifice--if DS went to the local flagship, he'd (a) forsake his significant desire to get away from home and (b) choose a good-not-great state college over a world-class college and all the benefits that it entails. On the other hand, in choosing the college he did, we are subject to additional travel costs and the limitations of not being able to see us or come home as often. DS chose the latter, and we're doing our best under the circumstances.

$1800 is vastly underestimating the cost of attending college cross country. You are going to have to ship all his dorm supplies out there (or have him Uber around his new city alone buying things) then pay to store each summer. Flight costs can be a lot higher around holiday breaks. You already realize you forgot to budget for parent visits (and there will be parents days and graduation’s

I think if you told us the schools involved, there wouldn’t be as much difference as you seem to think there is. In any case, decisions have already been made so now you know where you might need to increase the budget for future years.

Amazon or other websites can ship lots of things for free. Parents don’t have to visit. And not all students go home for Thanksgiving or Spring Break. You seem to think these things are mandatory and they are really not. OP and her family seem to me like they’ve really thought things out especially weighing the costs and potential sacrifices.

Just keep in mind, most mailrooms take a few weeks to get going. Contact the school to see if shipping is even a reliable option, sometimes there are specialized companies that work with the schools.