Is not allowing parents inside the dorm to help with move in the norm now?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That’s the way it was for us

At Freshmen move in?

Yes. Parents weren’t allowed in the dorms all year (including move in and parents weekend)

Same.

Almost the same for Columbia. We were allowed in at Fall semester drop off/move in, but no other time, haven’t been allowed in dorm since. Had to have vaccination cards and negative test within 72 hours to assist with move in.

Yea, we're so impressed at the mention of Columbia. Nice humble brag.

I’m sorry you’re so insecure. Must be hard.

[Anonymous]

No. Even when my kid started college in 2020 - the height of covid fear...we were allowed 4 hours to help with move in. Then we had to go.

[Anonymous]

maybe because it was a short summer program. they only have to make a bed and put away clothes.

[Anonymous]

You can help them move in? I just did one of those dorm packages where everything was sent to campus and they pick it up. Much easier than packing up the car or trying to fit into luggage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Parent of two college graduates. We never helped them move in. We said our goodbyes at home and they were off. Freshman parents helping with move in is so foreign to me!

Are you from another country? In the US, this is a standard thing parents do.

[Anonymous]

I bet it was because it was the summer. My DS was just at Radford this past week for Boys' State. We were not allowed in the dorm.

A couple of years ago, (pre-Covid) he did a camp at the Naval Academy. Again, we weren't allowed in the dorm.

With my two college kids, my oldest was at college when Covid hit. When we moved him out of the dorm, we were given a two hour appointment window to move him out. We were limited to just student and one adult. No one else was on his floor when we moved him out. This was the spring of '20. Then when we moved him back in, for fall of '20, again he got an appointment and only one person could help him move in. This past fall, with my middle DS, it was almost a normal move in. He had to make an appointment time, but there were lots of other students moving in. Once he was moved in, they had a "mini" quarantine. They weren't allowed any visitors into their dorm for the two first weeks - that was pure theatre like so many other "restrictions." They were allowed to socialize with others in the dining hall (without masks), obviously they were in class together, they could work out in the gym together. But no one except the roommates in their rooms. Because Covid knows when you're in the dorm room versus the dining hall.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Parent of two college graduates. We never helped them move in. We said our goodbyes at home and they were off. Freshman parents helping with move in is so foreign to me!

It's extremely common to move your freshman in. Even if you live within driving distance from home. But it's a day (sometime only a few hours) and then they are off to starting their college experience.

For those that live a flight away from college, it's almost a requirement for parents to go help (and who wouldn't want to?!?!?) I have it down (2-3K away for both kids). Go 2 days before move in so we can purchase room basics (sheets, towels, bedding, etc), get it laundered, explore the area college is (since we have only visited once or twice for a day each time), move student in and then attend "parent events" and leave exactly when the university asks parents to leave for new student orientation. No way a kid could do all the shopping and move in easily as it requires a rental car. Plus I'd hate for my kid to be one of the the few there without family to assist

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parent of two college graduates. We never helped them move in. We said our goodbyes at home and they were off. Freshman parents helping with move in is so foreign to me!

It's extremely common to move your freshman in. Even if you live within driving distance from home. But it's a day (sometime only a few hours) and then they are off to starting their college experience.

For those that live a flight away from college, it's almost a requirement for parents to go help (and who wouldn't want to?!?!?) I have it down (2-3K away for both kids). Go 2 days before move in so we can purchase room basics (sheets, towels, bedding, etc), get it laundered, explore the area college is (since we have only visited once or twice for a day each time), move student in and then attend "parent events" and leave exactly when the university asks parents to leave for new student orientation. No way a kid could do all the shopping and move in easily as it requires a rental car. Plus I'd hate for my kid to be one of the the few there without family to assist

I think this is definately a bigger deal for parents than for kids. My parents didn't help me move into my dorm and I was totally fine. My husband helped our child move into the dorm, but that was more because our son hadn't even set foot on the campus before he started so it was good to have a second person there. IF he had been more familiar with the area then he likely would have preferred to just fly solo and move in without help. Amazon delivery was quite helpful to help keep his packing minimal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parent of two college graduates. We never helped them move in. We said our goodbyes at home and they were off. Freshman parents helping with move in is so foreign to me!

It's extremely common to move your freshman in. Even if you live within driving distance from home. But it's a day (sometime only a few hours) and then they are off to starting their college experience.

Neither of our parents helped us move in. Our children went to schools within driving distance and were allowed to bring cars are freshmen. They knew how small their dorms would be from orientation visits and took just the basics. The went shopping for what they needed locally or used Amazon to supplement.

We live a minimalist lifestyle as do many of our friends and their children. It would be so uncommon for us to help a move in to a temporary living space. They weren’t furnishing a house or even an apartment:

When I saw some of the post move in day pictures of dorms decorated like they were vying for a spread in AD, I just shook my head. It was all virtue signaling and a competition between moms for the social credit and validation they so desperately needed. We received our first day of school pictures but otherwise, we left it to them who are now thriving.

If it works for you great, but realize some do it differently.

[Anonymous]

The move-in date is a week before the classes start for my kid. After getting the keys and moving in, can the kid stay with the parents that night? Or it's not allowed?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parent of two college graduates. We never helped them move in. We said our goodbyes at home and they were off. Freshman parents helping with move in is so foreign to me!

Are you from another country? In the US, this is a standard thing parents do.

+1
My husband is still resentful when he looks back at his move-in day as a college freshman many years ago. His parents couldn't be bothered to take him and help unload, set up, etc. He said he was the only student who didn't have parents there. Very hurtful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parent of two college graduates. We never helped them move in. We said our goodbyes at home and they were off. Freshman parents helping with move in is so foreign to me!

It's extremely common to move your freshman in. Even if you live within driving distance from home. But it's a day (sometime only a few hours) and then they are off to starting their college experience.

Neither of our parents helped us move in. Our children went to schools within driving distance and were allowed to bring cars are freshmen. They knew how small their dorms would be from orientation visits and took just the basics. The went shopping for what they needed locally or used Amazon to supplement.

We live a minimalist lifestyle as do many of our friends and their children. It would be so uncommon for us to help a move in to a temporary living space. They weren’t furnishing a house or even an apartment:

When I saw some of the post move in day pictures of dorms decorated like they were vying for a spread in AD, I just shook my head. It was all virtue signaling and a competition between moms for the social credit and validation they so desperately needed. We received our first day of school pictures but otherwise, we left it to them who are now thriving.

If it works for you great, but realize some do it differently.

And vice-versa. Please take your own advice. Many kids WANT their parents to give them a hand with move in. I just shook my head at your entire post, but if it works for you, great!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parent of two college graduates. We never helped them move in. We said our goodbyes at home and they were off. Freshman parents helping with move in is so foreign to me!

I find your scenario completely foreign. Especially since most freshman can't bring cars.

It’s like that scene from a movie where a girl shows up to college in a taxi. Was that pitch Perfect?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The move-in date is a week before the classes start for my kid. After getting the keys and moving in, can the kid stay with the parents that night? Or it's not allowed?

Don’t do that to them. It’s the first night with all the people they will be getting to know. They will probably have some kind of meeting either RA, and then some icebreaker type of activities that night. Time for mom and dad to clear out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parent of two college graduates. We never helped them move in. We said our goodbyes at home and they were off. Freshman parents helping with move in is so foreign to me!

I find your scenario completely foreign. Especially since most freshman can't bring cars.

It’s like that scene from a movie where a girl shows up to college in a taxi. Was that pitch Perfect?

Yes! I was thinking exactly that during that scene! And also at the end of the movie, "Lady Bird" when she piles all her things into her car to drive ACROSS THE US as a freshman starting college. Who writes this stuff?
DP