Moving across country for college.

[Anonymous]

Posted on High school board, but probably better here. DC is going to attend school in California. We have no friends or relatives there. If anyone has suggestions or lessons learned from ADT experience I'd appreciate Hearing from you.

Wondering if it is worth shipping anything out there or better to buy locally.

School is in Bay Area, so DC will need some winter clothes.

[Anonymous]

We know lots of people whose kids are airplane rides from college. They all shipped some stuff. I'd get things like sheets and towels in advance but go to Target when you arrive for the easy to buy stuff. We got a dorm rug, curtains, shoe bag, hooks, etc at target since it was helpful to see the room first. If you are going to get things like a dorm fridge I'd probably get that there too.

Some colleges have bedding and rugs you can pre order. We didn't do that because my DD is too picky. Don't know many/any people who did.

[Anonymous]

Two Words: Amazon Prime!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Two Words: Amazon Prime!

It's the answer to so many questions!

[Anonymous]

Newbie here, but how would a dorm handle deliveries from Amazon? Hold at the front desk? That seems easy

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Newbie here, but how would a dorm handle deliveries from Amazon? Hold at the front desk? That seems easy

Get in touch with the college. Most have a college post office and students are assigned mailboxes. You should be able to send it to the college PO once you've got the number.

Your DC must go to a much classier college than mine. No front desk at any dorms on her campus, or even any of the ones we've visited.

[Anonymous]

It just depends on the school/dorm. At my school all packages were held at a student post office. You were emailed and went to that building to pick up your packages.

My university (GWU) did have front desks with security and work-study students.

[Anonymous]

Lots of ppl travel across the country for school. Are you going with DC to help get situated? If so, pack suitcases full of clothes.

Rent a car and go to Target for toiletries and other odds and ends when you get there. Honestly a college student doesn't need that much esp as a freshman because they have a meal plan and can usually rent a micro fridge from the college. A laptop or iPad is a tv/book/game console.

Also ordering online works well. There is even Amazon Student.

[Anonymous]

Agree with PPs that you'll need to check into procedure for handling packages. At my child's New England LAC packages are held in an administrative building across the street from the student center on move in day. After that students pick up packages from the student mail center (after receiving a text that a package has arrived for them).

Places like Bed, Bath and Beyond allow you to order items for pick-up at another BBB to save on shipping costs. And Amazon Prime is another good idea.

At the end of each school year you can have your student rent a storage bay at a local self-storage place (in Maine it's about $35/month for a 5x7 space). That way they can leave a fridge, microwave, underbed storage bins, waste basket, laundry hamper, hangers, posters, and washed bedding in the storage place. Since my kid goes to college in Maine the storage space is also a place for boots, winter jackets, gloves and other cold weather clothing. Some colleges do allow students who live far enough way to store items in the dorm basement so you should check this out.

[Anonymous]

Some students will have summer rental apartments that aren't being used (much) and may allow your DC to store a few things. A roomate or friend who lives locally is alos a good thing to have. peopel ahve been doing this for years and it somehow works - I wouldn't sweat too much.

[Anonymous]

If there's a Bed, Bath and Beyond near your kid's school, you're golden. Go to a local store, they'll give you a scanner, you walk around the store and scan in the SKUs for everything you want to buy. It will all be waiting for you at the BBandB nearest campus. Rent a car -- or cab it in a big city -- to pick it up and drive to campus.

[Anonymous]

Some schools have free storage for kids coming from the opposite coast. Agree with others that you can order online and then pickup stuff when you are out there. Or, we have also used Amazon A LOT!!! to have stuff sent to our little darling.

Good luck! Many kids do the oppositie coast thing these days. You can ask around to find kids in your neighborhood/school doing the same thing. Or you can post here on DCUM and make a new email and ask others who are doing the same thing.