Move in day - stay one night or two?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are staying 3 nights. Don’t expect to see my kid after we drop him off at his room. But we are driving 20 hours each way. So, the extra night is for much needed rest before turning around and heading back.

If it's a 20 hour drive, why not just fly?

With the contents of a heavily packed car?

You don’t need to drive everything there. Our son went to a school that was 10 hours away. We flew there and checked large duffle bags. It was free on Southwest. Airport was 15 minutes from school.

Rented a car. Had dorm bedding shipped to school that we order from a college dorm outfit place. You could also order items on Amazon and have it shipped to a locker in the college town. There were a few items that he still needed, so we made a Target run with the rented car.

Easy peasy.

+1. Have done this for multiple children including twins whose schools were 11 and 17 hours away in opposite directions from our home. Going to do it again next month for next younger kid, school is about 16 hours away. I will fly with him and rent a car.

It boils down to three lists: (1) things we bring from home (4 duffles max, plus student's rolling carryon; one duffle holds all the washed bedding), (2) things we buy there at Target (fly in a day early for shopping, knowing exactly which items are available at which Targets, often further from the college because college Target will be out of stock), and (3) things we order on Amazon to be shipped to hotel (probably foam mattress pad and one or two other things). A little organization goes a long way.

To be clear, this response is for the PP driving 20 hours, not OP who is only driving 2 hours.

Did this cost more than driving? How much for three people? What if bringing things from home is less expensive than buying all new, even from Target?

It’s also not about the money for many. For us, we get to visit a lot of towns and cities we wouldn’t normally visit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A lot of schools have parent programming, but that's because it serves as a way to get the parents to separate from the kids. Years ago they didn't need to have it, because parents just left. I am sure some people really enjoy it but I felt very skippable to me and not meaningful.

THIS

[Anonymous]

dont miss Yale's Opening Days. After move in, there are all the receptions for various groups (intl, jewish, ROTC . we were none), but def go to the residential college reception and the family dinner.

then the next day the Assembly (bring nice-ish clothes) and then the family lunch.

they're pretty clear on when you should leave, think it's 2pm on the second day, after the lunch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A lot of schools have parent programming, but that's because it serves as a way to get the parents to separate from the kids. Years ago they didn't need to have it, because parents just left. I am sure some people really enjoy it but I felt very skippable to me and not meaningful.

glad you can speak to every college and their programming!

although when I went to college, a zillion years ago, there was def parent programming so I find your intel a little shaky

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:dont miss Yale's Opening Days. After move in, there are all the receptions for various groups (intl, jewish, ROTC . we were none), but def go to the residential college reception and the family dinner.

then the next day the Assembly (bring nice-ish clothes) and then the family lunch.

they're pretty clear on when you should leave, think it's 2pm on the second day, after the lunch.

Yea we get it. Your kid went to Yale. We’re all impressed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mine are only 2 hrs and 3 hrs away. Did not stay overnight. However, we made sure to plan a weekend home over Labor Day so they had something to look forward to, and fall break in early October. Helps to come home and get things they didn’t anticipate, and just get sleep/food!

Please don't do this! The planning a weekend Home over Labor Day!

Most universities recommend you not visit/not have kids leave campus for the weekend until 4 weeks into the fall semester. A long weekend (Labor Day) without much academic work is when kids make friends, do activities/hang out. If your kid isn't there, they are missing out and might have trouble finding their group.

We always did drop off, stayed one night afterwards (we are 2-3K miles away and 2 flights for all of our kids) just incase they needed something. Then the parent who didn't do Drop off/move in went to visit at end of Sept for a weekend. And then you see them at mid October break or thanskgiving.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:dont miss Yale's Opening Days. After move in, there are all the receptions for various groups (intl, jewish, ROTC . we were none), but def go to the residential college reception and the family dinner.

then the next day the Assembly (bring nice-ish clothes) and then the family lunch.

they're pretty clear on when you should leave, think it's 2pm on the second day, after the lunch.

Yea we get it. Your kid went to Yale. We’re all impressed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are staying 3 nights. Don’t expect to see my kid after we drop him off at his room. But we are driving 20 hours each way. So, the extra night is for much needed rest before turning around and heading back.

If it's a 20 hour drive, why not just fly?

With the contents of a heavily packed car?

You don’t need to drive everything there. Our son went to a school that was 10 hours away. We flew there and checked large duffle bags. It was free on Southwest. Airport was 15 minutes from school.

Rented a car. Had dorm bedding shipped to school that we order from a college dorm outfit place. You could also order items on Amazon and have it shipped to a locker in the college town. There were a few items that he still needed, so we made a Target run with the rented car.

Easy peasy.

+1. Have done this for multiple children including twins whose schools were 11 and 17 hours away in opposite directions from our home. Going to do it again next month for next younger kid, school is about 16 hours away. I will fly with him and rent a car.

It boils down to three lists: (1) things we bring from home (4 duffles max, plus student's rolling carryon; one duffle holds all the washed bedding), (2) things we buy there at Target (fly in a day early for shopping, knowing exactly which items are available at which Targets, often further from the college because college Target will be out of stock), and (3) things we order on Amazon to be shipped to hotel (probably foam mattress pad and one or two other things). A little organization goes a long way.

To be clear, this response is for the PP driving 20 hours, not OP who is only driving 2 hours.

Did this cost more than driving? How much for three people? What if bringing things from home is less expensive than buying all new, even from Target?

It’s also not about the money for many. For us, we get to visit a lot of towns and cities we wouldn’t normally visit.

This…for a lot of couples, it’s like a little trip to take their mind off things and get excited about being empty nesters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are staying 3 nights. Don’t expect to see my kid after we drop him off at his room. But we are driving 20 hours each way. So, the extra night is for much needed rest before turning around and heading back.

If it's a 20 hour drive, why not just fly?

With the contents of a heavily packed car?

You don’t need to drive everything there. Our son went to a school that was 10 hours away. We flew there and checked large duffle bags. It was free on Southwest. Airport was 15 minutes from school.

Rented a car. Had dorm bedding shipped to school that we order from a college dorm outfit place. You could also order items on Amazon and have it shipped to a locker in the college town. There were a few items that he still needed, so we made a Target run with the rented car.

Easy peasy.

+1. Have done this for multiple children including twins whose schools were 11 and 17 hours away in opposite directions from our home. Going to do it again next month for next younger kid, school is about 16 hours away. I will fly with him and rent a car.

It boils down to three lists: (1) things we bring from home (4 duffles max, plus student's rolling carryon; one duffle holds all the washed bedding), (2) things we buy there at Target (fly in a day early for shopping, knowing exactly which items are available at which Targets, often further from the college because college Target will be out of stock), and (3) things we order on Amazon to be shipped to hotel (probably foam mattress pad and one or two other things). A little organization goes a long way.

To be clear, this response is for the PP driving 20 hours, not OP who is only driving 2 hours.

Did this cost more than driving? How much for three people? What if bringing things from home is less expensive than buying all new, even from Target?

Typically, whether you fly or drive, you really aren’t bringing that many items you already have (other than clothing, computer & toiletry items). Most teens are not sleeping in a twinXL at home, so that bedding needs to be purchased. I can’t see anyone pulling up their throw rug from their bedroom and bringing it to college. Same for storage bins. Most teens have dressers and larger closets at home that fit their clothing. College requires being creative about storage.

Again, it depends on the student/family.

Our kids brought a lot that they already had but we, like many people, live in a smaller home so we already have a lot of the space saving items that they could take with them. We did buy twin xl bedding (not a comforter as we already have quilts, etc. that work) and a rug. We also bought supplies (cleaning, laundry, etc.) over the course of the summer as they went on sale.

So we needed to get this stuff to their school. Flying us and their stuff was more expensive than driving. Flying us and then buying stuff we already have was more expensive than driving.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are staying 3 nights. Don’t expect to see my kid after we drop him off at his room. But we are driving 20 hours each way. So, the extra night is for much needed rest before turning around and heading back.

If it's a 20 hour drive, why not just fly?

With the contents of a heavily packed car?

You don’t need to drive everything there. Our son went to a school that was 10 hours away. We flew there and checked large duffle bags. It was free on Southwest. Airport was 15 minutes from school.

Rented a car. Had dorm bedding shipped to school that we order from a college dorm outfit place. You could also order items on Amazon and have it shipped to a locker in the college town. There were a few items that he still needed, so we made a Target run with the rented car.

Easy peasy.

+1. Have done this for multiple children including twins whose schools were 11 and 17 hours away in opposite directions from our home. Going to do it again next month for next younger kid, school is about 16 hours away. I will fly with him and rent a car.

It boils down to three lists: (1) things we bring from home (4 duffles max, plus student's rolling carryon; one duffle holds all the washed bedding), (2) things we buy there at Target (fly in a day early for shopping, knowing exactly which items are available at which Targets, often further from the college because college Target will be out of stock), and (3) things we order on Amazon to be shipped to hotel (probably foam mattress pad and one or two other things). A little organization goes a long way.

To be clear, this response is for the PP driving 20 hours, not OP who is only driving 2 hours.

Did this cost more than driving? How much for three people? What if bringing things from home is less expensive than buying all new, even from Target?

It’s also not about the money for many. For us, we get to visit a lot of towns and cities we wouldn’t normally visit.

This…for a lot of couples, it’s like a little trip to take their mind off things and get excited about being empty nesters.

Yep.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:dont miss Yale's Opening Days. After move in, there are all the receptions for various groups (intl, jewish, ROTC . we were none), but def go to the residential college reception and the family dinner.

then the next day the Assembly (bring nice-ish clothes) and then the family lunch.

they're pretty clear on when you should leave, think it's 2pm on the second day, after the lunch.

Yea we get it. Your kid went to Yale. We’re all impressed.

Wow. You are pathetic. This anonymous poster really gets a lot of street cred by announcing here their kid went to Yale. I'm sure it is the highlight of their day. Much as your sad attempt to make a funny was the highlight of yours. In your case I would say get out of town ASAP so you don't embarrass your child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:dont miss Yale's Opening Days. After move in, there are all the receptions for various groups (intl, jewish, ROTC . we were none), but def go to the residential college reception and the family dinner.

then the next day the Assembly (bring nice-ish clothes) and then the family lunch.

they're pretty clear on when you should leave, think it's 2pm on the second day, after the lunch.

Yea we get it. Your kid went to Yale. We’re all impressed.

Wow. You are pathetic. This anonymous poster really gets a lot of street cred by announcing here their kid went to Yale. I'm sure it is the highlight of their day. Much as your sad attempt to make a funny was the highlight of yours. In your case I would say get out of town ASAP so you don't embarrass your child.

New Haven is heard from.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:dont miss Yale's Opening Days. After move in, there are all the receptions for various groups (intl, jewish, ROTC . we were none), but def go to the residential college reception and the family dinner.

then the next day the Assembly (bring nice-ish clothes) and then the family lunch.

they're pretty clear on when you should leave, think it's 2pm on the second day, after the lunch.

Yea we get it. Your kid went to Yale. We’re all impressed.

Wow. You are pathetic. This anonymous poster really gets a lot of street cred by announcing here their kid went to Yale. I'm sure it is the highlight of their day. Much as your sad attempt to make a funny was the highlight of yours. In your case I would say get out of town ASAP so you don't embarrass your child.

New Haven is heard from.

Nope. No Yale ties. Just zero tolerance for angry, pathetic, small people. Keep digging.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:dont miss Yale's Opening Days. After move in, there are all the receptions for various groups (intl, jewish, ROTC . we were none), but def go to the residential college reception and the family dinner.

then the next day the Assembly (bring nice-ish clothes) and then the family lunch.

they're pretty clear on when you should leave, think it's 2pm on the second day, after the lunch.

Yea we get it. Your kid went to Yale. We’re all impressed.

Wow. You are pathetic. This anonymous poster really gets a lot of street cred by announcing here their kid went to Yale. I'm sure it is the highlight of their day. Much as your sad attempt to make a funny was the highlight of yours. In your case I would say get out of town ASAP so you don't embarrass your child.

Oh cmon. That poster probably drops Yale with every other breath she takes.

[Anonymous]

It sounds like colleges have now learned how to cater to the helicopter parents