Tips for Moving in to Colleges a flight away
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Anonymous
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It's just hitting me that DS is attending college in the midwest and in all practicality it's unlikely he will ever drive to/from college. DH and I, and all our siblings always drove for "move in day". Sometimes far, but always manageable with just one stop each way. DS has no desire to drive and wants to figure out how to do this by shipping things and packing in two suitcases. Suggestions/tips from those who have BTDT? How do you plan for getting everything you need to the dorms? Tips for coordinating delivery of items and move in? What should be packed in the suitcases?
I know Amazon Prime will be key here, but would love insight from others. Did you buy sheets, wash and pack, or have them shipped? Can you ship ahead? TIA |
Anonymous
DS packed only clothes. We bought nothing for college in our home state. We all flew out to his college area and got a hotel. Actually we got a suite (we have a lot of family). We ordered a bunch of stuff and had it delivered to the hotel. We rented a car while we were there. We dumped delivered stuff in the car and drove to the dorm, and helped him unpack and set up. We took the suitcases he used to bring his clothes, back with us. Except for one, which he kept underneath his bed. It was pretty easy. Our second kid picked a college about an hour away from DS. She ordered stuff online and had it delivered to him. Then when we flew out there, we picked everything up in the rental car and drove it to her college. |
Anonymous
| Find out where nearest Target is to campus, prepay, pick up in a rental. |
Anonymous
| Consider a storage unit for summers. He may be able to find a few people to share it with. |
Anonymous
| DD just graduated from college 1000 miles away. The whole thing — it’s a long slog. You can buy everything at a BBB here and pick it up at the BBB near the college. Amazon is your new best friend. DH is a million miler on United so we get free checked bags and that helps. You’ll need to move in/out and rent storage every summer. It was a great 4 years but I’m glad it’s over. |
Anonymous
We are planning on flying to my son's college in FL, arriving a day early, and hitting an outlet mall down there to buy all that stuff. He'll take whatever fits in a couple suitcases, and buy some stuff. We're pretty minimalist though, and he's going to Florida so he won't need winter gear. So, I'm not too worried. |
Anonymous
Most families with kids in dorms get excited and over buy. All a student really needs to start is a computer, an iPad, some clothes, a couple of towels, shoes and some bedding. You can always mail out a couple boxes of other items. One way to get good cheap stuff is to try to connect with kids who spent the summer on campus and will be moving out shortly before your kid arrives. |
Anonymous
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Ask school re shipping ahead. Rule for DC’S school was packages can’t arrive more than two weeks in advance of move-in day or they’ll be returned to sender.
We did two things. Took Southwest which allows two quite large checked bags (free), plus one personal item, and one carryon per passenger. So between the two of us that was 8 items. Paying $15 for boarding priority meant one could be DC’s guitar (substitutes for carryon if fits in the overhead in space available at time of boarding). Took some empty bags back home with me (one fit inside the other). Only one big suitcase stayed at school (used for under bed storage/off season clothes). Also signed up for a FEDEX account which enables you to pack, label, and pay for ground shipping at a discounted rate (cheaper than P.O. for everything except books but YMMV depending on mileage) at home. Just dropped off the boxes at Kinkos late at night when there was no traffic. Plane stuff was clothes for a week or two, linens/pillows, towels, computer, musical instruments, sports gear. Latter two were because it was cheaper/easier/safer to do it this way. Books, outerwear, winter blankets, extra shoes/clothes got shipped. Toiletries, snacks, office supplies, and some organizational stuff got picked up at TJs, Target, etc. near school. Others (overdoor hooks) got ordered from Amazon. Truthfully, all they need to move in is clothes, a towel, and stuff to make their bed. |
Anonymous
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Thanks, All. Especially the SW tip - it will be worth the slog to BWI for that.
Keep the advice coming. I will add my own piece for those sending kids to the upper midwest: It is colder than you may understand but the buildings are well-heated. You don't really need to send your kid with much more than an open charge at your favorite winterwear company. You might not be the best person to decide what winter-wear really is, but their friends will know. |
Anonymous
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I went to a college that was definitely a flight away.
The less you bring & buy, the less he will have to store or bring home potentially during summers (or other times he comes home for good—like dropping out/taking a gap/transferring). We brought only stuff for two suitcases—tightly packed! I think there was an overage that we paid $50 for. And then mom went to BB&B and bought all the sheets, pillows, dishware, desk lamp, makeup mirror, closet and toiletry organizer, shoe rack. We ordered new fall coats online and had them sent there. And I didn’t bring alll of my shoes, decor. |
Anonymous
| Oh and those plastic bags with the valve that let you compress stuff proved really useful for packing pillows, towels, comforters, sweaters, and down coats. |
Anonymous
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Also have a student in the Midwest.
- Shopped here at Bed, Bath and Beyond plus Container store and picked up locally. Overbought with intent to return what's not needed. Often the most popular items are sold out like Command hooks for coats and wet towels. Also, helpful right away were different styles of over the door hooks since door widths vary and the container store pop up cubes which served as storage and seating. Sturdy laundry basket which folds flat from BBB. Microwave cart to store food. Order the rental minifrig with microwave early, they run out. A really good mattress pad. We ordered the XL from Tempurpedic and had to reship due to the two week requirement. If you do the same, do not unbox it no matter what people say about airing it out! - Unless your kid is very minimal, you'll be lofting the bed so storage units underneath are handy . - rent a minivan to make your life easier - lines to pick up anything shipped to campus are really long so plan accordingly. Only the student can pick up the keys and the stuff so once keys are obtained, send your DC down to line. - Midwest Falls don't last really long so we brought out all the clothes. Weather has been relatively great but temps can drop from 70 to 30 degrees in 1/2 hour. The Northfaces that have a removeable liner/jacket has been great for most days plus one heavier one for sub zero weather (that can wait until after Xmas.) Light waterproof shoes like the ones Sperry makes are perfect for most days also. - Pack a tool kit and scissors for move in. - An alumni parent clued us into the Southwest Visa Rapid Rewards card. Once you hit the threshold, two fly for essentially the price of one. Especially handy if you'll be using Midway vs O'Hare |
Anonymous
| Also, spouse and I just packed what we needed in carry on so there were actually 6 bags in total we could check. If it's UChicago, you'll want to stay through to the end on Sunday. The welcome to new freshman is memorable. |
Anonymous
| I went to school a 13 hour drive away. We drove out freshman year with a packed car, then I shared a storage unit with two other kids the next 2 summers. As a junior I had an apartment so the stuff was in there the third summer. I did drive maybe one more time, to bring a car out for Senior year. If you think of it as a one time drive with flights thereafter, maybe it would be worth it to drive out for move in. |
Anonymous
+2 How much stuff do you need? He's in a dorm so there shouldn't be THAT much you need - bedding/a few towels/and a few creature comforts, right? Pack clothes into 2 large suitcases. Is your kid not returning home for Thanksgiving Break? He can re-stock/change out clothes then? |