1983. My parents drove me to college about three hours from home. They were very young - not yet 40 - and both very nice looking, like Robert Redford and Natalie Wood. I just went to my 30th college reunion, and my roommate reminded me of this. They helped me move my stuff into my room. I hit if off with my new roommate, who had already moved in, and had a lot of my favorite books on her bookshelf. We had lunch, and they left to drive home. My Dad usually drove, but my Mom told me years later that he was unable to drive home that day because he broke down and started crying once they left my dorm. He managed to hold it in until they left so that I wouldn't get upset. I was just thinking recently about how grateful I am to have had two two wonderful, loving parents.

1984. We drove five hours in a fake wood paneled station wagon with all my stuff including a huge stereo. We had a huge thunderstorm the first night and lost electricity. I had met my roommate that summer since we only lived a few miles apart although we went to different high schools. However it turned out we were thrown into a triple with a woman who took one look at us and requested to move out. We ended up letting someone else in the dorm move in instead after her roommate continually had sex in the bottom bunk.

I had a hard time adjusting to all the noise and the hugely increased reading load as opposed to high school. At the same time I really enjoyed learning about so many diverse subjects and making close friends.

Interestingly I moved about 12 hours away to DC soon after graduation and a few years later the freshman roommate who stuck it out with me moved here too. She only lives a couple miles for me and we are still friends.

So interesting dredging up all these memories 30+ years later.

1996.

My mom & stepdad packed me up in his Jeep Cherokee. I had a couple suitcases, a garment bag, a book bag, and a big bin or two of stuff like a tiny coffee pot and desk lamp. Most of it was either graduation gifts or stuff I'd bought with my work money that summer. I think I had about $500 for books and spending money. No computer. I was about to get my first (Simeon) email account.

We drove 1.75 hours away. I remember we stopped at a Dollar General on the way because we realized I didn't have any shower shoes.

When we arrived, we parked in a field outside the dorm and upperclassmen helped us move in. My roommate, who had arrived a week beforehand for some program she was in, had already staked her claim, chosen her side of the rooom, and had decorated everything--I mean everything--in sunflowers. Sunflower blanket, sunflower posters, Elizabeth Arden Sunflowers, sunflower shower shoes. She wasn't there when we arrived, so we all kind-of just went, uh--wtf?

I'd ordered a loft bed and sheets, which were waiting for me, and my stepdad and the senior guys assembled it.

By that time, I was mostly unpacked, my roommate had arrived, and I said goodbye to my parents and went with my roommate to get lunch at the cafeteria.

That night, I made coffee for the first time and pretended to like it.

I went home for fall break.

My roommate moved out before winter break and I didn't get another one.

I shipped a duffle and took a duffle on the plane. Went by myself, unpacked and set everything up. My roomate was not an American, so we had a pretty spartan room in terms of furniture, posted etc.

1978. Flew (for the first time) by myself to Texas, some 500 miles away. Was picked up at the airport by the school. I was on my own to figure out how to get my trunk, which we had shipped via Greyhound (somebody on my dorm floor drove me to pick it up). The trunk contained my clothes and those ever-important 1970s appliances, my popcorn popper and hotpot!

1993. I went to a public college in my home state that was about an 8 hour drive away (California)

I joined the university marching band and they had a camp for the week before the dorms opened. So I flew up, a senior band member picked me up and the whole band slept in dorms for about a week while we had our camp. Then for a couple days I slept in a sleeping bag on one of the senior band member's floor until the dorms opened for residents. My parents drove up with my stuff and I moved into the dorms.

I packed my stuff the night before into my 1980 Mercury Capri. At 6 am, I showered, got dressed, hugged my mom good-bye and drove off to school.

I drove EIGHT HOURS by myself with an elementary school classmate who was attending the same college. Spent one night along with way with a relative. My parents drove a week or two later "to bring your bike" which coincided with something social my father wanted to do. Was too intimidated to go out to dinner with all the cool kids in my hallway even though they invited me. Roomate and many in the dorm went home on several weekends for high holidays, etc.

My parents drove me. I didn't bring much. They dropped me off and went to a nearby amusement park before going home. That is all i really remember. They gave me a $20. I was on the meal plan so that was for buying a couple pizzas once I met people. They helped me carry stuff to my room.

1985: my parents drove me four hours to the college, we parked next to the dorm, and older students helped carry bags to the room. Had luggage and plastic crates that all fit in the trunk of the car. They stayed overnight and left the next day; they did come visit in October and I did not go home until Thanksgiving.

One of my friends father's just dropped her off with her luggage and took off back home. Unfortunately, he dropped her at the wrong college and she had to make it to our dorm herself. Think the staff there called a taxi for her.

My parents drove me to the airport and put me and my luggage on a cross-country flight to college. I think it was my idea to go alone, though I can't recall entirely.

I went to college in the Midwest. I flew out there by myself, along with 2 other kids from my DC HS who were going there. The college had a bus service that picked up students at the airport to get to the college (about an hour away). The bus was full so we were not the only people arriving without parents. I had luggage, and I recall I brought my bike on the plane. It was stolen the first week. I'd shipped a trunk in advance. I had campus linen service the first year so I didn't even pack sheets and towels.

I arrived on campus and unpacked. My roommate was from New York and her parents were with her. I don't remember if they flew or drove out.

Anonymous wrote:My parents got me an apartment off campus and I moved in with my boyfriend. They drove a moving truck up, moved me in and then left. I remember crying when they left. I went to school 5 hours away and didn't come home until Thanksgiving.

My parents just dropped me off too! WTF? A good four hour drive, too.

Anonymous wrote:I assume this is a spinoff from the previous thread?

No doubt. One of several 'Tell Us About......'

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The dorm had breakfast but no other meals so I ate sausages and tomatoes and toast every morning and pretty much starved most nights.

I weighed 98lbs by Thanksgiving.

No meal plan? Mine required freshmen to get a meal plan that included a minimum of 2 meals/day.

It always amazes me that everyone thinks everything everywhere will be/should be exactly like it was for them.