Samsonite Tote a Ton duffels from amazon are huge and we moved son to school in texas with 2 of them, some bedding sent on amazon earlier to the dorm (they start accepting stuff about a week before drop off. We did a day of erranding to get lamp, extension cords , and a big CVS shopping. he travels light but that worked. he stored bedding and lamp over summer but it was okay- he did not bring a ton. of course he did not need winter clothing but I think Id have shipped that separately.

Get space bags for fitting more clothes into suitcases.

Leave behind a well stocked first aid kit. Although anything can be picked up at the drugstore or ordered on Amazon, it is inevitable that it won't be in time for the first illness or emergency. And of course it'll coincide with bad weather and they'll be in the middle of exams. Any kid, no matter how independent, will thank your foresight profusely.

Buy most stuff there, ship everything else, fly southwest if you can as they allow two bags per person free and get a storage unit for teh summer.

Anonymous wrote:I went to college a 6 hour flight from my house and only brought clothes and other necessities, like my computer. Sheets, too, and pilows and a blanket — but for those, I packed them in a second suitcase. I think I mailed one box of ‘less necessary’ stuff as I left, knowing I wouldn’t see it until later.

During freshman orientation week/day, my college had many organized trips to the nearest Walmart, where I bought all the other stuff I needed.

My parents weren’t really involved. They were and are involved in my life, but I couldn’t imagine them caring about whether I had a shower caddy or flip flops. I also made my own spending money at that point.

This isn't so much about what the kid needs as it is some parents personal need to do one last maternal thing for you. We're all wired differently for the separation. My poor kid was a saint to put up with the overwhelming desire I had not to leave anything unaddressed.

Anonymous wrote:Learned the hard way that Container Store does not actually collect your items and set them aside at the destination store until a day or two before pickup is scheduled. So if everyone else has stopped into the store a few days before you, all of those under the bed storage boxes may have been snapped up before they go on the floor to pack up your order. Bed Bath and Beyond, on the other hand, pulls the items when you order them and stores them in a warehouse until you pick them up. Target you can only order a few days ahead from in stock inventory.

I called Containerstore 2 weeks before and they pulled early for me. Those Command hooks though....I carried onto the plane. Of all things those are the most in demand. They go out of stock in store and online by mid summer.

Anonymous wrote:DD's university will allow shipped items to arrive 7 days out from move-in day. We're planning on shipping some things via FedEx and then having other items we're purchasing online shipped directly there.

She's going to school in NYC and we're flying up, so we're trying to cut down on how much we have to buy in the city and schlep around the city.

I would rethink this. Early arrivals are return to sender.

I went to college a 6 hour flight from my house and only brought clothes and other necessities, like my computer. Sheets, too, and pilows and a blanket — but for those, I packed them in a second suitcase. I think I mailed one box of ‘less necessary’ stuff as I left, knowing I wouldn’t see it until later.

During freshman orientation week/day, my college had many organized trips to the nearest Walmart, where I bought all the other stuff I needed.

My parents weren’t really involved. They were and are involved in my life, but I couldn’t imagine them caring about whether I had a shower caddy or flip flops. I also made my own spending money at that point.

I went to college in OHio...grew up outside Boston. We drove. Made it into a 3 day car trip. Bought big stuff once we got there. Had other friends who shipped stuff and flew with just a couple of suitcases. A couple ran into the problem of their stuff not arriving when it was time to move in,so they lost a day or so.

My roommate flew with 3 suitcases of clothes/shoes and then bought everything else once she got there. I think she had the best idea

DD's university will allow shipped items to arrive 7 days out from move-in day. We're planning on shipping some things via FedEx and then having other items we're purchasing online shipped directly there.

She's going to school in NYC and we're flying up, so we're trying to cut down on how much we have to buy in the city and schlep around the city.

OP, DD went to college in the Northeast and took the train. We never drove it. Ever. Here is what we did (and this may be way more intense than what you need. She was our first, and all of us were super excited

We rented a mail box from the UPS Store in the college town
By doing this they would receive and hold boxes/packages
We boxed up her belongings. Scheduled UPS to pick-up at our home
We arranged this for about 1 week before the college move-in date
When we arrived in town (we had picked-up a local Avis rental, a van),
on move-in day we went to the UPS store and loaded up the van

As mentioned, we traveled to the college by train. It was very relaxing. Had minimal luggage
It was also nice that everything had to be organized ahead of time, to be sent.
It made that last week with her at home calm and relaxed too.

This is a great thread as we're dealing with DS heading to school in CA from here in DC. Yeah. Fun times ahead! I already do a lot with Prime and we use SW but I see much more in my future lol.

Learned the hard way that Container Store does not actually collect your items and set them aside at the destination store until a day or two before pickup is scheduled. So if everyone else has stopped into the store a few days before you, all of those under the bed storage boxes may have been snapped up before they go on the floor to pack up your order. Bed Bath and Beyond, on the other hand, pulls the items when you order them and stores them in a warehouse until you pick them up. Target you can only order a few days ahead from in stock inventory.

Move in is the easiest time to deal with the logistics since you have a lot of on-site help. When DC comes home for breaks, it's all carry on to minimize airport time especially since Thanksgiving is right before finals. Between internships, sports and visiting friends never really came home again not did we ever deal with move-in or move-out again.

don't get too much stuff
target/IKEA are your best friends
storage place over the summer