<p>Say your son goes to college in Maine, but you all live in Hawaii.</p>
<p>How do you get his stuff there? Fly it with you?? UPS???</p>
<p>I've wondered about this for a while...</p>
<p>Thanks, ---a HS junior.</p>
<p>UPS or br once he has the address, buy online and have it delivered in main.</p>
<p>hollert
theres advice about shipping/packing in various threads here in the Parents area. Most people do a combo of shipping, and carrying the max # of bags on the plane (2 bags per person X # of people). Many people also place an order for things locally,like at Bed Bath and Beyond and similar type stores and then pick the order up at the branch of the store close to the college campus.Some colleges have services where you can order things directly from them,like carpet for dorm rooms, or rental fridges.
By the way, its not a dumb question at all, parents here ask it all the time!!!</p>
<p>yes when you're flying I think you end up doing a combination of all of the above depending on personal preferences, costs, and logistics; you can also hold off on some things that can be bought after arriving on campus. I think my S's school sets up a bus or shuttle during the first week that students can take to the nearest Target. You might want to also check the forum for your S's school to find out what other students have done.</p>
<p>:) thanks for the advice
my curiosity has been calmed now</p>
<p>but really, I was worried that if I ended up back east that I'd have to drive for 4 days to get there in a crowded station wagon (eeek!).</p>
<p>danke schon</p>
<p>Also... you don't have to take all your worldly possessions to college with you.</p>
<p>If one of your parents comes with you to help you move in, you can EACH carry the maximum amount of luggage. That helps. Your parent can also rent a car if necessary (car rental companies don't like people your age driving their cars, but they would have no trouble dealing with your parent), which would make it possible for the two of you do do some of your shopping after you arrive in the college community. (If it's a really small community, though, some of the stuff you need might be out of stock because everyone is doing exactly what you are.)</p>
<p>At some colleges, there are companies that work with UPS or other shipping services to make it possible for you to ship stuff to your dorm room in advance, so that it will be there when you arrive. But you pay extra for this. If you don't want to pay extra or if this service is not available, you take the absolute essentials on the plane and ship everything else so that it arrives a few days after you do.</p>
<p>Remember that you'll want to take most stuff home with you at the end of the year. My suggestion is stick to three suitecases and a couple carry-ons. You really don't need to bring that much. Most people mis/match the same basic outfits, so clothes don't need to take up a ton of room, especially if you're going to a 1-season place (like FL). You can get a lot of essentials on campus. You don't need to bring books. You can stick your laptop in your carry-on. A printer isn't necessary. Etc,. etc. If you pack your car with things or all take max number of bags on the plane, you'll end up in Maine with six suitecases, no place to keep them, and no way to get them home again.</p>
<p>Travel light. My S went with a few clothes in a carryon and his laptop.
I shipped a couple boxes with bedding and cold weather clothes. It was very simple--and no extra plane tickets involved.</p>
<p>You are only a Junior. Don't base your college search on how easy it will be to get your "stuff" to school. You can get along very well with just what you and a parent can check on the plane and ship a box or two.
On the other hand, if next year you get down to 2 equally loved schools and one is a 3 hour car ride away and one is a difficult all day plane-changing trip - factor that in to the decision.</p>
<p>Lots of students pool together and get a storage unit for the summer. Store all that stuff they don't want to take back home- shelves, crates, speakers, etc... Paying for the storage center, especially if a couple students chip in, is much cheaper than paying shipping charges back and forth each year. I think you should be able to find a public storage center somewhere near any college.</p>
<p>"you don't have to take all your worldly possessions to college with you"</p>
<p>very true....dorm rooms are not the size of a stadium. Also, think of the next summer. It is not a one way trip for the stuff. Be a minimalist.</p>