<p>Can someone please explain to me how move-in works for freshmen if they're also attending a Preorientation program? My son is going to be doing LAUNCH and it sounds like he'll be able to get into his dorm early and sleep there Sunday night before heading off to the program. Then they'll return to the dorms on Wednesday night with move-in for all freshmen on Thursday. So, does this mean that he brings the bare minimum when he first has access to his dorm room and then the real move-in of boxes/bedding/lamps, etc doesn't happen until Thursday? Or can we move all his stuff in on Sunday?</p>
<p>I knew people who did both. You can choose.</p>
<p>My D didn’t move in early freshman year, but did this year for SIP in orgo chem. We moved every last thing in early - it was wonderful! Such a difference from all the traffic, parking department calling you after 30 minutes telling you to move your car, etc. I’d move it all in when not so many students and their parents are there.</p>
<p>I think officially they’ll ask you to just bring up the bare minimum when he first comes up. He will be in his <em>actual</em> dorm room and everything though, and honestly I don’t really think they’ll mind if he wants to bring it all on Sunday. You won’t have nearly as much help from the Orientation staff with carting everything up and down stairs, etc., if you bring it up earlier though, just in case that makes a difference. As MidwestParent said though, it might be worth it to beat the crowd, even if it does mean a bit more carrying. :)</p>
<p>I’m not sure if this helps at all, but I’m going on the Danforth Pre-O (which is actually at a lake in Michigan, so I don’t know if this applies because I’m not staying at WashU during Pre-O). I’m bringing out only the essentials for the Pre-O on the 16th, and then my parents will meet me on the afternoon of the 19th for early move-in the day before the big rush.</p>
<p>The best way is to send your child ahead on Sunday with just the things he’ll need for the pre-o, then you can arrive Wednesday evening and move all his stuff in without the hassles of Thursday’s mass move-in. On Thursday, you’ll be able to get to Bed,Bath & Beyond and Target before the crowds hit them in the afternoon-This way, you can be there for the Parent Orientation Thursday thru Saturday. It’s especially nice to be there Thursday evening for the convocation event-There are lots of little events on Friday you may want to attend also-check out the orientation page on the WUstl website and click on the parents section-</p>
<p>Last year we did exactly as described by hoff1836. It worked out great. Was hard to put D on the plane by herself and wait those few days before we could join but it was probably a good thing for her - she was able to get totally involved without us hovering over her. And orientation was so much fun. She took one set of sheets, towels, etc. with her and we shopped there for the rest. And don’t forget Bed Bath & Beyond has the great service where you “shop” in your hometown store and they will make sure the items you pre-order are waiting for you in St. Louis when you get there. And you are not obligated at the time of pick up to actually purchase everything you chose thinking you’ld need it (and then realized maybe you didn’t once you got there).</p>
<p>How far is the St. Louis Bed Bath & Beyond from the Wash U campus? We will not have a car, so we’re hoping we can either walk or train it.</p>
<p>BB&B is too far to walk and I think the MetroLink stop is also a pretty long distance away. The store is located in a very busy (LOTS of traffic) area. Maybe you could take a cab, shop, then call another cab to pick you up?</p>
<p>^^ Grrrr, that’s not the answer I was looking for! ;)</p>
<p>I could be wrong…but I believe WUSTL sent me something in the mail saying that they provide shuttles to take families to and from BB&B as well as Schnucks (a STL grocery chain)</p>
<p>Actually the BB&B at the Brentwood Promenade is pretty close to the Brentwood Metrolink station, and the Big Bend Metrolink station is about half a mile from the the South 40. So if you were carrying just a few bags of sheets or lighter items, Metrolink would be doable, but if you are talking anything large you will have quite a struggle carrying everything that far (it might be raining too!) I believe you can also ship packages to campus which you can pick up when you arrive here in August.</p>
<p>Last year WUSTL did provide shuttles (to BB&B anyway, I don’t know about Schnucks), beyond just the normal Metrolink routes. Obviously there aren’t shuttles running back and forth to either place during the normal school year though - just Metrobus/link.</p>
<p>Don_Q and windy23, you’re talking about WUSTL providing shuttles during orientation, right? That would work with heavy loads, if it’s true.</p>
<p>wudude, half mile walking with bags of linens is a piece of cake for me, raining or not. This is good news.</p>
<p>I know we can ship, but I’m thinking of stuff we’ll forget, and all that last-minute stuff that makes you say “why didn’t I think of this before?”</p>
<p>Thanks for replies; I apologize for hijacking the thread.</p>
<p>right - the shuttles are only during orientation… only on specific days during orientation actually, if I remember right.</p>