<p>Anyone have a family member or them themselves that have gone off to college via airplane, where driving was definitely not an option? The reason I am asking is, I want CA schools and I am from NJ. How do you move out there without driving? Does everything get shipped or do you buy all you need once you get out there? Do you have to take everything home(tv,refridgerator,etc.) when you leave for home during winterbreak/summer or can you leave it at school? Exactly what do you take and what do you decide to leave at home due to travel issues? How hard is this to do? Obviously not too hard because people seem to manage but I am a first generation college student so I am looking for some advice. If anyone can inform me on what they have done to move back and forth, how they managed, what they think of the whole process, Please post me some feedback! :) Thanx!</p>
<p>Hey, South Jersey! Me too!! (Originally) I have 2 daughters who are each 8 hours away (in different direction, naturally!) The oldest was able to take a car to school so the limiting factor was how much could fit in her car (plus freshman year, one parent drove out and filled up another car.) Then she very astutely acquired an in-state boyfriend who lives half way on the drive between college and our house, so she could stop over there, store stuff there etc. Now that's she ready to graduate, she is bringing stuff home with each trip.</p>
<p>Second d goes to school in a city where she couldn't have a car. We drove her up in one car and severely limited what she could take--only 30 tank tops instead of the 200 she owns! She rented a refrigerator from the school, and we bought a bookcase once we got up there and identified needs in her dorm room. She has to carefully plan what she is bringing home for Thanksgiving--she will bring some extra winter stuff for the long winter break because she won't be able to carry it all on the flight home in December.</p>
<p>The other thing to do is to have your family ship stuff to you just before or just after your arrival on campus. THen you will have to box it up and ship it back home in May. It is doable to get you and your stuff back and forth but it adds a complication to college adjustment that you have to plan around. So why not Temple, U of Delaware, Rutgers, Penn???</p>
<p>Just pack your clothes and stuff in your luggage, ship some of the heavier stuff (ground), and buy the incidentals you need once you get there. During the summer, rent a storage unit with some friends and leave it. You'll know your addy at school at least a month in advanced, so with shipping stuff--it should not be an issue. Just remember that it takes a week or two for boxes to get there.</p>
<p>We live in the midwest and son is at school in Oregon. He is a person who doesn't need a lot of stuff. He packed all his clothes in a large duffle and a backpacking size backpack. Dad flew out with him and bought other stuff he needed - mostly bedding, towels, laundry stuff. He rents a fridge. He has a laptop and uses that to watch DVDs and got auxillary speakers so it doubles as his stereo also. All of his music CDs go in a CD wallet with the jewel cases left home. He is able to store up to 5 boxes on campus over the summer. </p>
<p>As I stated earlier, he is a kid who doesn't need a lot of things or clothing. Which is a good thing because his dorm room is really small and there isn't much room for stuff. I did mail him some books that we wanted, but I don't believe he has much stuff that he doens't use on a regular basis.</p>
<p>My friend went from NY to MN, shipped all his clothes except what he could put in a duffel bag, and just bought all of whatever else he needed out there.</p>
<p>Here's a very informative thread in the old forum. Look around there, especially in the Parent's section, and you'll find some other threads on this topic.</p>
<p>My D went the other way--from CA to MA. We (both parents) came along for the trip so she was able to pack and carry 4 suitcases--2 rollers, 2 big duffles--and an instrument. The duffles worked really well for her clothes and other soft stuff like bedding and towels--after she unpacked them, we were able to fold them up, put them in one of the rollers and take it home--leaving her with one suitcase at school. </p>
<p>She put all the music she wanted to take on an mp3 player. She got a laptop for grad, so we didn't have to ship a computer. We ended up buying things like laundry stuff, bath stuff, a nightstand, a tool set (a CC suggestion from another thread which came in handy), extension cords, etc. once we got there. Frig rented there.</p>
<p>She took way too much stuff!! But her roommate brought MORE since she drove up from New York!! </p>
<p>Good thing about coming to CA is that clothes packing will be pretty simple. You'll probably be able to leave most of it at home!</p>