<p>My mom was kind of discouraging me against colleges too far away, but that definitely limits my selection. The main problem is that some colleges I want to go to are a full day or 2 days drive away. So, I could get a plane back and forth for holidays, however, how do I actually move in and out of college with all of my luggage? I don't know how willing my parents would be to drive me there and back.</p>
<p>You need to check out the school calendar to see when school is in session. Some schools provide interim housing during the holidays which means you cna stay on campus. Other schools totally shut down during certian times of the year.</p>
<p>You can always ship some of your stuff -ups, postal service, greyhound etc. you can even shipped locked trunks via ups</p>
<p>You can always purchase things once you get to school</p>
<p>You can shop on line (usually about 2 weeks before school begins and have the items shipped directly to you at school.</p>
<p>My son got on a plane with 2 checked bags (1 with clothing, 1 with mostly books). He carried on his laptop in a shoulder bag, and camera in a camera bag. I used a shipping service to send his computer monitor and 2 more boxes of things he needed.</p>
<p>We bought some things by Internet and had them shipped to his dorm after he arrived. He bought some things once he arrived.</p>
<p>sybbie's mostly got it nailed. There's no way I can drive my son to the opposite coast, so this is the best we can do. Lots of people do it!</p>
<p>There have been other threads on this, estargirl, but here is how many of us did it. You are usually allowed 2 suitcases (no more than 50 lbs each and certain dimensions which you can look up on the airline site). So, first, you pack the two large suitcases you are allowed, probably with clothes. If your parent(s) are travelling with you, that allows you 2 extra suitcases per person.</p>
<p>Then, you shop at Bed, Bath and Beyond for your dorm room needs. They have a service where you shop at your local store (or online) and they will either ship to your college address for your arrival, or transmit your order to the store nearest your college and you can pick it up there. If you will rent a car for your move-in, you can then also go to Staples, Target etc. for your school supply needs, toiletries etc. If you won't have a car, you - again- order online for delivery to your college address. </p>
<p>For items you have at home, which won't fit in your suitcases (say, a computer etc.), you box them up and ship also. There will be plenty of threads in late summer about who has the best shipping rates, etc. If you have a laptop, you take that as a carry-on for the plane.</p>
<p>It's pretty simple. You can do it!</p>
<p>edit: we all crossposted at once with the same basics and a few different details :D</p>
<p>I have a friend whose daughter is at Wellesley. The school actually sponsored a bus trip to Target after move-in weekend, so kids could pick up what they still needed.</p>
<p>1moremom is right, you would be suprised at how many stores are located a short distance from target, wal-mart, bed bath and beyone. Many schools have shuttle buses or RA usually set up trips to the mall at the beginning of the school year.</p>
<p>We just did it - D and I both flew up and had 4 suitcases, the largest carryons allowed, laptop and huge purse, shipped 4 boxes, and bought the rest once we arrived. There is a college van that the RA's used for the kids in the dorm that didn't have transportation. Not a problem. The school has limited storage over the summer, and they give a list of storage facilities nearby that students can rent for the summer.</p>
<p>I'm going to visit my son in a couple weeks and discovered today that there's a Bed Bath & Beyond a few stops away on the subway, so we're planning a trip there for "incidentals". Not even a car or van needed, when there's 2 of us to carry things on the train! (I hope...!)</p>
<p>That "van service to the store" arrangement sound GREAT!!</p>
<p>Southwest airlines- each person can check 3 bags weighing up to 50 lbs each. If both parents take you it gives you lots of room. We left her with 2 suitcases and took the other empty one's home. We also had the printer in its box count as one of the bags.</p>
<p>Take less luggage.</p>
<p>Honestly. You don't really need half the stuff you will want to take with you. In fact, you probably don't need 4/5th of the stuff you will want to take. So the best thing to do when it comes time is to recognize that you are not going off into the wilderness to survive on your own for months or years -- you are going to a place where there are stores near by and which is served by the post office, UPS & FedEX -- you can easily take what you need to last 2 weeks in a suitcase and have the rest shipped to you.</p>
<p>Both kids flew and we shipped stuff. FedEx Ground proved to be the cheapest. Some colleges provide storage over the summer, so students don't have to lug everything back and forth. It's actually less aggravating (I think) to not have to face loading and unloading a car after packing everything up. If your parents fly out with you, you can use some of their luggage allowance.</p>
<p>Good luck with your college search!</p>
<p>Driving to school EVER is not a part of moving in/out. I cannot imagine that you won't find storage available. I know folks who live 3 hours and have never driven..........all done by shipping/flying. You need to listen to yourself.....folks have been traveling great distances to school successfully for generations......why would you be any different. Me thinks your mom doesn't want you far away.</p>
<p>After you finish the school year, many schools have storage facilities so that you don't have to cart all your stuff back home and then turn around and bring it back again in the fall.</p>
<p>Take less stuff. For example, D put all of her music collection on an mp3 player, so didn't have to take all of her CDs. Ship more stuff by mail or UPS. Bulky sweaters and coats that you may not need right away when you get to the school can be shipped.</p>
<p>My daughter just informed me that she applied to spend her entire junior year abroad (University of East Anglia in Great Britain). I've heard luggage restrictions are different on international flights. Anyone have experience with students going abroad? Do they buy most of the personal stuff there?</p>
<p>With the new baggage and weight restrictions coming in November, I would say so!</p>
<p>do most parents take kids to college and help them move in?</p>
<p>estargirl:</p>
<p>My S2's roommie came on his own with a couple of suitcases. The rest of his stuff arrived later. We drove S to his dorm ( 5 minutes' drive), helped him lug the suitcases up to his room but left them there for him to unpack.
For S1 who attended college two hours away, we drove him there, helped him set up his room and drove him to a store to buy things we'd forgotten to pack. It was in a suburb, so it was much more isolated than S2's college.</p>
<p>Oh, and when I came to college as an international, I was on my own. After I found out what more I needed, I took the train into town to buy stuff.</p>