<p>I know that some people bring only small stuff like clothes and electronics when they have to take the plane and then just buy everything when they get to their school. my question is what do they do with all that stuff at the end of the year when its time to go back home? if the reason they didn't buy it at home was because they didn't want to take it all on the plane won't they still have to take it on the plane when they get back? </p>
<p>From what I’ve heard they pack things in bags and bring it with them or they mail it in boxes. I guess if you buy everything there you just ship it to your home and then take it back with you the next year. Or leave it and buy new things and keep doing that until you have 4 sets of the same things :D</p>
<p>Most of the student I knew who flew to school stored their things near their school (often splitting cost and space with friends), rather than shipping things back and forth. Others ended up staying in the area for summer classes/work/research/internship. Most eventually started living off campus or in year-round housing.</p>
<p>Some schools offer a summer storage service. You had to pay for it, but it was very convenient-- the service picked up the box(es) from your dorm in the spring, and then delivered them again to your dorm in the fall.</p>
<p>Stored it with friends the first year, stayed there for summer the next year, had off campus apartment after that.</p>
<p>Around here, lots of people just sell their stuff or donate it. There’s a big tradition of local teens scouring the sidewalks for freebies when the students at the high-priced private school nearby leave for the summer.</p>
<p>Some schools (my older D’s) had storage space in the dorms- she was allowed to store two boxes or items. She stored her refrigerator and a large box. She also chipped in with other girls for a small storage unit to store the rest. Someone needed a car to retrieve this. My younger D has no on campus storage but we did use the moving company contracted with the school to pick up boxes in the spring and return them in the fall. She also sent several large boxes home by UPS at the end of the year with clothing, books, etc. that she did not want to store.
Also, most schools allow you to mail/UPS boxes ahead of arrival so they they are there when you get there. My older D’s school actually put them in her room, at my younger D’s school we had to get them at mail pick-up.</p>
<p>What school are you going to? That may make a difference.</p>
<p>If you’re in the dorms freshman year, you probably won’t have that much “stuff”. At year end, you will be able to pack it in a couple Fed ex boxes, and ship it home for a small cost. Probably cheaper than checking a suitcase on a plane! If you will have winter clothes, ship those out in the spring, and you’ll have less to deal with in May. But, don’t wait til last minute to get these boxes - they run out because all the students are buying them.</p>
<p>It is a good idea not to take a lot of stuff initially. Your dorm set up may be different than you think. The weather and style of clothing may be really different than at home, and you may wish you had waited to see what you will actually need. Don’t worry about taking heavy bottles of shampoo, notebooks, bulky towels, etc. There is most likely a Target nearby campus and just get things when you arrive.</p>
<p>Next summer, you may rent an apartment and you can leave things there, or share a small storage unit with friends.
When you start to furnish an apartment, there may be a lot of students moving out who will sell furniture for firesale prices. </p>