<p>I'm coming from New York and I'll be going to school in California in 3 weeks. Although the thought of moving across the nation is very exciting and adventurous to me, it just hit me that I'll be making the big leap alone. </p>
<p>I was fine during Admit Weekend, as I enjoy traveling by myself. But it's different now that I won't be coming back home for quite a while. I can only imagine how difficult it's going to be moving all of my belongings with no assistance, but it's something I just have to tough out. My mother has to work and she would give her right arm to come with me; she just can't and I understand that. She even had to beg her manager to schedule her at a later time just so she can say goodbye at the airport.</p>
<p>I see a lot of parents in these forums talking about taking their kids to move-in day. I'm curious to see whether having parents tag along is seriously important and what has been the experience of other posters whose parents weren't able to come to move-in day.</p>
<p>You’ll have to make your own bed, and carrying all your stuff yourself won’t be any fun. Beyond that, you’re fine. It’s fun to have your parents come with you but it isn’t needed, and you’ll be able to jump right into socializing when you arrive on campus.</p>
<p>first off, congrats on stanford. i know someone going there.</p>
<p>anyways, personally, i wouldn’t mind. i went to all of my college visits + orientations alone and when i dorm, if my parents can’t make it, then that’s ok. i think it will be somewhat adventurous to travel + commute to your school from airport + get situated alone. </p>
<p>although see if there is some kind of parent thing going on during move-in. i have a friend who is going to spelman and i think she told me there was some sort of ceremony for parents before they take off and leave. if that’s the case for stanford, you might be celebrating alone, but that’s understandable since your mom has work.</p>
<p>Eh, I just figure that as a veteran you’re probably incredibly independent by now so it wouldn’t be surprising that you moved in on your own. Whereas there are kids who go straight from HS to college who don’t even know how to do laundry.</p>
<p>We dropped our D off at Stanford last year. I think it was more important for us than for her. Stanford has move-in day very well laid out. Parents are hustled off campus around 6pm and students are not available for the rest of orientation week. (At least that’s what they tell the parents anyway) I am sorry your mom can’t go with you but you will be fine. There will be plenty of other students with no parents and the student events begin shortly after the parents clear out. Have fun at Stanford!!!</p>
<p>Stanford does an excellent job of making you feel welcomed. The flight and ride to the campus will feel lonely, but even with your mom there, it would feel lonely as you anticipate your new beginning. But when you pull up to campus and see all the people with the “Welcome to Stanford” signs and waving to you as you drive by, you will suddenly feel a little more secure. When you get out of your shuttle, there will be people there grabbing your things to take to your room, and you will be over-whelmed and suddenly no longer feeling alone.</p>
<p>This is written by a mom, who watched my kid go through this a few years back. I really think no one does the whole welcome thing better than Stanford does…although I will find out next week when we move our youngest to Michigan. Good luck and HAVE A BLAST!!!</p>
<p>My parents were originally going to come with me from Seattle to Massachusetts, but then they weren’t able to so I flew out by myself and moved myself in. It should be fine, especially since you’re coming cross-country so you wont have much more than a few suitcases to start out with anyway, not a lot to move in! But when you first get set up, it’s expensive, I mean you have to buy everything from soap to notebooks, so talk to your mom and see if she’s able/willing to help you with that.</p>
<p>Well my mom didn’t come but my dad did. While it was helpful to have him help me move in, it wasn’t really necessary. You’ll probably have to get a taxi (or some vehicle where you put your stuff in easily) and have then drive you to your dorm.</p>
<p>I considered myself to be fairly independent so it never hit me too hard when my dad left and flew back (though it did feel kind of…strange at first). If you’re attached to your mom, then it might actually be easier if she isn’t coming along…the shock that hits you will occur at the airport/on the plane ride there as opposed to when you’re actually in your dorm. This way, by the time you’ve moved in, the shock might go away a little and you will be better focused for orientation activities and meeting new students.</p>
<p>You’ll be fine…It sucks trying to say, move furniture and hang posters by yourself (or at least I can never judge if they’re straight or not), but if you have a roommate, those are the sorts of decisions you’ll make together anyway, so you won’t really have to do it alone. If you don’t have a roommate, just go round up a floormate or two, introduce yourself, and be like, “hey, whoever last arranged my furniture had serious issues, can you help me switch my dresser and bed.” My parents helped me set up my room and make my bed, we got lunch, and then we said goodbye. It was nice having them there, but I was more focused on trying to meet people and get myself settled that it was nice once they were gone too.</p>
<p>Actually I go to Stanford like you will be soon, and as a freshman I moved in without my parents’ help. In a lot of ways, it was tough, but it was totally fine in the end. I agree with an above poster that Stanford REALLY REALLY makes you feel welcome on move in day. It’s pretty amazing. So many people will be there and willing to help you, so don’t hesitate to ask anyone if you need a hand of get lost on this huge campus. Just make sure you arrange reliable transportation to campus and possibly download a map so you know where things are. Don’t worry about it!</p>