<p>With move-in day this saturday for freshman I thought it might be useful to start a thread where students/parents can describe their move-in experiences. This info could certainly be of usefulness to potential future students and their parents. This certainly can be a stressful time for parents, especially if your child is the first one leaving home to attend college. Saying goodbyes can be difficult but in this age of multimedia communication is a lot easier then it was years ago to maintain contact. The major recommendation I can give parents is to leave as soon as possible once your child has moved in and set up their room. The sooner a students begins to make friends with their dormmates the better. Good luck to everyone. You will always look back on this day as something "special". </p>
<p>I won’t be surprised if my wife stays with our son in his dorm that first night. ;-)</p>
<p>Patience, patience, patience! With the number of freshman this year, there will be long lines to unload and find Arrival Survival helpers. Plan on total chaos and smile to yourself when things turn out to be as well organized as they can be. Send someone up to Main Street for bagels if you left home early - that leaves more space in the room for unpacking and organizing.</p>
<p>@a430qt - Discretely tell your son that he should request a family picture somewhere outside the dorm once move-in is complete. Once the picture is taken, he can start his goodbyes without having to herd Mom out of the room. All kidding aside, I agree with @Mwallenmd that sooner is better for parent departure.</p>
<p>I just went through the 2nd and last freshman move-in yesterday at Pitt. It was easier since we knew what to expect and I didn’t have to employ the above strategy. 
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<p>Fauster…that’s a good one. (I’m literally rolling on the floor right now) I’ll be sure to let him know.</p>
<p>Good luck to all. </p>
<p>I have to say overall a really good experience today. We were a bit on the late side today… didn’t pull on to campus until about 9:30. Went right down main street with just a small amount of traffic (not much different than any afternoon on campus) we got a spot right in front of the book store and pick up books. Pulled up to Rodney and were directed to the grass parking area. The knight of columbus volunteer helping with the parking couldn’t be nicer and I appreicated their taking the time out of their days to help all of us anxious parents and students out! The place was hopping and super busy but very organized. We had ample help from move-in volunteers to get our stuff in the room. The biggest shock of the day was actually staring down that 8x 8’6" room with the lofted bed but thank goodness I have a boy! He had no where near as much stuff as my D did moving in freshman year. Although the bed is lofted and the room is smaller than my walk in closet. He is in and all his stuff fits. We were done with the move in and unpacking by 12:30. Grabbed lunch with my husband and D who lives on south main street and then we walked up to main street for a few forgotten items. We left my son by about 3pm so he could meet others on his floor. No word from him yet but fingers crossed he is “happy” and enjoying his classmates. </p>
<p>Overall it was a good day. Have to agree everything was well organized. We arrived at 8:15 and had plenty of offers of help which we truly appreciated. Have to agree with @lefty1 biggest shock was actually seeing just how small that room was!! After peeking into the other single rooms and realizing what a difference 2 feet makes it just added salt to the wound. Poor girl across the hall was just about in tears when she walked in her room. Lost count of times one of us smacked our heads on the lofted bed. I was amazed we were able to find a spot for most everything D brought. After having lunch in town, we headed off to Target for some last minute things…it was like shopping on Xmas eve, not a space to be had and a traffic nightmare starting with 95! When we arrived back on campus D was already in someone else’s room so I was happy she was meeting new people and settling in. I really thought we would be on our way home by 2 however after a full day of non stop work we hit the road by 6:15. Future tip for Rodney A/B parents…pay the $ to park in the pool lot next to building. It was worth every dime when we were able to make several trips back to the car with things we were taking home or tools from the toolbox we didn’t bring up to the room.</p>
<p>@bzylizy… I couldn’t agree more… that extra 2 1/2 feet made a world of difference… the mom of the boy next to my son stuck her head in my son’s door and was like…“oh look at this… he has his bed up in the air… you didn’t get that…” I was like… Lady wanna trade?? lol! I had to physically point out why the bed was in the air… then she was like… “ohhhhhhhh” … lol! I do agree… I felt a bit sad when I saw the other rooms… those regular singles are a nice size. However I kept telling myself that there are kids in forced triples who would give their right arm for and 8x8’6" space of their own so it’s all about perspective. At least it will keep him in the lounge and socializing a lot. 
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<p>We arrived at Rodney early - around 7:30 - so had no problems with traffic. Like others, we were shocked at how much smaller the room looked in person (forced triple). All three beds were supposed to be lofted prior to our arrival but only 2 were. Had to wait until the lofting people came at 11 to loft the third bed before we could get everything organized. One issue - they suggest you bunk 2 beds and loft the other in the larger of the 2 rooms (The dorm is actually 2 tiny rooms). However, there is no way to climb up to a top bunk / lofted bed in the space given. The head and foot of the beds each touch a wall. No space to climb up, I don’t care how skinny you are! No ladders provided. One of the other parents had to go out and purchase 3 step ladders. And, even with that, the girls have to balance themselves on the top rail of the step ladder (above the top step) and kind of catapult themselves onto the beds. Not to mention 3 step ladders taking up a lot of precious space.
In the end, though, we got everything in…including an extra small dresser we brought from home. On the bright side, if she ever gets detripled, it will probably feel like a penthouse suite!</p>
<p>This might be a moot point now but you can get loft bed ladders on Amazon. There are 3 sizes available and the cost is about $60.00. They attach to the beds so are a lot sturdier and you don’t have to “catapult” into the bed. They obviously will protrude a little into the dorm space area though and I don’t know for sure if they would work on the loft beds at UD. But you might want to at least check them out.</p>
<p>I guess I just feel that, for the amount of room and board we are paying, UD should supply a way for the kids to get into their beds. I don’t know. I did send them an email about the situation. Will be interesting to hear what they say. </p>
<p>I agree. Good luck. Perhaps they will agree to provide the appropriate ladder. Just thought I would make you aware that such things are available, if you were not aware of it already. </p>
<p>I have to say I was pleasantly surprised with the experience. My son and I got to Thompson around 8:15 and pulled right up. We unloaded the car and while I parked, he checked in. We a lot of “helpers”. Roommate came shortly after we did and the room was finally set up by 11:30 after numerous room configurations… All was going great until as we were walking back to dorm after lunch my son realized he left the bag with most of his books on the back of the chair at the deli! Ran back and of course the bag was gone. He was so upset with himself and the thought of having to rebuy all the books again. Then we got the CALL - a true good Samaritan had picked up the bag and looked inside and found the receipt that had my son’s contact info on it. That would have been a very costly mistake. </p>