<p>It’s amazing, yes, but you only get this kind of service once.</p>
<p>All of the 3000+ freshmen have to move into a single dorm neighborhood that has very little parking, and they have to do it on a single day. So Cornell has devised this system to make it work. But don’t expect help for move-out or if your daughter lives in a dorm as a sophomore. You’re not likely to get it. My daughter and I moved her out of Balch on our own, and the next year we did the move-in and move-out for Cascadilla on our own. After that, she was off-campus.</p>
<p>Yes, freshman year move in is choreographed by the school and the movements are well planned. Afterwards, it depends on your student and where he decides to live. We never had any issues with our kids as they always had a batch of friends to help them. I never have lifted a finger on any of their moves. But when i went to NYU to help a friend’s daughter–I was storing some of her stuff at my house until the parents could come pick it up, I was blindsided by the fact that she had no one else there to help her move out, and it was a huge move. I was also astonished at the lack of offers. She is a gorgeous, wonderful young lady, and I would have thought she would have them lined up to help her. Nope. Everyone just passed us by. </p>
<p>We finally got some help from another parent who saw me struggling with some stuff, and he made his son help us as well as pitching in himself. Then another middle aged passerby (a mailman!) helped me reload my overstuffed car to fit more in it. But not a one of the younger folks even broke stride or looked our way. THere were others moving as well, and again it was just parent and student working the move. I had and have never encountered this sort of move in or out since.</p>
<p>If you have a far drive and need to stay overnight, make your reservations now! Also (and I think I’ve mentioned this before a couple of years ago) find out when parent’s weekend is (if it’s something you intend to participate in) and make those reservations now, too.</p>
<p>Good thoughts.
We are flying, so our student will have a 3 pieces of luggage to fill, and we parents and the sibling will squeeze the move in clothes, and clothes for reception/dinner into one bag.
Planning to use the buy local, pick up idea.</p>
<p>Question? Is that something only BBB does? Heard somewhere that perhaps Target or Walmart offer that as well. Will google map for locations near campus.
Flying means no transporting of liquids, be it shampoo or windex :)</p>
<p>Again, if you’re planning on staying overnight and do not have someone to stay with and need accommodations, then book those now (if you have her move-in date). </p>
<p>Actually you can transport liquids in your checked luggage… just not your carry-on.</p>
<p>^ Right.
We booked the flts already…and hotel.
I am thinking of the weight issues, as well as leaking of things like laundrey soap.
Easier to pick up that stuff at a big box store between the airport and campus an hour away.
I also checked about Parents Weekend.
Interesting that both move in and parents weekend, hotels within 30 mile radius are all 200-300% higher for those nights…</p>
<p>I think we only went to see each kid once on their Parent’s Weekend; after that, we always chose another weekend to go so we’d see them at least once a semester at their school (since distance kept them from coming home much).</p>
<p>Pay attention to what the school tells you – If they say freshmen move in between 8 and 12 do your very, very best to be there then. If they say label everything, then label everything. They go through this every year and following their lead will make your life so much easier. We’ve moved kids in five times now – the parents who think they know best or have found a way to beat the system really just mess it up for everyone else.</p>
<p>DD was appalled when I bought a “college set” from Ace Hardware I think it was. She made it clear she thought this was a silly mom thing to bring & that she fully expected me to take it back home with us. </p>
<p>Ten minutes after we got to her room – guess what all the other parents forgot but katliamom had in a nice plastic case from Ace Hardware? Guess who became the most sought after move-in parent? Guess whose stuff got the furniture put together and the hooks installed? Guess who left for home with a huge sense of satisfaction but without a tool set? Silly mom indeed.</p>
<p>My ds was able to move in earlier, as they staggered the move in days for the freshman, soph, juniors and seniors. There were older kids there to help and it was a great experience. They even came and lofted the bed, so we didn’t even have to do that. We actually took a walk around campus while my son unpacked. This was his room, he had his ideas and he was interacting with the other men on the floor. We didn’t want to be the overbearing parents. We did go back up when his roommate arrived (an international student) so we could say hello and make him feel welcome, but right after the luncheon and mass, we left right away. As much as you want to stay, this was his gig and he didn’t need us hanging around. My dd is a junior this year, so it may be different with her? Time will tell. But I think it is important not to be directing the show that day. This is their day and new beginning and as hard as it is, they need to direct the show.</p>
<p>Move-in day is about your son/daughter, not you. Roll with it. Everyone is emotional and tense, even if they aren’t showing it. It’s a major life change. </p>
<p>You will be too hot and cranky to go out for a nice lunch or dinner on move-in day. Do the family festivities beforehand.</p>
<p>If a family member is not able to actively help with move-in, have them stay home. There is not room for grandparents, cousins and small children (times number of room occupants) in the dorm room. It will be more pleasant for other family members to come visit when the room is already set up and there is room for people to sit.</p>
<p>^^^ very good points, CountingDown. We helped DD move in – and left. She was SO ready to start exploring the dorms, spend time with her new roommates, just start this whole new adventure. I think she was grateful we understood and gave her space on that big day.</p>
<p>You are so right Countingdown about not bringing grandparents and small children to move in…I was amazed at those that did…REALLY??? I know it is a very exciting time, but there is simply not enough room for all of those people in a dorm room…especially if the roomate is moving in at the same time. Stress levels are high enough as it is…</p>
<p>With both kids, we were off campus by 4-4:30 pm that day. We stayed for convocation and then said our good-byes. They did not need to deal with emotionally and physically drained parents at that point, and I would not have wanted to leave them on a sour note.</p>
<p>With S1, we went back to our hotel, took a nap, showered and then went out for dinner. Did the 10 hr. drive the next day. With S2, we got in the (air-conditioned!) van, stopped for pizza at Frank Pepe’s and got home late that night.</p>
<p>If there are problems in the dorm room (internet isn’t working, a light bulb needs replacing), let the student handle it. Do not be a helicopter parent and start going up the food chain insisting that a techie come to work on your kid’s computer, RIGHT NOW. </p>
<p>Trust me, functioning internet will be important enough to your child that he/she will see that it gets fixed promptly. :)</p>
<p>I didn’t unpack/put away anything without asking S where <em>he</em> wanted it to go. It’s his room, it has to be organized in a way that works for him, however strange it may seem. </p>
<p>Of course, everything is now all under his bed and on the floor…Maybe I should make a thread on move-out tricks and tips and how to clean up a year’s worth of disaster!</p>