<p>all good suggestions! I wanted to add that I just found XL twin sheet sets (top, bottom and a pillow case included) on sale on Macy’s site yesterday for only $24! These are Tommy Hilfager and all cotton. And they had RL cotton towels for $10 ea… I HATE to shop, so this was quite an exciting find, lol! All the little stuff is adding up…husband would like to send him with just a toothbrush and his backpack ;).</p>
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<p>I was amazed to see how many folks brought along their extended families. I think Grandma would enjoy parents weekend instead of move in day.</p>
<p>Don’t leave anything without someone watching it. The thieves know there will be lots of brand new electronics sitting on the curb that day.</p>
<p>I always make the bed first so it’s ready at any stage of unpacking. For the first freshmen move in I secretly tape a $20 bill between the bottom sheet and mattress pad, usually near the foot of the bed. The note reads something like, “Call me when you find this.” An indication of how long before he/she washes the sheets. For the obvious reasons this little trick only works once.</p>
<p>I would echo the bottled water and easy snack ideas. If you start in the morning and are on a roll, before you know it it’s 3:00 pm and everyone is hungry and cranky.</p>
<p>If you have a relative or neighbor going away for the first time I sometimes send them with a batch of homemade cookies. </p>
<p>Be prepared for the emotions to change on a dime. Also, even though you know that your idea of setting up the room probably makes more sense, you have to step back and let them do it their way. If possible it works to give them some time on their own or with the roommate and return an hour or so later. Trust me though, you will do something wrong or ask the wrong question. Just goes with the territory. Good luck to all parents of freshmen!</p>
<p>I am already emotional by just reading this thread. Good info parents! I have been copying and pasting all the good ideas!
Love the $20 bill idea! I seriously doubt that my S will wash his sheets unless I remind him.</p>
<p>Once again, I will weigh in on behalf of those of us who have to travel across time zones, by major air travel…
There are some logistics in terms of how much luggage and carryon items a student can manage, so thinking about this in advance is well worth it.
Those compression bags are great for minimizing the dimensions of stuff your student wants to take. Even if you can purchase some stuff there, the student WILL need bedding and a towel right away, for example. Also, don’t pressure your daughter to take clothes she doesn’t want - excess just gets in the way.
I don’t know anything about bringing fridges and handtrucks.
I have lugged a heck of a lot of luggage with no help from older students (wish we were at places that did that…)
Whether you can fit stuff in multiple suitcases (we have status on a particular airline and can take multiple suitcases for free) and/or ship boxes by UPS or other service, compression bags will help with fitting in more stuff. Put some masking tape over the compressed bag (I have heard they can become un-compressed, though that has not happened to us yet)
Our students have stored one large and one smaller suitcase at their dorms. When travel occurred mid-year, smaller suitcase was used; big one was for returning home at end of year. It gets tricky with air-travelling students maneuvering multiple cases along with laptops, etc. so consider flying out to help or storing some stuff in summer storage. A printer is a great choice for that.</p>
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<p>I agree wholeheartedly – allow extra time! Our D was giddy last year with enthusiasm and energy. My DH had left to make the 20 hour drive back home (no tears), and my flight was due to depart later that evening. When it came time for me to say goodbye, she lost it and started sobbing uncontrollably. I kept it together and comforted her; however, I didn’t want to leave until I knew she was “ready”. In hindsight, I should have prepared and said goodbye about 15-30 minutes earlier so I wouldn’t have to speed to the airport. BTW…although I remained collected in the dorm room, I completely lost it in the rental car on the drive to the airport and boarded the plane still crying! 
Good news – she had a GREAT first year, and this year’s departure should be easier! ;)</p>
<p>With S2, we all went out to where the car was parked to say good byes. Was out in public, but it was quiet outside and his roommate and parents were in the room.</p>
<p>With S1, UChicago sends all the first years through the main gate, accompanied by a drum and bagpipe bad. Parents were pointed in another direction to an outdoor reception. Nice O-Week volunteers stood near the gate with boxes of tissue. Very public goodbyes there, unless you can arrange something before Convocation.</p>
<p>Assemble what you think the kid needs in a big pile in the living room. Then remove half.</p>
<p>Use big boxes for light objects, smaller boxes for heavy ones.</p>
<p>Reusable grocery bags are useful for carrying odd-sized and last-minute items.</p>
<p>Wear clothes that allow you to crawl under a desk or lift a mattress without horrifying the roommate or his/her parents. Sorry, I’m of the comfort and practical school of thought.</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>If there are problems in the dorm room (internet isn’t working, a light bulb needs replacing), let the student handle it. Trust me, functioning internet will be important enough to your child that he/she will see that it gets fixed promptly. :)</p>
<p>With both kids, we arrived the day prior. Had each of them take me around the campus, since I had never seen the schools (DH did those particular road trips). They were each so proud and excited to show me their new territory. Was also essential to get a good night’s sleep the night before move-in.</p>
<p>Keep the receipts for all school stuff you buy in case you need to return items. Don’t unwrap stuff til you know it will be used. There were a couple things I took out of packaging in order to pack more efficiently which we wound up not needing and I could not return them because they were no longer in the original packaging. </p>
<p>Previous thread:
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/1131107-move-day-tips-tricks-hints.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/1131107-move-day-tips-tricks-hints.html</a></p>
<p>We use the plastic crates for move-in. I bought some before S1 headed off to college, thinking that they would be great for stashing stuff in the dorm room. As it turned out, he didn’t have room to keep them there, so I hauled them back home. What we discovered is that they are great for carrying stuff! So even though S1 has never kept them in his dorm room, we load them up and use them for carrying stuff at move-in and move-out every year. They’re sturdy and they have handles! We load one up with desk supplies, a couple with books, etc. At first I was concerned that stuff would fall out of them, but that hasn’t been a problem. I really prefer these over boxes.</p>
<p>For cross country movers, has anyone figured out the cheapest shipping method?</p>
<p>“For cross country movers, has anyone figured out the cheapest shipping method?”</p>
<p>Buy it on Amazon, Walgreens, Target, Costco, BBB, etc. They pay the shipping and you don’t have to pack it up/bring it to the post office. </p>
<p>What are you thinking of shipping?</p>
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<p>It is way cheaper to ship from the main/official UPS location than it is from “The UPS Store” This may not be an option for everyone, but I got to take a field trip to the industrial park and the price to ship a boxed up bike was $29 versus the $74 “The UPS Store” wanted to charge me.</p>
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I agree with a caveat … it’s OK to bring extra folks along as long as they don’t mind being ignored for a bit. </p>
<p>When we dropped FirstToGo off we brought along her two younger brothers (who wanted to come and who FirstToGo wanted there) … however they knew the plan … the trip was about FirstToGo and not them so no complaints about being bored or requests to swing over to the mini-golf course … and when we got to the room they had to stay the heck out of the way until things were settled … the younger kids were great on the trip and it worked out fine.</p>
<p>I already wrote this on another thread, but will re-post here in this move-in specific thread: </p>
<p>Make sure you put your child’s roommate(s)’ cell phone numbers in your cell phone. It’s amazing how much we take for granted that we can reach our kids in the blink of an eye on their cell phone but if something happens to it (lost or stolen or just dead) in many cases there is literally no other way to reach them. Many dorms don’t even have land lines in the rooms anymore, so having the roommate’s numbers are a great back up safety precaution.</p>
<p>Take advantage of the pick-up at the clostest store thing. We didn’t know for S1 and lugged a lot of stuff cross-country. D1 had a much easier move. We pretty much just brought a suitcase full of clothes for her and got the rest of the stuff there.</p>
<p>Also, I second the idea that bringing family can be helpful if they’re ready to work, not embarass the college-bound kid, and can go sit in the car when it’s time for mom to say tearful goodbyes.</p>
<p>That $20 bill would never be found by me- I would have scooped everything up without seeing it… </p>
<p>I used the dining room table as a staging area weeks before. All goods could be seen by son and approved or returned (sons typically don’t shop- much easier to go without them knowing the basics like colors). </p>
<p>Once there it was son’s job to make his bed and unpack. He needed to know where he put things, after all. He owned the process. </p>
<p>If by car/van… Take everything at once- if it fits the vehicle it likely fits the room. Remember rooms are smaller than you think. Put everything in the staging area days in advance and rethink choices. Nice to have probably won’t get used while needed items will. Balance maximum with minimal. If feasible plan a visit in a week or two to bring/return items. Sophomore year less stuff goes.</p>
<p>yalemom - I’ll add a caveat to ^- IF your child feels comfortable with that. My son would have been horrified if we had asked the number of his roommate. whom he had just met. Maybe the RA would be a good contact person. I know that there are a few times that I would have liked to have had another contact person when my older kids were in college, but somehow it worked out okay. We’ll see how this plays out with my younger son this fall.</p>
<p>There have been a couple of stories on this forum about Mom’s who abused the phone numbers of roommates.</p>
<p>I think it’s probably better to ask your student afterwards “Hey, can you give me roommate’s cell number, I just want to have it for emergency purposes and I won’t be calling / using it” rather than to ask the roommate for it in front of your student.</p>
<p>As far as shipping and people travelling from long distances, I was told that some chains (such as Bed Bath and Beyond) have a system set up where you order items in advance and then have the items waiting for you for pickup at a store close to the dorm on move-in day. It avoids a problem with stores running out of high demand items that time of year and avoids shipping and moving costs.</p>
<p>A bit more on the question of bringing more relatives: while it’s probably OK to bring able-bodied family members who can help, think twice before bringing anybody elderly, ailing, or very small. There may be stairs, it may be very hot, bathrooms may be overcrowded, etc.</p>