<p>Move-in for new students is just a month away. Do any current/past parents or students have any move-in tips?</p>
<p>We are particularly interested in tips regarding the logistics of moving into the residence halls and the availability of items at local stores such as under bed storage, small refrigerators, microwave ovens, etc.</p>
<p>In our experience, move-in was very efficient at Mizzou. You’ll get full instructions about schedule, process, parking, etc., from the residential life office. Get there EARLY–as soon as the dorm opens. At Schurz, you pull up behind the dorm, park temporarily to unload your stuff, and then move to another parking lot. Send your daughter in to register and get the key. Students are on duty with big rolling laundry bins to help you unload. Prepare for hot weather. </p>
<p>Are you flying or driving? Either way, my advice is to shop in St. Louis (or Kansas City) on the way. Stores in Columbia are a zoo around move-in time and can run out of things you need. We arrived in St. Louis from the East Coast in the afternoon, two days before move-in. The next day we shopped at Target, Bed Bath & Beyond, Container Store, etc., for towels, sheets, toiletries, and other miscellaneous dorm supplies. He even bought a used bike from a guy in St. Louis on Craigslist; he talked him in to holding it for a couple of days until we arrived. We did bring some things from home, of course, but only what we could carry easily in suitcases. On move-in morning, we got up really early, fortified ourselves with coffee, and took off for Columbia.</p>
<p>Depending on where you’re coming from, you could fly to St. Louis, shop, and drive to Columbia on the day before move-in. We have relatives in St. Louis, so we spent two nights there because we wanted time for visiting. The Brentwood/Galleria area is a good place to shop, but you’ll find big-box stores everywhere in the metro area. We brought a couple of soft duffel bags to carry our purchases to Columbia.</p>
<p>You can order small refrigerators and microwaves from the Mizzou bookstore and pick them up on move-in day when you pick up textbooks. Our S worked this out with his roommate in advance. They also shared a printer and some other basic dorm needs. Being guys (sorry!), they did not coordinate bedding or buy curtains.</p>
<p>There are always moving threads on CC around this time of year, and the basic advice is to avoid bringing too much! We ended up taking some of our son’s clothes home with us because he had too many to fit in his dresser drawers. You can always buy toiletries or other items you need after you move in. It’s easy to find rides to go shopping during those early weeks.</p>
<p>Then there’s saying goodbye. We left our S and his roommate alone in Schurz that morning to unpack and hang out. My memory of the rest of the day is a little foggy (2008!). We went to the bookstore with him, had some parent orientation meetings, met him for an early dinner, and then left him outside the dorm and headed back to St. Louis. As we drove east on 70, there was a beautiful sunset behind us. I thought that was a good omen. Four years later, at graduation, he was still living with his freshman-year roommate (in an off-campus apartment), and his closest friends were and still are the people he had met in Schurz during that first week of college. I hope your D enjoys Mizzou as much as he did.</p>
<p>Best of luck to you, and I’m happy to answer questions about Mizzou from a parent’s perspective.</p>
<p>Geezermom, You are wonderful! As always, you give good advice and your thoughtful replies are really appreciated. We will be driving (7 hour drive) and going through St. Louis. It is good to know that the stores in Columbia will be a zoo - we will buy everything that we can fit into the car ahead of time. </p>
<p>Regarding the goodbye: This is D2 - we dropped off D1 six years ago in another city/state and we are looking forward to D2 starting her new adventure.</p>
<p>Thanks, again, for your kind replies to my questions.</p>
<p>You’re welcome, and have fun. I always forget that other parents on CC do have experience with the separation! We only did it once.</p>
<p>Have a plan. I thought I’d help make the bed, set up the bathroom, put away things,etc. As soon as my husband finished helping with the electrical/computer/tv he was ready to go. It really wasn’t suddenly, but felt like it to me at the time. Have a plan so everyone is on the same page. The day is somewhat stressful enough as it is. :)</p>
<p>My son was in Discovery. We received a packet in the mail with a map, etc. A lot of the streets are turned into one way for move in day. We pulled up in front of the dorm, our son checked in while we unloaded & made a pile on the curb. Very quickly a group of students came and helped take everything up stairs. Very easy & organized. **Be sure to either write or tape your last name and dorm/room on all the boxes, shelves, etc since other kids are helping. It would be easy to take something to the wrong room.</p>
<p>Waving to Geezermom my son is moving across the street this weekend to the townhome where your son lived. :)</p>
<p>Copper Beech! Those places have bigger kitchens than mine at home! Dorm move-in was easier than apartment move-in, even if the apartment is furnished. Dorm rooms hold a limited amount of stuff, and you have student helpers.</p>
<p>Is your D looking into sororities and planning to rush? If so, she will be moving in a week early and it is a bit easier to shop at the local Target, Walmart and Bed Bath & Beyond. Our daughter found it useful to get the dorm bed risers which give about another 8 inches of height. She stored her suitcases (and who knows what else) under her bed. For a refrigerater/MW keep in mind that space is tight. Someone in the family gave her a used medium-sized MW and it was way too big. We ended up buying a cheap, small MW at Walmart for her. She also got a very small fridge. Our D also wanted a Keurig-like coffee maker. We got a cheaper Black & Decker one and it fit on her desk. Some kids get area rugs for the dorm rooms (also in plentiful supply at walmart/target), but our D and her roommate decided against that.</p>
<p>There was also a “Target Night” I think the first Friday evening of classes (or the Friday before), where either the university or maybe even Target arranged buses to take the kids. They had all sorts of give-aways and the store was open only to them for shopping.</p>
<p>I found that while the stores are crowded, Target and Walmart have plenty of the typical dorm items in stock (e.g. special 3M hook with adhesives that the university allows) and can handle the demand.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>@blazermom, I don’t think that she will be pledging this year. Thanks for the advice regarding the bed risers - we will buy them ahead of time.</p>