<p>1) Suitcases. If you need to buy things, buy them over there.</p>
<p>2) Okay I did the whole coast-to-coast thing last semester. I brought clothes and a laptop, cell phone, camera and some supplies. And bed sheets and towels. Other than that I bought shampoo, bigger items like clothes hampers over there. If you own a TV that you wanna bring then ship it, if you’re gonna buy one… buy it over there!</p>
<p>3) Define ‘stuff’… it’s cheaper to pay that $30 fee to bring an extra suitcase full of clothes or something on the airline than to ship it by FedEx I’m sure, but again if you’re talking about an appliance or something then ship it via FedEx or UPS.</p>
<p>4) Bring clothes home, don’t bother bringing the huge stuff. For summer break… FedEx/UPS. Or get an apartment.</p>
<p>5) There really is a different culture on the West Coast. Also, I can’t remember the taxes in NYC but California’s sales taxes are ridiculous. Cigarettes are surprisingly cheap though.</p>
<p>I love California, but I might be leaving California to go to an east coast school depending on where I get in. Haha, maybe we should keep in contact! (I mean we might be taking on reverse roles :)! )</p>
<p>Just bring your clothes. Everything else (dorm supplies, books, toiletries, DVDs, etc.) can be bought online or near school for cheap. Don’t bother carrying a gazillion suitcases.</p>
<p>UPS (or USPS) boxes to the dorm. We shipped UPS, paid online and they picked the stuff up at our house and we shipped it the the closest UPS store. The UPS store held the box for us ($10 each) until we picked it up. That way we had it when my son got there. We flew out with him and rented a large minivan.</p>
<p>Bed Bath and Beyond. In late July, go to your local store and you can scan everything you need and your order will be ready for pick up at your local store close to school. You have the opportunity to go through the bags and not purchase what you now discover you don’t need. Yes, they have linens/pillows towels… They even have toiletries now. Go to local target for everything else.</p>
<p>Order printer online. TV- Amazon once you arrive. </p>
<p>Summer storage- roommates house if he is not too far and has transportation. Many schools have local summer storage (some on campus too) to utilize. You shouldn’t need any storage over the other breaks.</p>
<p>I did this the opposite way (West to East). </p>
<p>Best advice is to bring only clothes and just accept that you’ll have to shell out a bunch of money for things you need when you get there. If you get money as graduation presents save it for this. Remember that the first September is the most expensive, but after that a lot of things will last you all three years (a white board, pillows and sheets, school supplies etc). Pack one set of sheets and a towel in with your clothes so you can shower and sleep comfortably while you’re stocking up on other stuff. Take your time, remember that you don’t need a TV, a Fridge, and 4 lamps all right away. Focus on getting the most essential stuff, then buy extras used from other students as you go. I got a TV for $25 bucks off of a student at the end of first semester. A refridgerator I got at the end of the year for $15.</p>
<p>If you’re sending books or other media to college you can send htem cheap via Postal Service Media Mail. It takes 6-8 weeks and it has to be books, magazines, CDs, DVDs or other media, but you can send it half way through the summer and have it there to pick up when you arrive. </p>
<p>For the summer, plan on getting a storage unit, there are often student-run services that will haul away and store your things for you for a decent rate, look for flyers around campus when its close to move out time. Also, ask friends who are local or are driving home if they can take your most valuable posessions to their houses for the summer.</p>