<p>OKay, we were planning on driving out there - 2 parents, 1 student and a mini-van. Its mapquests at 15 hours. From New Jersey. Would it be better to fly, and carry lots of luggage ???</p>
<p>What are other Freshman East-Coasters doing ?</p>
<p>NorthEastMom2, Our D was a freshman last year and we rented a mini-van, drove out from New York and then flew home. The ride was suprisingly easy. Most of the drive is through Pennsylvania and the roads are empty with little to no traffic. We decided to drive because my D wanted to know she had all her things with her and didn't want the stress of having to ship things weeks in advance, worry about lost luggage, and spend hours in Bed Bath and Beyond once we got to St. Louis. It worked out fine for us and the drive was a nice transition from the last night at home with high school friends to a new college life. After freshman move-in, however, we don't plan on driving again until we move her out after graduation.</p>
<p>WashU has a wonderful student run business called UTrucking that will supply boxes, tape...etc and come and pick up the kid's stuff right from their dorm room and either ship boxes home or put them into storage over the summer. D packed herself up, flew home in May and UTrucking took care of the rest. If you choose not to drive, I would definitely look into UTrucking to get your kid's stuff out to St. Louis. They have a number of Northeast pick up points in August. Their website is <a href="http://www.utrucking.com%5B/url%5D">www.utrucking.com</a>.</p>
<p>Feel free to private message me with any more questions.</p>
<p>Can't answer the East Coasters question. H moved S1 to WashU from CA, though, year before last. They flew, with two checked duffle bags each filled with clothes and stuff he wanted from home. (Airline charges are going up for checked bags, so that may not be wise this year.)</p>
<p>Don't feel you have to haul everything for the dorm from home. You can shop at a Bed, Bath and Beyond near you, using the "Pack and Hold" program. It's like a wedding registry where you electronically select the items you want --- bedding, towels, waste can, shower caddy, reading lamp, etc. --- and they pack and hold it for you at the BBB near the college. You pay at pick up so if you change your mind on any items, you can cancel at the destination store. Collect those BBB coupons that come in the mail because you can use as many as you like on the Pack and Hold items. </p>
<p>Also, I sent a box of stuff --- books, speakers, winter coat (we only have snowboarding "shells" here), boots --- through UPS since it was stuff he didn't need right away. </p>
<p>If you're going to accompany him and stay a few days, book your hotel room early. Move in dates tend to fill up fast and prices rise the longer you wait.</p>
<p>Nervous is correct - U Trucking is the way to go. We too live in NJ and last (mid) August I drove his trunk and bags to the Paramus mall where two very nice young Wash U gentlemen (the company is owned by the Wash U students) loaded his stuff into their massive U-Haul. The rates are a bit informal and similar to the post office. We let them know (on the Internet) his arrival date and time and two weeks later when we arrived, they hauled his stuff up to his room. The flight is about three hours from Newark (he often takes the train to the airport) and from the St Louis airport there is a Metro Line train that is 25 minutes to the Wash U campus. The Wash U Metro Line station is only two stops from the hotels in Clayton which is about a mile or two west of the campus.</p>
<p>S just finished his freshman year (part of the "I love WashU" cult). First comment, limit the "lots of luggage". Almost every kid we know (and we met lots of kids from his floor) says they brought too much. We brought him out there by plane. At end of year, he flew home and checked a bunch of duffels. Anything that he didn't need at home, he stored with WashU Trucking.....he thinks they did a great job in the pickup, now we'll see about the drop-off come the end of August!</p>
<p>When taking our son to school his freshman year (from the east coast), he flew out to his pre-orientation programs with just what he needed plus a bag of heavy things that he could leave in his dorm room. We met him out there, bringing the max that the airlines would allow us. We then used a combination of the BBB service (picking things out here and picking up our order at the BBB out there), Staples free shipping for computer supplies, and buying somethings once we were out there to fill out what he needed. Even he will admit that he took too many things, but I think that it was easier for him to take it all than to think to hard about what he really needed. </p>
<p>Since that time - we have used **Utrucking **for storage and delivery and they've been terrific. Now that some airlines are charging for checking bags, UTrucking may really be the way to go...especially for all you have to take freshman year. Look at their website that someone suggested above <a href="https://www.utrucking.com/%5B/url%5D">https://www.utrucking.com/</a>.</p>
<p>Where is the closest BBB to campus? Is there one near the Galleria and Target?</p>
<p>there is one right next to Target</p>
<p>The BBB near campus is so organized during move in, we were very impressed.</p>
<p>I am trying to control the amount of stuff - we laughed together at the official list - iron ? ironing board ? stamps ? not for my d !! But there might be a few large musical instruments involved....The plans are still evolving.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the advice - I am definitely checking out Utrucking.</p>
<p>When we moved our D to Wash U in August of 2006, we rented a Suburban and packed every square inch. :) She flew out several days ahead for pre-orientation, then H and S and I drove 3 days to meet her in St. Louis. We have used UTrucking to store lots of big things over the summer -- chest of drawers (plastic, fits under lofted bed), 2 bookcases, folding soft chair, etc. It is so convenient, but it gets really expensive, esp. if you plan to store for a summer plus a semester while studying abroad. Those boys have quite a lucrative business going! :D</p>
<p>We are driving TWO cars from the eastern shore of Maryland. One to leave with our eldest daughter who will be living at an off-campus college apartment, a Civic that can't possibly hold enough people or luggage - AND an SUV likely filled to the brim. We drove our eldest to campus freshman year and it was a fantastic experience. You are actually met at the dorms by groups of cheering undergrads who approach you as you drive onto the South 40, direct you to your dorm, then kids welcome your kid (!!!!!) and then they ask your room number, advise you to register in the lobby while they unpack your car for you and put everything into your room (??!!!!!!) WOW. Then someone roaming the floors, also a student, helped us loft our daughter's bed. Then RA's, faculty advisors, and others came in to introduce themselves, and so on, and so on, and it is an experience that still makes me feel like it isn't quite so painful to pay those tuition dollars. And, I wouldn't miss it in the world for daughter number two who starts her freshman year this fall. </p>
<p>All other trips... they'll drive, or if a short intra-school trip, they'll fly.</p>
<p>LOL.....I will agree with NUgraduate on the drive onto the 40. We fly out, but we rent a car in St. Louis. That first drive onto the 40 with your incoming freshman is definitely a lot of fun and incredibly welcoming.</p>
<p>Okay, it's my thread, so I'm hijacking it. Are most freshman parents staying through Saturday ? The parents activties seem to end Sat afternoon. SO....Arriving on Thursday....Leaving on Saturday ??</p>
<p>Your sense is right. When our son was a freshman, we had made plans to stay until Sunday...by Friday he was already settled in his room, and we could tell that it would be time for us to leave so that he could get started with his new life. So we changed our flight to leave on Saturday afternoon and I think (and he would agree) that it was perfect timing. Friday night (convocation) was wonderful for both the kids and the parents - it's very special and you'll enjoy it. Also we flew out on Wednesday so that we could do our BBB pickups and were ready for move-in and more shopping for things on Thursday.</p>
<p>Our S will be a sophomore this fall. I think that curiousgeorge58 is right. Besides their orientation activities, there will also be dorm and floor activities. My recollection is that we didn't have dinner with him Saturday. We did have a "goodbye" breakfast together Sunday morning, but they really are keyed up to get back to dorm life at that point.</p>
<p>So, we flew out early Sunday afternoon and I'm happy that we stayed. But, leaving Saturday afternoon would have been ok also.</p>
<p>We did the same on the getting out there. Flew out Wednesday and did the BBB pickups on Thursday along with the other stuff that he needed.</p>