<p>it is clear across country for me, will my parent really fly 5 hours just to put me in my room and then leave, flying 7 more hours across country? For me, it goes move in day and then orientation the next two days</p>
<p>My D started college across the country last fall and I arranged my vacation to coincide with her going. It helped that much of my family lived nearby but my main purpose was to help get her moved in. She appreciated that, and her younger sister enjoyed being on a college campus and saying goodbye. After that we drove back to my sisters and visited family, went to the beach, etc. It was worth it.</p>
<p>If your parents want to do this for you, they will find a way. If they can’t afford it, they won’t. My younger D is interested in going across country to a different area and my H and I will most likely settle her in around vacation time. But we have a few years to go on that.</p>
<p>Most parents will probably accompany their kids. They want to see you settled in, meet your roommate, be able to envision where you are living/etc. They also probably want another look at the place where they will likely be spending a LOT of money for your education (unless you are footing the bill by yourself). They can tie that in with some vacation time (maybe a few days for all of your before the drop off, or some for just them afterwards).</p>
<p>A lot of colleges have some kind of reception in the afternoon of drop off day and encourage parents to say goodbye/leave their kids at the end of that. If you parents want to hang around campus after that day, then I would be concerned. There are a few parents posted about every year on CC that plan to do that… as long as your parents aren’t “those parents”, you will be fine. :)</p>
<p>I did. It’s more than just “putting you in your room”. Nce if finances allow. There will be many other times when being there makes even less practical sense.</p>
<p>My dad came with me on my college visit so my mom dropped me off at school. If they’ve never been, it would be great for them to be able to see the school and understand what you are talking about when you call to complain about how much your dorm sucks or where your classes are, etc.
My mom and I arrived three or four days before move in day to explore the city and have a mini vacation before school started. We had tons of fun and it was a really memorable trip. I also think she got comfort in making sure I had everything I needed for school. If it’s not tough financially, I say invite them to come! It’s a great family experience (minus the crying at the end, be prepared!)</p>
<p>I did. </p>
<p>And if your parents can at all afford it – they will WANT TO. So if they decide to accompany you, be nice about it, even if you’d prefer to do it on your own. It’s a huge rite of passage - the kiddo starting college - for us parents. We were there when you were born, we were there when you took your first steps, started kindergarten and graduated from high school. This too is as important to us as it is to you. And if there are tears as they say goodbye, take comfort in them: you’re loved.</p>
<p>This parent would. Although I’d probably want to go a few days before move-in and make a “mini-vacation/shop-a-thon for things that wouldn’t fit on the plane” out of it. As it is, my D is only going 12 hours away (driving), but I wouldn’t miss it. My D wants me to be there and help her out, but probably not as much as I want to be there.</p>
<p>^^ beth’s mom, that’s exactly how we did it. We dropped daughter off at her dorm and helped her move in. Then we went on a mini 3 day vacation. Brought our younger son as well so he could see Boston and bring with him extra suitcases 
Saw daughter again before our departure for home, she was settled in her room, feeling excited and grown up. She even “allowed” us to take her and roommate out to a nice dinner, lol. All in all, a very fun time for the whole family.</p>
<p>It is a really big change for you and for your parents! They are “letting you go”. They have good reason to fly out there for this. Every parent just wants to make sure that their children are settled and okay.</p>
<p>It just depends. Some bring a parent or two. Others don’t. I’m sure your college will make accomodations for students in either scenario. There’s no RIGHT answer. Just what you and your parents can settle on.</p>
<p>When I was moving in as a Freshman (many moons ago) there were only a few parents assisting. I gather freshman move in nowadays has changed…</p>
<p>If your parent wants to do this, I suggest that you don’t object.</p>
<p>It enables you to bring twice as much stuff on the plane, and if your parent rents a car, it enables you (or your parent, if you are busy) to shop conveniently for things that would not easily fit in your luggage and would be awkward to carry on a bus from the store to your dorm.</p>
<p>First year? Definitely. Subsequent years? Probably not. If they want to, let them come and say goodbye. It’s probably better closure for them than dropping you at the local airport. As an added bonus for you, their checked bags can bet filled with your stuff!</p>
<p>I am planning on going with our kids if they end up at schools a long way away. I guess I don’t know how they would get all their stuff to school without extra arms to help carry it all :D.</p>
<p>Driving distance, we both accompanied our kids. For one whose school was halfway across the country, my husband went on the tour/interview, I went for the early summer orientation, and husband helped for the move in day. </p>
<p>Most kids will have their parents with them, but if your parents decide not to travel, you’ll be fine. :)</p>
<p>It’s a family decision as to if the trip would be affordable. There’s more than just plane tix to consider…there’s rental car, hotel, restaurants, etc. For some families, that is part of their college budget. For others, it exceeds what they can afford.</p>
<p>We didn’t go to kid #1’s fly-across-the-country school for move-in. Too expensive. We did take the whole family to graduation 4 years later, though. 2nd kid was taking a car–H drove with her, helped unload, and flew home. #3 will probably drive with #2–colleges in same area and she can help him move in.</p>
<p>OP, have your parents changed their mind since you started the thread about being scared to fly across country by yourself? Or is it that you just don’t want them to accompany you? Having you so far away is going to make it difficult for your parents, so I would ask you to strongly consider welcoming their desire to join you on move in day.</p>
<p>If they can afford it, sure. I’ve never had parents help me move in and it’s no big deal.</p>
<p>My college roommates both arrived alone by common carrier (airplane, train, followed by taxi).</p>
<p>They didn’t have that much stuff. A suitcase and a musical instrument apiece.
I think they had things shipped to them from home, and they bought stuff they needed at the campus store. </p>
<p>I almost felt a little sheepish arriving in a Chevy Impala filled with stuff.</p>
<p>As others have mentioned, you will have MANY trips back and forth without them in the future. After the initial drop off for D1 several states away (and I did cry, just like I cried when she moved out of the house last week to go to another city for her first “real” job), I did not go with her back to school at all. I went to her campus a couple other times when D2 and I were vacationing/college visiting in that part of the country, and of course we went to graduation. But the first year was the only one where we helped her move in, etc. So know that you will get lots of chances to travel to and fro without them after this first drop off! In fact, when summer comes and you are figuring out how to store your stuff over break, you may wish they were there. :)</p>