<p>I'm from Massachusetts and was just wondering how kids from more than a few states away will be getting to SC. Many people say its essential to bring your car down there but for me its a 19 hour drive. Also how do you bring your stuff? My parents suggested flying down there a few days early and then just buying everything I need for my room, and obv. not to take much. </p>
<p>What is everyone else planning on doing?</p>
<p>If my D goes it will be a couple days of shopping for everything except the clothes she brings. Even if her roomate doesn't live close we have family/friends within 30 miles of Columbia for her to keep her stuff during summer. Price of not living within driving distance. Car is another matter - if D decides to go UW she gets a car to come home anytime, but if it's Carolina she will be a pedestrian for at least her freshman year.</p>
<p>Do a search on the Parents forum or post there. There have been a couple of threads on getting stuff to college more than a day's drive away before. Lots of suggestions.</p>
<p>we're from NY.Last year,we flew down two days early.Shipped some stuff,brought two bags each on the plane (6 bags total),preordered some stuff from Bed Bath and Beyond.
There's plenty of shopping,all major chain stores are available but you'll need a car/rental car to access them.I now know I didnt need to preorder,there's plenty of stock available.
S doesnt have local relatives/contacts to store stuff. He will rent a storage spot with other kids for the summer.A couple of kids share and its not expensive.
S doesnt have a car this freshman year. Its not a problem,except perhaps if you wanted to go to the movies alone as there isnt a first run movie house in walking distance.He has plenty of friends with cars and getting where he needs to go hasnt been a problem,including getting rides to the airport.He decded he wanted a bike,part of the reason was simply for exercise,part was the ability to sleep an extra 5-10 minutes and make it to class on time.
Let me know if you need any more ideas!</p>
<p>My D would be coming from Idaho, a very long drive. She has not decided yet which school to attend, but Carolina is #1 on the list now. She will not take a car her freshmen year, at least, also. Thanks for the info. I am thinking that school clubs, especially a camping club, could help provide transport. Does anyone know about that?</p>
<p>We're from SC, but when my D went to college, we saw quite a number of people pulling small UHaul type rental trailers and some people had the rectangular stow-n-go on the top. I guess those were one-way rentals. Of course that requires having a vehicle with a trailer hitch, etc.</p>
<p>Thank-you!! You've been very helpful :)</p>
<p>lissy </p>
<p>D is not a good car traveller and the thought of the 1200 mile one-way from Dallas with her complaining the whole way led to finding advance low fare air tickets and renting an SUV in Columbia.</p>
<p>As cathymee said, you can pre-order from Bed Bath and Beyond and Linens and Things and they will have the items reserved for pick up in Columbia. We did this and it worked out very well. Target, Sears and WalMart all offer similar services through their websites. You can also ship boxes to your hotel and have them hold them for your arrival. You will need to contact the hotel managers for permission but we had no problem with this as well.</p>
<p>If you haven't tried it yet, FedEX Ground is terrific...cheaper than UPS and faster. We can ship FedEx Ground from Dallas and it will be in Columbia two days later!...send it Monday, she has it Wednesday. We sent four large (24x24 or bigger) boxes last year for move-in and it was under $50 total!</p>
<p>D did not have a car this year (her roommate did) but sometimes parking can be a long way from dorms and since it is first come-first-served in some lots people are reluctant to give up their good spaces....LOL. The campus bus system is adequate but doesn't run on weekends which is something they need to work on.</p>
<p>For all your shopping needs, Harbison Rd (about 8 miles north of campus) has EVERYTHING you could want from BB&B, Target, WalMart, Best Buy, Circuit City, Michael's, Home Depot, Lowe's ....and the big mall with Abercrombie, American Eagle, you name it. While the mall may not have "A" versions of the clothing stores like bigger cities there is still shopping that you won't find in places like Clemson.</p>
<p>Oh and lissy, D has several good friends from MA in fact, I think at least one of her roommates next year is from MA with the other one/two from NJ.</p>