<p>For S, I’m buying him a few school supplies as things go on loss-leader at Staples. Otherwise he will buy his own once he’s there and figures out what he wants/needs.</p>
<p>Hmm…instead of mooching off samucks in London or Shanghai, I think we should all hide in shawbridge’s luggage. </p>
<p>DS is also of the mindset, if I need it, I’ll buy it when I get there. He said “There are stores in Boston and I have a credit card”.</p>
<p>2education - It was on the main housing site today while I was looking at various pages for move-in information. I’m on the iPhone now but will look in the morning and send you a link.</p>
<p>2education - I found it and just sent the link. It was going to bug me all night! I read terribly on the iPhone and didn’t catch your entire post the first time. How nice of you to help the new roommate with everything. We do make a fuss and so much can be done right there.</p>
<p>Reservations for Ashland made for 09/22 move-in at SOU–my husband called to make the reservations for two people, one bed and since our previous stays had had three people and two beds the reservation agent asked, just to be sure, whether it would be just two of us. “Yep…oh, we’re bringing him, but he’ll be staying at the college and we’re leaving him there!” Although the parent part of the long move-in weekend ends abruptly on Friday, right after convocation, we’re going to stay Friday night, have dinner in town, and have a leisurely drive home on Saturday. H and I will have a little wager going as to how far up I-5 we’ll be when I finally stop crying. So sentimental, I am!</p>
<p>The reality finally hit home this evening as the first college payment (excluding the acceptance deposit) was made online. DS is still playing with his pre-registration (“Dad, its not due until Friday - quit worrying about it”). At least we were able to confirm his meal plan today. No dorm assignment until early August and he and his roommate have exchanged about two words since they matched in early July. Since one of the four freshmen dorms has standard size bedding (the other are all XL), Avon Mom has deferred dorm shopping. I am beginning to feel that we will go to move-in/orientation weekend a day early and spend it at the mall and outlets dorm shopping! (I hope not! :eek:)</p>
<p>@weetbixmum - how cold has it gotten? Is it below 10? (C) The inlaws just returned to Melbourne from here a couple of weeks ago and we have heard complaints of lousy winter weather from there as well. FIL says he would rather have our recent summer heat that has been in the 33 - 38 C range with a lot of humidity.</p>
<p>I just paid for dorm insurance - [CSI</a> College Student Insurance - Instant Quote](<a href=“http://www.collegestudentinsurance.com/]CSI”>http://www.collegestudentinsurance.com/) This would have been handy for my older son. He had a camera stolen when he was on a study abroad in England. I went with the lowest coverage - $3,000. He probably has $2,000 worth of electronics but I think the chance of the whole contents of his room needing to be replaced is pretty slim. This site also mentions computer tracking information [Computer</a> Security](<a href=“http://www.collegestudentinsurance.com/compsec.php]Computer”>http://www.collegestudentinsurance.com/compsec.php) We have that on our laptop now but thought I would mention it here in case someone doesn’t have it. It’s like lo-jack only cheaper, I think.</p>
<p>Son is at his orientation right now. Unfortunately, we found out while waiting for the train that half of his trip was going to be via bus instead of train - five hours on a bus! Hope the rest of the orientation is a bit more enjoyable.</p>
<p>Who is up for a NYC rendezvous in the fall? early November? I would prefer Shanghai - I loved China when we visited my daughter there a few years ago but the travel time is a bummer. ;)</p>
<p>Kathiep - NYC is good for me!<br>
I want to get ds some supplies because yes, you can get everything where he is going, there are stores, but he is also not one to comparison shop or care about the prices of anything. I want to give him a creditcard for emergencies but I worry that pizza would be his idea of emergency.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>It’s not? Oh right, only if there is pineapple on it does it constitute an emergency. ;)</p>
<p>First Shanghai, then London, now NYC. Our dreams have scaled back I see. Kinderhook is only a train ride away so I could make NYC too.</p>
<p>I’m not worried about pizza delivery. My D’s idea of an emergency is a trip to Urban Outfitters.</p>
<p>Shanghai or London sound much more exciting, but I admit that NYC is a lot more practical.</p>
<p>I’ll buy some school/desk supplies for S2 because he would pay inflated bookstore prices without batting an eye. I figure there’s no harm in going in with your own supply of paper and pencils.</p>
<p>Hi all. I love the NYC idea! As much as I would love an international trip, I am spending all my days off on move-in and, like Hollie, I am bleeding money at the moment. </p>
<p>We are bringing some supplies with us (as opposed to buying it all there) because we have been advised that Target and BBB closest to school are cleared out by late August. Anything D thinks she will absolutely need in first week or two is either pre-ordered for pick up or coming in a box. I’m talking bare necessities here… </p>
<p>Is anyone else putting the car the kid uses on reduced insurance coverage? I think our company will give us a nice reduction in premium if she is >x miles away -which she is 
</p>
<p>D started the book the kids discuss at orientation. Nice idea - I know several schools do this “incoming class book club.” She is also planning on pulling out the Calc BC review book; I sure hope those placement tests are accurate!</p>
<p>Bleeding money is an understatement! I have been trying to nickel and dime the Staples weekly sales. There were a few items this week…copy paper for $6 with a $5.50 rebate, $4 pens with a $4 rebate (yep, FREEE), 1cent index cards…</p>
<p>note to self: start watching those staples ads! Thanks for the tip.</p>
<p>We are planning on taking necessities to school and then can worry about storage solutions, etc once we see the room, since we have no clue other than a floor plan. It’s really not that helpful. It will also depend on whether the roomies decide to bunk their beds or not. </p>
<p>I’m in for a NYC trip! </p>
<p>I’ve been so focused on college shopping that I haven’t even thought about supplies for DS2 who’s heading to HS. Guess I better go see if they have a recommended supply list!</p>
<p>The Staples deals are “while supplies last” so go early in the week if you can.</p>
<p>Anyone have a feel for how much printer paper an average engineering freshman will want if he has his own printer (which most kids at his school say is recommended)? I know he can buy it here, but it’s been on loss-leader the past 3 weeks at Staples, so I might as well send him with enough rather than have him pay full-price while I have 50-cent reams sitting at home :)</p>
<p>I will probably have S and H pick up school supplies such as paper at drop off. Unless I can find a sale and free shipping, maybe on Amazon, I have prime. I have to check when I can start sending stuff to his dorm. </p>
<p>I will take S off our insurance when he leaves for school in August til he returns at Thanksgiving. That will save me about $150 a month, I think. He has his own car but it is in my name and it gets better gas milage than my gas guzzler so I may drive it while he is gone. </p>
<p>D & I went to NYC in Feb. She had a blast. I was the donkey carrying all the bags so I did not have as much fun. Plus all that stuff in the bags I was lugging around cost me money! Depending on timing I would consider a NYC trip. </p>
<p>S just got notified that he has a mandatory 3 hour online alcohol awareness class that must be completed by Aug 17. He was not happy. </p>
<p>Kathie - thanks for the reminder about CSI. I told H we need to look at that. </p>
<p>S’s school is not air conditioned and it was suggested we get him a fan. He is in Milwaukee, do he really need a fan in late Aug? I know in Boston, at that time of the year, it really isn’t that hot.</p>
<p>I would suggest a clip-on fan for the desk/bed. I think most places can still have some very uncomfortably warm days in late August – even in Boston I’d personally want a fan.</p>
<p>Regarding Fans – Even though my son’s room is air conditioned, I’m planning to send him with a small desktop fan. They’re useful for air circulation and “white noise” in the dorm room even if not needed for cooling.</p>
<p>S also has a mandatory alcohol awareness program to do in August but no notification yet. I wonder if all colleges do that as I’ve seen other school posts about it. He also has a summer reading book to read which he says is dull and uninteresting so he’s not reading (he reads a lot so it must not interest him). And he has a program called PennStart to do which he also considering really bad…but it has to be done.</p>
<p>We will change S on insutance to student away in late Aug. Will save about $125 a month and don’t have to change it back until summer (if he comes home…sniff…sniff). He still has insurance that way. He has an older 5speed Honda Civic, so we will probably just put in garage until he returns with H driving every once in a while. We’re too old for 5speeds.</p>
<p>Still not sure what kind of fan to get for Penn. S FINALLY contacted roommate about refrig/microwave and rm is checking with his parents.</p>
<p>Haven’t done any shopping yet but will only really be getting the very very basics. S says he will figure things out there…he doesn’t realize the stores might be empty or things might be overpriced so will have to buy some here and ship.</p>
<p>It just seems to be coming so fast…ahhhh! Am planning a small family get together for Aug 20 (very low key)…and FINALLY doing his Eagle Court of Honor on Aug 22rd (received his rank last year). </p>
<p>S works Weds at restaurant (dishwasher)…he finally got call for other job (tagging bins at cold storage place…this is a farming community after all). So at least he’ll have a little more spending money at college.</p>
<p>So excited for everyone…love reading all the posts. Everyone travels so much more than us. We are in Calif and tend to stay around home but we are looking forward to the move and seeing Philly!</p>
<p>Start back to work in mid Aug…run the computer lab at a K-5 school. Looking forward to seeing everyone. Have a new lab (all new computers) so will be exciting!</p>
<p>RUN, don’t walk to Staples. </p>
<p>Backpacks (some really nice ones for your highschoolers too) are on sale
1 cent index cards, 1 cent highlighters
50 cents for copy paper/per pack.
3M hooks on sale, PostIt Flags on sale
Some limits for rebates per address.
etc
If you buy the Back to School card for $5 you get an additional 15% off…
I saved about $45 dollars today.
The rest of my order–I have to pick up Sunday since there is a weekly limit on the Backpack Rewards 50% back…and I have two students.</p>
<p>On car insurance–our student will stay insured as a driver yet is on the lowest possible coverage since kiddo has no access to a car regularly. Need to maintain insurance sould kiddo drive someones car while away.</p>
<p>The U’s alcohol awareness brochure for parents to discuss with students arrived today. Dont know if kiddo has an onkine course to take–as that notice would go to kiddos email</p>