<p>^ Always glad to help when I can. :)</p>
<p>Good luck with the move-in!</p>
<p>My D is on the longest goodbye tour with all her friends. It takes priority over packing and saying goodbye to family. But we live close to Penn so it’s not really goodbye to us in her mind. I wish she could all her friends together and say goodbye at once but I guess that’s not enough.</p>
<p>I was just going to search that link that 45 Percenter sent me once. Glad you reposted! If you like spicy Asian cuisine, we like Han Dynasty. It is casual, reasonably priced, right near campus and they have a bar, but it is also a BYO (which is an interesting concept to me). On the Rittenhouse side of the river, my DD loves a place called Audrey Claire which has a lot of vegetarian/healthy choices. If you give us an idea of they type of food you like and the atmosphere you are looking for we can give you some more direct suggestion. Of course there are always the food trucks which can be fun if the weather is nice.</p>
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<p>Believe it or not, there’s also a great web site for the Penn food trucks:</p>
<p>[url=<a href=“http://www.pennfoodtrucks.com/]PennFoodTrucks.com[/url”>http://www.pennfoodtrucks.com/]PennFoodTrucks.com[/url</a>]</p>
<p>Of course, many of those aren’t open during the weekend (you can see their schedules on the web site).</p>
<p>Early move in yesterday was VERY smooth and we were lucky it was not too hot. There were people stationed everywhere to give you parking help in areas pretty close to the dorms. The moving carts were extremely helpful, we were able to unload two carloads of stuff in two trips with the rolling moving cart and a hand truck. The hour time limit was fine. The only thing that would have been a bit more difficult without the hand truck would have been the mini fridge. The rolling moving truck has four sides. Hope this helps people going Thursday or Friday. Good Luck!</p>
<p>That is a good point about the handtruck. We moved our d in yesterday and we brought a handtruck as well. It saved our backs with the heavy boxes that would have fit in the carts but would have been difficult to lift out of the box. Once you unload your stuff, you will be given a parking pass for a nearby garage for the day provided you enter once. Pretty smooth move-in.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone for your help recently. Our early move-in also went smoothly. Impressed with organization and security. DS is now somewhere in the Poconos on Pennquest. We will return for events on Friday and then drive 1500 miles home!<br>
45 percenter- perhaps you can shed some light on the state of Hill House. I was quite dismayed at the bathrooms on son’s floor and very disappointed with the much touted lounges that supposedly make up for the tiny rooms. The room itself was larger than expected ( big closets) and the dining room looks nice but just not a positive overall impression. Is Hill slated for renovation soon? Glad we will see it filled with eager freshmen on Friday - that might help! Of course I was more bothered than DS!</p>
<p>^ Actually, Hill IS slated for renovation–including the installation of central air conditioning–in the not-too-distant future.</p>
<p>But alas, not in time for your son. :(</p>
<p>They’re also going to start construction of a brand-new college house on Hill Field in January:</p>
<p>[The</a> Daily Pennsylvanian :: Hill Field college house construction to begin January 2014](<a href=“http://www.thedp.com/article/2013/03/51429d914f646]The”>Hill Field college house construction to begin January 2014 | The Daily Pennsylvanian)</p>
<p>THAT may be completed in time for your son to live there as a Resident Advisor, if he’s so disposed.</p>
<p>But I think you have it right–parents (usually moms :rolleyes:) are often a bit disappointed in dorm facilities, and especially those for freshmen, while their kids generally are quite satisfied. I remember the same thing happening with my own mother several decades ago–and my wife more recently–at Penn (although both times in the Quad). 
I’m sure he’ll be quite happy in Hill (most kids who live there are), and the dining room IS very convenient.</p>
<p>Do the showers in Hill stock soap and shampoo or do kids buy their own?</p>
<p>I think students provide all of their own toiletries. Get a little plastic tote to keep it all in so it is easy to carry around.</p>
<p>I am guessing that you have a son?</p>
<p>There are no supplies in the bathroom except a hand soap dispenser and paper towels. Be sure to bring flip flops for the shower (2 shower stalls per bathroom).</p>
<p>centraleagle,
It is sometimes a shock when you see their rooms for the first time. Last year, when my D moved in it was very gray and raining. It looked absolutely awful. She lived in King’s Court English House. It was a first floor and the moment we arrived it had fire trucks rip-roaring down the street…I remembered thinking to myself… I should expect alot of calls when I get home. Fast forward, they make it work. Later the sun came out that move-in day and by that time we had magically transformed the place. She loved her roomate and everything worked out. It is their make it work moment. I am glad to hear your move-in went well. After a couple of weeks, he will have made strong connections and be ready to line himself up with who he wants to live with next year. My D is now in Rodin. The rooms are still small, but she has her own bathroom. Best of luck to your son, the Penn programs are a great way to start the year.</p>
<p>Yes, I have a son - simple, soap and shampoo.</p>
<p>He is in Hill. I agree - dreary but no worries. When I was at Stanford, I was in the “temporary 1960 trailer park.” Every step rocked the trailer, crammed three of us in there, no locking doors… but, enabled a good story. If it is too cushy, their expectations are too high post-college.</p>
<p>So - I’m getting ready to mail the first care package and am wondering if one method is preferred over others, specifically to Hill? In the past, mailing from the midwest to another east coast school, I’ve been pleased with the flat rate US post office boxes that you can load with heavy items. FedEx Ground is usually fairly affordable too - does anyone have experience with one carrier working better than others at the university?
Thanks so much again, for your continued help. DS is very happy thus far - we get pithy texts such as “everything is amazing” or " I love this place"!</p>
<p>^ My only recent experience is with sending packages to the Quad, but I assume that it’s similar at Hill. Penn has a good system for handling packages, and the students are promptly sent an email to notify them that they have a package waiting in the package room (wherever that may be in Hill–your son will know or will find out). Any of the delivery services (UPS, FedEx Ground, USPS) will work just as well, at least on the receiving end.</p>
<p>Glad to hear that he’s happy, and I hope he likes his classes! :)</p>
<p>I’ve mailed 2 cookie packages from WA to Hill - expensive ($13 for a small box; UPS) but easy. The kids get an email from the Hill package room. Quick - mailed Tues and receipt Fri. I’ll have to look into your other mailing ideas - cheaper? And, brief but incredibly enthusiastic text/email/Skype.</p>
<p>I use priority flat rate boxes with USPS. If it fits it ships as they say and I cram in as much as possible. Glad your S is finding his way and all appears to be happy. When the packages arrive, they do get an email as stated.</p>
<p>Thanks so much - I’m going to stick with the flat rate boxes then.<br>
The first week of classes went well - except for a bit of understandable stress/nerves about juggling his schedule, learning the ropes, etc . So far so good though! Thanks again to all of you!</p>
<p>Can any UPenn parents tell me about the off campus apartment situation? My son is entertaining the possibility of attending UPenn graduate school and will need to be very close to campus because he will often need to run into the lab at odd hours for short periods of time. He wants to live very near campus but is concerned about the area. He has heard from friends attending the medical school that the off campus area is unsafe and a little intimidating.</p>
<p>Of course he will visit and tour the area, but I wanted to get your opinion on the off campus apartments.</p>
<p>I’m a Penn parent but what I know comes from when I used to work in the area a few years ago - at the hospital - it’s an area that’s slowly going through a gentrification of sorts. Penn lies mostly between 34th-39th streets. Getting off campus a few blocks 40th-43rd streets is pretty upgraded and safe and I believe Penn police look out for that area as well. Going a little too far out of the zone and you got to be more street savvy and common sense than if you’re in the protected bubble. A little further beyond that and you’ve lost all common sense.</p>
<p>It also depends on your mode of transportation. On foot and you want to be as close as possible. Rittenhouse Square is nearby but not as walkable. That’s a very nice place to live. A bike or taxi can do the job as far as transportation too.</p>