My son is probably going to be attending Cornell as a freshman this fall. We live three plane rides away and will probably be looking to buy things locally at move in time - things like a fan, possibly a laundry drying rack, extra sheets and towels, etc.
My question is what happens at the end of the year? Assuming that he comes home and works here over the summer, what should he do with his stuff? We don’t really want to bring it home, but he will need it again for the next school year, so we won’t want to give it away. Are freshman offered a place to store their things (possibly in the basement of their sophomore dorm building)? Or will we have to rent our own storage facility? What do most people do?
Thanks!
There are 2 or 3 companies that store (and also ship). My D is a freshman and we will be utilizing Storage Squad as they seem cheaper than Big Red. Just Google Cornell Storage and you’ll find it. My D will be storing her winter clothes and bedding, and shipping home lots of items as well. They pick up at your dorm in May and then deliver to dorm or apartment in August.
PS . You can order items like a fan, bedding, and other items at Bed Bath and Beyond or Target from your home town and then pick them up in or near Ithaca in August. This whole college/dorm room thing is a big business now!
Totally agree with the above and highly suggest that you pre-order your supplies. I recall the chaos in those stores move-in weekend. It’s unlikely that you will find what you want at the last moment. We didn’t really need anything, but we had gone in looking for one or two things and came out disappointed. Also, you can look for some items at the on-campus sale held each year. That’s just for surprise finds. It’s called “Dump and Run” and things students didn’t want at move out are sold to students moving back in. It will be held in the Helen Newman Hall on North Campus (where all freshmen live). This is from last year. The line forms very early and items vary from small office supplies to large furniture. We bought some silverware odds and ends for our son to keep in the dorm room for the occasional fast meal in his room. They cost about a dollar. I think we also chose some cords that we thought might be useful, still in their packaging.
https://living.sas.cornell.edu/live/movingin/dumpandrun/
My D is a sophomore, also from out of state. Last year we used Storage Squad and highly recommend them. For a minimal additional fee, they’ll even pick up in the room and deliver to the room the next year. It was less expensive than Big Red, and very easy – they delivered everything to her. I stressed for a while wondering how this would work, and it was very easy. No worries…!
My D is a Freshman and she will be using Storage Squad as well. Boxes and tape are even free if you need them.
Depending on what you store, price carefully. We’ve used College Boxes for a couple years now. They don’t charge extra to get the refrigerator from my son’s room (there are a good number of stairs, and it’s big). It includes $100 insurance coverage and I pay a small fee ($3) for another $100. The total is around $60 after coupon discount (maybe less, they always have a coupon). I just priced Storage Squad and it’s more with in-room pick-up). I never used Big Red because their site doesn’t guarantee the items in a way that makes me comfortable. We aren’t that far, so we bring the rest back and forth each year. Of course, they only pick up on specific days.
^^^How many boxes did your son store for $60?
No boxes. We only store his refrigerator. As I said, we bring the rest back each year. It’s the only thing too big and heavy for us to manage with ease. He seems to bring less each year. I drive up by myself with luggage and we pack and drive home that day. 3.5 hours each way. Exhausting with the packing.