<p>How do non-Californians deal with transport? I'm from the other side of the U.S., and I was wondering how freshmen (or really, any Pomona students) manage to carry everything they need for their dorm room, etc. My mom suggested buying most of my stuff on the California end, but that seems like a lot of stuff to buy. Also, if I buy a car, I know I'll have to do it on the CA end, because the petrol regulations are a lot more stringent than most states.</p>
<p>I'd suggest buying the bulky stuff like towels, sheets, bedding, rugs,lamps, etc. once you get here. Will a parent be coming out with you? You can each carry two suitcases and a carry-on, although you may not need that much. Bring clothes you'll need for only the first three months - you won't need many cold weather things - some jeans, sweaters , a fleece, jacket and reaincoat, as we don't ge the kind of weather you get in the east. Shorts and t-shirts don't take up much room! You can bring more cold weather things when you come back after winter break if you think you'll need them.
Toiletries can be bought once you get here - just bring a minimal supply.
I wouldn't worry about a car at first. Settle in and see how it goes.</p>
<p>here is another thread that you might find useful:
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=169477%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=169477</a></p>
<p>Thanks for the advice. But, alas, I'm not yet a Pomona student. Only a curious high school junior who prays to get into this school on Early Decision next fall. One or both of my parents will probably end up coming up with me the first time, at least.</p>
<p>I had another question, though. That plan sounds good for a freshman, but what about returning students? Do people from the east find some place to put their things in storage over the summer?</p>
<p>And how does OA fit into people moving in for the first time?</p>
<p>the school has storage that students can use for the summer...one piece of furniture per person and up to five boxes (both on a first come first serve basis until space fills up). otherwise you can ship stuff or some of my friends got one or both of their parents to fly out here and check in 3 suitcases of their stuff on the way home (which may actually be cheaper than shipping). just remember that whatever you put in your room must eventually come out - i should have thought about that before putting a million things in my room...i lucked out because i'm staying here for the summer so just had to move my stuff to another room, but trying to find a place to put it all if i wasn't would be a complete nightmare. another thing you could do is get stuff home throughout the year if you realize you don't need everything you brought out originally, like if you fly home for spring break or your parents come out for parents' weekend or something. overall i would say summer storage is one of the most stressful things about being a student at pomona, but i guess it would be the same thing at any college.</p>
<p>and for OA, you have move in day, then i think like 2-3 days of orientation stuff, then you leave for OA, so you'll have plenty of time to get everything set up.</p>
<p>Advisability of having a car as a freshman? What is the drive like to LA and UCSB? Any other way to get to UCSB (friend there)? How do kids without cars get into LA (other than hitching a ride)?</p>
<p>D has taken the Metrolink train (station a block from Pomona's campus) into Union Station and then the bus from there to get to LA. It's $9.50 R/T on weekends.</p>
<p>Doesn't sound bad. Approximately how long does it take?</p>
<p>About an hour.</p>
<p>Thanks!
How has it been having your offspring on the opposite coast?</p>
<p>This is actually #2. S graduated from UCLA last year. In conferring with parents whose kids go elsewhere, it's always a plus to have a nice place to tour when visiting offspring. ;) The time difference can work in our favor, too, with sending e-mails to your kid before s/he has even logged on. To those parents who asked about the distance, my response was "It's either 5-6 hours of driving or flying, and I'd rather fly." :)</p>
<p>I second that! The drive to Cornell, for example, was brutal, and we started vacationing as a family in CA before our son had even heard of Pomona. -Thanks for the encouragement.</p>