<p>Any suggestions, anecdotes, regrets? Not looking for anything specific, just general, "unofficial" things I should keep in mind </p>
<p>Move in day is awesome, so exciting and for the most part well-organized. My only suggestion is to make sure you label EVERYTHING with name and room number. My daughter had a few last minute purchases (a rug, some rain boots) and they were taken to to someone else’s room. The boots were returned, the rug never was, and I had to buy a new one.</p>
<p>Move in day is so well done…here’s some thoughts:</p>
<p>1) No matter how well you plan, you’ll end up at Target/Wal-Mart or Bed Bath & Beyond. Scope out the locations on your phone before you go to decrease stress, and pick the locations that aren’t right at Vandy, since those will be sold out of a many things you might want as 1600 other students (or more) have needed stuff too. There are plenty of options in Nashville.
2) Power strip, there’s simply too many electronics.
3) If you are in town the day before, and have some time, consider getting books (if not already purchased) to avoid the crowds, and the student having to carry them all the way back to Commons after you leave.
4) The student gets swept up in activities and meeting people by dinner time on move in day. Plan your own dinner, say goodnight and then let them go meet people. You can say goodbye officially the next morning.
5) Goodbyes on Sunday morning are bittersweet…so happy for their new adventure and how happy they are, but its still hard to say goodbye. Set a time you have to leave and leave. Its hard to do, but much less painful than ambiguity in what time you should leave that morning.</p>
<p>And if you can…go visit in 3-4 weeks time, whether its parent’s weekend or another one. Its just enough time for them to form some bonds at school, and they will appreciate your visit.</p>
<p>As discussed, Freshman move in is well organized by Vandy. We live in NJ but I suggest having as much shipped to school prior as possible. You will get your students Vandy mailbox and shipping instructions. There is a large tent set up for all USP shipments. This can include direct ship from Costco for the Mattress topper and shipment for books and school supplies. We also shipped from Target, Walmart and CVS directly to school. We ordered from our local Bed, Bath and Beyond and picked up in Nashville on Friday, if I were to do it again, I would have had it shipped directly to school and not having had to rent an SUV to pick all the stuff up. Amazon prime is a great investment as it gives 2 day free shipping on all purchases. I believe that the kids can get a free 1 year prime amazon with the .edu email address they will get from Vandy. Prices for books on various web sites are much cheaper then from the bookstore. This can save hundreds of $ per semester. There will be a family dinner (wraps, salads) under a tent on Saturday in the commons, so no need to make dinner reservations. As vandyswim said:
Goodbye on Sunday by 10am. The kids have meetings with pier groups after that and you are basically thrown off campus…</p>
<p>There will be a panel discussion for parents late Sunday morning. For me it was a good transition from saying goodbye to leaving campus. It was also interesting to hear from the Dean of Residential Housing among other groups about how they lookout for our students.</p>
<p>I left there feeling like another advantage of a private school was there willingness to step in when needed and to involve parents if there was a problem.</p>
<p>Plan on attending the dinner on Saturday night. It’s a nice way to meet your student’s roommate’s parents as well as their faculty head of house.</p>
<p>Thank you all. Your invaluable tips are bringing home the reality (deep breaths), even more so than all the planning and shopping.</p>
<p>Thoughts re breakfast on Sunday? Go out somewhere with our student or just meet up at the informal breakfast (bagels?) thing on campus (which I think we read about only here and heard was a little chaotic)?</p>
<p>My recommendation is to go out for breakfast. It will give you a chance to talk to your student.</p>
<p><a href=“VUCast Extra: Move In 2013 | Vanderbilt University”>http://news.vanderbilt.edu/2013/08/vucast-extra-move-in-2013/</a></p>
<p>My son has used this company to ship home and for summer storage. Did not know about them when he moved in.</p>
<p><a href=“Shipping to Vanderbilt University Nashville,TN | Dorm Room Movers”>Shipping to Vanderbilt University Nashville,TN | Dorm Room Movers;
<p>I would echo everything said by vandyswim above in post #2 except do plan to eat with your student and his/her dorm mates & their families under the tent on the lawn on Saturday evening. Great way to meet parents of roommate. Also would recommend Amazon Prime–worth it for the free 2 day shipping on everything from text books to Halloween costumes 
Can’t have too many power strips so pack extra to try to avoid that run to Target with every other freshman parent in town!
The planned Sunday breakfast on the Commons was pretty crowded so we skipped that. Quick/cheap alternatives close to campus if you need to hit the road befor that long, bittersweet drive home (have your box of Kleenex handy in the car): Panera Bread or Brueggers Bagel both on 21st Ave across from campus or Noshville Deli on Broadway at 19th. Provence Bread & Cafe also on 21st but in Hillsboro Village is a local favorite of many, although I was disappointed. (The wonderful Pancake Pantry is not likely to be quick since there will be a line around the corner, no exaggeration.)
Take lots of pictures and enjoy the memories! Nothing like that Move Crew cheering & singing as you pull up in front of the dorm with an overloaded car :-)</p>
<p>That video above reminds me… You might end up on one just like it! </p>
<p>Found this nice post from 2011 :</p>
<p><a href=“Freshman Moving Tips | Inside 'Dores | Vanderbilt University”>http://admissions.vanderbilt.edu/insidedores/2011/08/freshman-moving-tips/</a></p>
<ol>
<li><p>Do NOT bring a dolley or cart to move your belongings into the dorm.</p></li>
<li><p>Bring a rubber mallet. This may only apply to some people but if you are not happy with setup of your bed (they typically come lofted) it is possible to deloft your bed using a rubber mallet. A normal hammer is not as effective and may damage the bed frame. Mallets are usually available in the dorms but a lot of people may be using them on move in day and access to them may be limited. If you don’t want to wait to use one, it may be wise to bring one with you if you are more comfortable with a bed lower to the ground. If you decide to deloft your bed, KEEP TRACK of the metal pegs on the wooden frame. They can prove to be rather expensive if lost.</p></li>
<li><p>Bring other tools you may need. Screwdrivers are always useful for assembling bookshelves, furniture, and other last minute things you may need when getting to school.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>…</p>
<p>Kroger Stores near Vanderbilt:</p>
<p>800 Monroe Street, Nashville, TN 37208-2540 (Distance to Vanderbilt: 4.0 miles)</p>
<p>4560 Harding Pike, Nashville, TN 37205 (Distance to Vanderbilt: 3.2 miles)</p>
<p>2131 Abbott Martin Rd, Nashville, TN 37215 (Distance to Vanderbilt: 3.8 miles)</p>
<p>2615 Franklin Pike, Nashville, TN 37204 (Distance to Vanderbilt: 3.5 miles)</p>
<p>Publix Stores near Vanderbilt:</p>
<p>6614 Charlotte Pike, Nashville, TN 37209-4202 (Distance to Vanderbilt: 5.2 miles)</p>
<p>4324 Harding Pike, Nashville, TN 37205-2202 (Distance to Vanderbilt: 2.9 miles)</p>
<p>Walmart Stores near Vanderbilt:</p>
<p>7044 Charlotte Pike, Nashville, TN 37209 (Distance to Vanderbilt: 7.7 miles)</p>
<p>Target Stores near Vanderbilt:</p>
<p>26 White Bridge Rd, Nashville, TN 37205 (Distance to Vanderbilt: 3.7 miles)</p>
<p>6814 Charlotte Pike, Nashville, TN 37209 (Distance to Vanderbilt: 6.0 miles)</p>
<p>Costco Stores near Vanderbilt:</p>
<p>6670 Charlotte Pike, Nashville TN 37209-4202 (Distance to Vanderbilt: 6.2 miles)</p>
<p>Sam’s Club Stores near Vanderbilt:</p>
<p>615 Old Hickory Blvd, Nashville, TN 37209 (Distance to Vanderbilt 7.1 miles)</p>
<p>1300 Antioch Pike, Nashville, TN 37211 (Distance to Vanderbilt: 7.4 miles)</p>
<p>Found more :</p>
<p>Department Stores:</p>
<p>Wal-Mart:
7044 Charlotte Pike 352-9316,
3600 Mallory Lane 771-0929,
4040 Nolensville Rd. 831-0133,
3035 Hamilton Church Road 360-2228</p>
<p>Grocery:
Apple Market: 2900 West End Ave. 327-4187
Harris Teeter: 2201 21st Ave. S. 269-7818</p>
<p>Kroger:
4560 Harding Pike 269-5649,
2131 Abbott Martin Rd. 297-7531,
2615 Franklin Rd. 297-5517</p>
<p>Whole Foods Market: 4021 Hillsboro Pike 440-5100</p>
<p>Misc.:
Electronic Express:
100 Oaks Mall (719 Thompson Lane)
2714 West End Ave. 329-1700
Hillsboro Hardware: 2204 21st Ave. S. 292-6683
Home Depot:
2535 Powell Ave. 269-7800,
8101 Moore’s Lane 221-0438,
7665 U.S. 70 S. 662-7600
Lowe’s:
7034 Charlotte Pike 356-9223,
3060 Mallory Lane 771-3412
Office Depot:
4504 Harding Rd. 297-4180,
2312 West End Ave. 340-9544</p>
<p>There’s also a Container Store at Green Hills Mall on Hillsboro (21st Avenue by VU turns into Hillsboro eventually) and Trader Joe’s is just down the street. </p>
<p>There is a Youtube video of how to loft and de-loft the bed. As strange as it sounds, you might want to view it the night before move in. Move in day is stressful and the room is crowded with both families trying to move their students into the room at the same time. If you have reviewed the video, then you can manage the lofting/de-lofting process more easily (and with no stress, and no hitting the other family in the head with the bedframe…)</p>
<p>I see in the online Move-In Guide that you can pick up your shipped packages on the day before Move-In. Where on the Commons are those packages stored – in location #4 on the map on page 13 of the Move-In Guide?</p>
<p>If you do not pick up the packages on the day before move-in, do you have to carry them to the dorm? Are dollies available? </p>
<p>On Move in day, there will be a giant tent on the lawn between the Hank Ingram dorm and the Commons lobby. There are dollies/flat beds to use to take your stuff to the dorm, and there are also a lot of very friendly volunteers who might be able to help you as well. We shipped four boxes there before we left home, and picked them up after D had moved into the dorm that morning. The lines were long early in the am, but by noon, when we went, had about 5 people ahead of us. </p>
<p>In the same tent, you can pick up the books you have pre-ordered from the Vanderbilt Bookstore for delivery to Commons. That line seemed to be extremely long until late in the day.</p>
<p>Tent will go here. Check this webcam in the coming weeks to see it go up. <a href=“The Ingram Commons, Hank Ingram & Stambaugh Houses | Webcams | Vanderbilt University”>http://webcams.vanderbilt.edu/thecommons/hobbsview/</a></p>
<p>They have pick up hours the day before move in too. We picked up books and a refrigerator we had shipped the day before with no lines at the tent. It is really amazing to see the amount of boxes and such in that tent. Just be sure you have room in the car to put the stuff if you pick up on Friday!</p>