<p>I will be transferring to a four-year college (from community college) in the fall, and I've been reading a lot of really helpful message boards and articles about how to prepare for the big move. </p>
<p>The problem I'm having is that my home situation seems to be different than most, since I won't be coming home at all. All of the "What to Pack" lists that I've read tell you not to bring all of your things (especially your clothes), because you can just switch out seasonally when you go home for the holidays. </p>
<p>What advice do you have for someone who will be living in a dorm year-round and won't have a parents' house to store their extra stuff?</p>
<p>And as a side question, what are the holidays like in the dorms? Are there many people who stay, and do they plan events or anything special?</p>
<p>Have you looked into a small storage unit? You don’t have to get one the size of a hotel room, some are roughly the size of a small bathroom stall.</p>
<p>There are also probably not a lot of people who stay if they do keep the dorms open. And I don’t think they plan anything. Most people do go home. Maybe you’ll make some friends who could take you home with them for holidays, that’s a lot nicer than sitting around your dorm - which will be boring and dreary.</p>
<p>Also you’re going to need some storage of some kind.</p>
<p>You may want to donate/sell whatever you don’t really want/need. It is amazing how much STUFF we go thru life with that we really don’t need. Craigslist is a great way of getting rid of stuff and also purchasing what you want/need as you decide what that is.</p>
<p>It is common for friends to offer to take in a buddy over vacations/holidays. You could also work and take someone’s shift so they could have the holiday/vacation off. You often get over-time working holidays. Most campuses (especially those with international students & those far from home) can help with arrangements for folks who for any reason are going to be on campus over holidays/vacations. Talk with your U about this so there are no surprises.</p>
<p>My sibs generally left a ton of “stuff” home when they went off to their respective grad schools & ended up tossing most of it later as they no longer were interested in most of it. I mostly had everything I owned in a few boxes that I shuttled from HI & back to campus every year & moved from one location to another.</p>
<p>I was a foster child, and I had a tough time with school breaks. Over the Christmas break, I apartment-sat for someone my foster parents knew, (they didn’t want me back in their house) so I had a place to be. </p>
<p>I was lucky to have a nice roommate who had a nice family, and I stayed with them over the summer.</p>
I used to live on campus year-round. Luckily my college has arrangements for that, but I had to move 4-5 times a year and it was a huge hassle. (Most dorms close during vacations and break residents had to relocate.) It’s been much easier since I got an apartment off-campus that I can occupy year-round - which I would very highly recommend!!!</p>
<p>For the actual staying during break part: Winter break is kinda lonely. Over the holidays (Dec 20ish - Jan 4ish) all campus offices are closed and all buildings locked with only ~20 winter break residents and 3 police officers on campus. In January the campus comes back to life but only during business hours. Most winter break residents get part-time jobs with offices who have to replace their regular student workers for a few weeks. Some pre-season athletes come back too, which makes for a bit more company.</p>
<p>There’s more students around in the summer for summer classes and research programs.</p>
<p>Have you considered attending classes year round? Many schools have summer sessions with lower numbers of students, leaving you with less down time and a quicker educational path.</p>
<p>I’m in the same scenario. It’s been more than fully established, once I move out for school that I am not welcomed pack, period, end of story. Oh, the lovely jack ass my mother has decided to make her companion… -_-</p>
<p>But, I have found a family that is willing to store my things for me. Mind you, they’re like the family I never had, but maybe you have someone that would be willing to throw them in their garage for you for a time, or for a minimal price that would be cheaper than getting a storage unit. There is also the option of a small, cheap storage space. </p>
<p>As for holidays, I plan to stay and just hang by my lonesome, or come home with a roommate (since I’m rooming with a friend). The only reason I’m coming home at all is to study karate, so I’m determined to find somewhere to stay, but generally roommates are good about inviting you home with them, if needed.</p>