<p>My daughter did come in early because of the availability of flights vs the time the Housing Office closes. She actually missed the Housing Office by 30 min, but was able to get her key from Security, and drop off her stuff. This was the day before her DOC trip left - which is very much discouraged, and I would not advocate on this public site - but, we live in an area that was fresh from Katrina, and she might not have made her DOC trip had she gone up same day, our situation was a little unusual.</p>
<p>I agree with everything that Sybbie and DartMom have said, there are advantages and disadvantages of either approach, BUT I would definitely not come up until after the DOC trip - I know that is not what you planned, but if there is any way you can change it? They literally just get to put stuff in a room, and go on off with the DOC group. You will be of much more use after he gets back. Also, I don't know this year's dates, but the biggest reason to me to be there on move-in day is to help set up the computer, if that could be a problem.</p>
<p>The Tuesday DOC trip ends on Sunday the 10th; kids are supposed to return to the Green between noon and four pm. At that point, your son can move into the dorm, since he'll have his dorm key. Perhaps he could go up by himself on Tuesday am, and you could arrive on Sunday? </p>
<p>(See the DOC info sheet that was mailed last week.)</p>
<p>Thanks for all your responses about the move-in question. I will try to change our plans so we can perhaps move him in after the trip, but this may not be possible due to cost and my husband's job obligations. </p>
<p>My main concern is being able to drop off his belongings in his room on the 6th, not so much doing any actual unpacking and setting up. Will he definitelly be allowed to do that? Dartmom's post about not being able to get in the room at all because of the presence of the roommate is quite worrisome. My S is resisting bringing a lot of stuff to college anyway, and insists he doesn't care if we're there to help him set up or to attend any of the offical stuff on the 12th. (When I strongly protested he reminded me how worthless large group school meetings always are!)</p>
<p>S's been taking charge of all the college decisions. At the time of DOC trip signup he had determined that the second session was better for us so we could avoid the extra expense of him traveling to Dartmouth for the first session and then back home, and later tavelling back to Hanover again in a few days for move-in and orientation. Having him go by himself first, with us following later, would somewhat defeat the purpose of saving on travel expenses, though I certainly agree it would be the best plan.</p>
<p>GFG, I'm a little confused, are you flying, driving or something else??</p>
<p>I think if you go on the 6th, that you can drop off all his stuff, although you may not have time for much unpacking or last minute shopping.</p>
<p>Someone mentioned 2-4, I thought I remember from last year that students could get keys from about 9am until 4 on the day their 2nd week DOC trip left, but I'm not sure how much unpacking they are allowed to do. Has the time window changed, or have I just forgotten from last year??</p>
<p>WHen he gets there on the 6th he will be able to put his stuff in his room and depending on what time he gets into hanover, he won't have a lot of time. If he is taking amtrak or greyhound out of NYC, we won't even get in to Hanover until around 3:30 -4pm. </p>
<p>IF he could book early he could take jet blue out of JFK for $50 and then the Dartmouth coach for $35 (which is actually comprable to amtrak and grey hound if you ar not driving). </p>
<p>from the DOC intro letter: "Your trip will return to Hanover between noon and 4:00 pm on the last day of your trip. You will be able to move into your dorm at that time and stay in your room through orientation."</p>
<p>from the DOC faqs: Q: If I am on sections E-J, how do I get my key to store my belongings in my dorm room? A: You can pick up your dorm-room key on the same day that your section begins at the Office of Residential Life (in the basement of the North Massachusetts Hall) between 9 AM and 4 PM (or NOON adn 4 PM for sections E and F). This will allow you access to your dorm room so you can store all of your belongings for school. You should plan on being finished moving belongings in by around 3:30.....</p>
<p>Son is on same schedule - hope to see you there!</p>
<p>The hinman box # is just a post office box at the hopkins center and not connected to where you physically live. You keep the same Hinman box # through out your 4 years at Dartmouth.</p>
<p>Cangel and bluebyou: I think my confusion stemmed from the contrast between when the student "could" if necessary move in, versus when he "should" plan to move in. We had based our decisions on the former due to practical and financial considerations. But when I read the above posts from other parents about there being little or even no opportunity at all to move in on the 6th, I became concerned. I knew that we had to have come up with our travel plans based on a piece of data from somewhere, but perhaps I was mistaken? Adding to my befuddlement was that S has been squirreling away all college info. (he's quite enjoying the taste of independence and full responsibility for decision-making) and has been quite prickly about my attempts to obtain the literature or pull any details from him (see thread on last summer together, lol).</p>
<p>So, what I understand is that students aren't encouraged to move in on Sept. 6th, but rather after the trip from the 10th to the 12th. But if they must do so earlier it will be possible to get a room key on the morning of Sept. 6th so long as they complete their trip registration and move-in before 4:00.</p>
<p>Having reviewed the family orientation description from the link, I don't feel a strong need to be there on the 12th if my son doesn't feel the need for us to be there, which he insists he doesn't. The only important thing I suspect we might miss by doing move-in on the 6th is the chance to meet his roommate.</p>
<p>I think you would have to contact ORL directly to see if that can happen because they ultimately are going to have to approve your being able to do this. They are very specific when it comes to moving in as even returning students can not move in with out filing a request for interim housing and having it approved. I remember last year my D had to file in july to get 1 day of interim housing approval to move in on Sunday and she was a UGA who had to be on campus labor day to start their mandatory training which is all day for a couple of days and they are not around until the first move-in day.</p>
<p>I think one of the main reasons could be because the UGAs & CDs would not be there (they would still be in training) so if a problem were to arise there would be no one there to handle it. In addition if something should happen, the UGA would be responsible. So students can just place their stuff in the room and leave. If he does not get approval, ORL will fine him.</p>
<p>if you make the trip to west leb, the penney's has twin xl sheets. very limited on comforters. kohl's has quite a variety of items in a collection called student lounge. walmart--well, walmart has storage items, fans and other selected items, but no xl bedding that i could see.</p>
<p>everything is conveniently located--kmart is also right in the same area. we waited to buy everything here, but since we are here so early, we didn't encounter many problems. </p>
<p>if you can find things you like at bband b, i would suggest ordering on line and having it shipped to your hinman box. </p>
<p>i have a son, so he wasn't picky about what we picked up, but if that's not your style, you'd best do your shopping on line now!</p>
<p>also, a quick look at the mcclaughlin cluster is kind of alarming. i sure hope they can pull it all together in the remaining few weeks.</p>
<p>We have been watching the McLaughlin Cluster web cam ever since my son was assigned a double-double there and it certainly appears to be not nearly finished. There is a lot of activity involving heavy equipment going on every day which makes me wonder how they can be at the punch list stage. I guess we have no choice but to keep our fingers crossed and hope ORL knows what they are doing.</p>
<p>In today's edition of the D there is an article:</p>
<p>Occupancy permits may slow move-ins</p>
<p>Dartmouth's campus is still spotted with construction sites and unfinished buildings, but Dean of Residential Life Martin Redman said he is confident that the new residential buildings will be ready for the transition into Fall term. </p>
<p>The sites slated to be up and running by this fall include the Tuck Mall residence halls and the McLaughlin residence cluster. </p>
<p>"All along the goal has been to have the facilities ready for the start of this academic year," Redman said. "Ideally we will put [freshmen] in on the 12th of September and all other students in on the 20th."</p>
<p>Before students are able to move in, the College must obtain occupancy permits from the town of Hanover, which are contingent on successful town fire and safety inspections. The town will review the new residential buildings at the beginning of September, with the last building, one of the McLaughlin residence halls, scheduled to receive a permit on Sept. 6.</p>
<p>Despite the fact that many students will need to move into the new dorms prior to Sept. 12, the timeline should not present large problems, Redman said. These students include Dartmouth Outing Club trip leaders, undergraduate advisors and several freshmen.</p>
<p>"Our first concern is that we don't want to put students in a building that isn't safe," Redman said.</p>
<p>Redman also said that he is optimistic that the inspections will go smoothly, judging by the fact that the projects have been closely monitored throughout construction.</p>
<p>Thanks Sybbie...I just read that article this morning too. Again, I can only hope that they move faster than any contractor I have ever dealt with, because it certainly looks like they need more than a few weeks to finish.</p>