<p>My D will be finishing her first year next month and will be housed in a new dorm opposite end of campus come fall. I know you guys get to store your stuff in the basement of the new dorm over summer but don't know how you deal with it.</p>
<p>I brought home all her duffles we used to move her there last fall but could mail them back - or is there a place to buy boxes on campus? She is from Texas so I remember being told she will have ample storage in the basement - is this actually true?</p>
<p>What kind of a circus is this process and do the kids usually take it on during dead week or finals week?</p>
<p>This may be helpful. I think the students can’t start putting stuff in storage until May 6.</p>
<p>I have heard that a lot of students just choose to use the listed off-campus storage companies which pick up and deliver. They can also accommodate outsize items, like bikes and large rugs, which the college will not store.</p>
<p>It’s not TOO much of a circus, although I don’t think packing is anyone’s favorite activity…</p>
<p>Anyways, usually there are boxes for sale on campus. Some students also purchase large Rubbermaid (or, some generic brand) tubs instead of boxes, but I’m not sure where (Target?). What I did, however, was purchase my boxes at a Uhaul store close to campus on Route 9. It’s at 834 Worcester St, Natick, MA, across from the Stop and Shop. You have to pass it and do a u-turn to actually get to it, though (no surprises there for anyone who’s driven on Route 9). My dirty secret is that my father came each year to help me pack up, so he had a car and did the driving. The U-Haul store is very cheap–all the boxes, tape, etc were definitely under $20. Of course having my father fly out and rent a car does not make this a budget-conscious strategy! Had he not done that I guess I would have purchased boxes on campus and started earlier. </p>
<p>Since you/your D is from Texas she will get four labels. I had a dorm refrigerator (not a cube) and I packed it with stuff (after defrosting!) and it was one label. The closing memo implies that now that would be two labels but I think it implied that back when I was a student and I never had any problems, so. Hmm. I don’t think you can flagrantly flout the size dimensions but the people checking in the boxes weren’t wielding tape measures. I was able to fit all of my stuff in the four large-ish boxes and a few carry-on size suitcases. I never had any trouble fitting my boxes into the storage room–there really was enough space. A few years ago they changed the label allotments a bit, I think to reduce the number of boxes students living in New England & the Mid-atlantic got (they used to go just based on mileage from campus). So your D should get her 4 labels worth of storage. </p>
<p>I lived in Freeman my first year and the storage room is in the basement, just a short walk from where the elevator leaves off! Then I lived in Beebe, where the storage room is up a few stairs and down a long hallway from the elevator, so you/your D are ahead on this count. Because my father came to help me, I only began minimally during finals. He usually arrived the last day of finals and packed me up in one day, or over two days if he got on campus later in the day. Many students try to get off campus as early as possible, but I personally found this a penny-wise and pound-foolish strategy–staying a few extra days until the end of finals period could really reduce one’s finals and packing stress. </p>
<p>In the end, everyone got packed up, whether they had familial help or not or left early or not. I’m making a big move myself very soon, so the dread is beginning to rise in this corner, too!</p>
<p>Buy large Rubbermaid plastic bins from Target. Boxes are also for sale at the campus center through 3rd party vendors or mail services usually carries some larger boxes towards the end of the year for movers/packers (they sell out quickly though).</p>
<p>Alternatively (and more cost effective), get boxes at home depot or the ups store. </p>
<p>Most people I know stored their stuff on campus without a problem. People opted for off campus storage if they were going abroad for a semester/year.</p>
<p>How about the giant duffle bags like Samsonite Tote-a-ton with these dimensions •17"H x 33"W x 11.5"D being acceptable in the first place and using only one tag each? I am willing to have her buy boxes if that’s all they will allow, but I can send these back to her if they will work.</p>
<p>Have her check with the dorm on sizes. There should be an email/posting somewhere with dimensions – some dorms are stricter than others when it comes to tags. But yes, that sounds fine to me. One tip – pack early so you can put your stuff on a shelf (obviously easier said than done with finals, etc)</p>
<p>The allowable dimensions are in the closing memo that NJSue linked above. One box of 24" x 24" x 24" = 1 label. The duffel dimensions are like half that size (by volume).</p>