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06-27-2008, 03:35 PM
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#1 | | Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 220
| Going to college 2500 miles away... What to do
from yalls experience... Is it best to buy stuff there and get there a few days early? Have stuff sent via mail?
suggestions or ideas are appreciated
(I'm sure this thread exists somewhere but I am on my phone and can't really search, so a link would be great :] )
thanks! | 
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06-27-2008, 05:11 PM
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#2 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Miami, FL
Posts: 1,315
| Keep in mind, it is hard to get things when you are just moving in because many other people are doing the same thing. In my opinion its easiest to bring everything you can. | |
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06-27-2008, 05:40 PM
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#3 | | Senior Member
Join Date: May 2007 Location: N. California
Posts: 2,093
| Assuming you are going by plane, I think shipping 10 or so absolute necessities ( i.e. bed linen) and take seasonal clothes with you. | |
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06-28-2008, 10:10 AM
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#4 | | Member
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 785
| Use the Bed, Bath and Beyond system of purchasing everything in your town and then it is waiting for you at the college's closest location. Then fly with 2 rolling duffels with as much as you can fit. My S did this and it worked out fine. We ordered the fridge, microwave and rug through a service on campus called dorm supply and split that with the roommate. My S also carried a backpack made for laptops on the plane.
Good luck and have a great year! | |
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06-28-2008, 02:44 PM
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#5 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Pasadena, CA
Posts: 1,925
| Oh, I didn't know about this until just a few weeks ago, but a backpack is considered a "personal item" in the same way that a purse is. So, if you don't carry a purse, you can take both a backpack stuffed with junk in addition to the normal carry on. My girlfriend was about to have to pay an extra $25 so she could check two bags (new US Air policy), when we found out if she stuffed her little purse into her backpack she could carry one of the pieces of luggage with her. | |
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06-28-2008, 02:54 PM
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#6 | | Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 931
| I'm pretty sure all american airlines have an one bag policy now. if youre parents are going with you then rent a car there and go shopping. | |
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06-28-2008, 02:56 PM
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#7 | | Senior Member
Join Date: May 2007 Location: N. California
Posts: 2,093
| Have you checked this out? It's a lot to sort through, and only a few references to those moving by plane, but one post has a link to an excel spreadsheet ; a guy moving by plane. I think he uses a system to figure out take vs buy. If he doesn't, maybe someone on this thread could. A to Z: What To Bring To College
Here's his post
02-18-2008, 09:16 AM #321
iceburns288
Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: CLT, NC (UIllinois '12)
Threads: 5
Posts: 96 Here it is in 'normal' Excel format:
RapidShare: 1-Click Webhosting
The entire list complete with my answers of yes/no and my reason behind the decision is on Sheet 1, and MY list of things to bring (handy for guys who don't need makeup, hand cream, etc) is on Sheet 2. My final list is about 120 things, the original list was about 240, to give you an idea of how much I cut. I recommend y'all take the list in Sheet 1, copy it to Sheet 3, and then change the reasoning in the third column so you can print that out and use it as a guide to packing.
Here it is in Word:
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06-28-2008, 06:29 PM
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#8 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Michigan State!!
Posts: 1,446
| I am in a similiar situation, 2500+ miles away from my home. I'm not going to mail anything (fedex/ups in Alaska is ridiculously priced), but will bring 1 large check-in (under 50 lbs otherwise it will cost extra), 1 carry-on (largest size i can), and a personal item (laptop/purse bag). Pretty much all I'm bringing is my clothes/shoes, a small container of decoration stuff, and laptop/ipod/cell phone/wallet. I also dropped off an extra bag of luggage (blankets/winter stuff) to a relative who lives close by to my college, so that I could pick it up later during holiday visits. Then I will buy whatever I need (i.e. microwave and mini-fridge) when I get there. If you are going to have a roommate, contact them before you go to compare what you both have/need to buy | |
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06-28-2008, 06:35 PM
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#9 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 4,144
| My son is going to college far away. he will pack like Fa-la. Keep it simple. You can order linens from a college service most of the time and they will be there when you get there. A lot of things you can buy at the college bookstore which is more pricey than Target, but if you don't get a lot of things, it may be the easiest solution. Any good deals you see or particularly like this summer, you might want to mail. If your parents are coming with you and renting a car, you can do local shopping unless your school is truly in the boonies (though even then the stores have invaded, it seems).
My other boys went to schools about 8 hours away, but we still tended to get things once we were at the schools rather than haul up there. We would ship personal items that they discovered they wanted. Despite those long lists that I have seen, there really is not that much you really need. With computers being the source of music, tv etc, there is a lot you can do that way without buying or bringing other electronics. Many schools have deals on computers that you can pick up on campus and if you need a new computer, it may be the way to go. When S had a problem with his, they took care of it since he got it there, and it came preprogrammed with everything needed for the university. | |
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