jeweledhorses

So I've been pondering this for a little while and I still can't figure it out. Do most west coast kids hire a moving van? Ship it by UPS or something straight to the school? Bring a lot of suitcases? I realize I'm supposed to get most stuff once I get there (or at least that's the right idea) but I still have a lot of stuff that I simply have to bring from home. Any suggestions? Experience? It would be appreciated!!

P.S. I'll be going to Andover in the fall.

GMTplus7

No worries. There are moving companies that offer summer storage for students. They pick your stuff up then deliver it all to your dorm the following autumn.

vegas1

We fly Southwest. We bring four 50lb bags at no additional cost. Since I am only staying for a few days, I put my things in a rolling carryon. That leaves all 4 bags to hold my daughter's things. We also have another rolling carryon for her and our 2 personal items. We did buy her bedding, printer etc. in New england. Upon arrival we stock up on food, toiletries etc. She also switches out her clothes on breaks home. Shorts and flipflops come home at Thanksgiving and she gets sent back with winter coat etc. Most schools offer onsite storage over summer for at least 2 huge bins of items. My kids leave their bedding, printers etc. on campus over summer. Hope that helps.

ChoatieMom

We're in the southwest. We shipped one clothes/bedding/misc box and one computer/electronics box via USPS to the school last fall. The rest fit in one roller bag and one large suitcase that went with us on the plane. As @GMTplus7 said, you can (and should) store everything you absolutely don't need to take back home with you via campus or local storage services in the spring. After your first year, you probably won't have much to take with you back to school. This year, we're shipping computer/electronics, but the rest is in storage at/near the school and will be delivered to DS dorm when he gets there.

Also, if you need new items, purchase them online and have them shipped directly to the school for pickup when you get there. Last year, we bought a mattress topper, sheets, and some other items online that we had sent directly to the school and that went into storage at the end of the year.

Bottom line: Pack light, take as few items as possible with you, and ship what you can't carry. You will be able to acquire much of what you learn you need either right on campus or in the vicinity once you get there.

Ditto @vegas1 about Southwest. Just love that airline.

aaeroplanes

i feel you - i don't live on the west coast, but rather, i live in asia... i bring two big bags with me, and personally, i just get everything else there. bring your things to school by season!

WorriedOne1000

I also live relatively far from Andover and I'll be buying some stuff after I arrive there in September. There's a Target and Walmart in nearby Methuen, and they also have an "AndOVER Again" shop on campus to buy used items from last year's Green Move Out.

musisat

I do the same as Vegas1.

classicalmama

Agree with all of the above. I'll just add that it's always cheaper to pay to bring an extra bag on an airline than it is to send a 30 plus lb. box USPS or UPS.

wcmom1958

Agree with all of the above. I'll add a wild card here: if possible, drive. I know it would be hard for most people, and for us it was probably once in a lifetime, but we actually drove 2700 miles in 10 days across the country when my D first went to boarding school. It took a lot of planning, and we were able to borrow a friend's nice SUV and then fly home when they flew in and took the car and did the trip back. We saved money by staying with friends along the way and using AAA. Amazing memories and the perfect preparation for AP US. Wish we could do it again. Hope to arrange the reverse trip when D graduates next year, but may just have to fly Southwest.

swimdude006

WorriedOne1000: just some warning, you will probably not be able to get anything at the andOver again store. It's usually looted before most kids get to school (pre season kids), or else you will have to get there extra early. I learned this the hard way and ended up waiting 1 hour to get in and see nothing but a broken lamp and a scooter with no wheels...

jeweledhorses

Great ideas!! Thanks so much!

Piccalacha

For the things that would be useless to lug back home (snow boots, winter coats, rainboots if you live in the desert like me lol), CollegeBoxes is a wonderful alternative! You pay $45/SUPER big cardboard box for them to store it in a climate-controlled facility over the summer. Better yet, the pick up the boxes from your dorm room, and they are waiting for your arrival in your dorm when you return to school! And trust me, you can fit a LOT in the boxes, especially if you use space bags to compress plush things!

WorriedOne1000

I just wanted to mention that if you use your .edu email address to prove to Amazon that you're a student, you get free shipping.

Also, I have a kind of weird question: are you allowed to have pepper spray on campus? I know some people do, but is it against the rules? I'm thinking of getting some...

aunt bea

jeweled horses: The first year, we purchased items at the Container Store and BBB and had the stores ship them for free. The school has some storage available for your Target-purchased fridge during the summer.

We drove DD's car the 2nd year, and have a storage unit at Uncle Bob's for 3 months every summer that holds her car, chairs, bookcase, etc. All of the bedding is stored inside her car and trunk, uncovered, because we found that the humidity over the summer gets clothing and bedding moldy from summer storm moisture. Boots are stored in her containers.

As above, you have to fly Southwest and load up on clothes. LLBean has a huge wheeled duffel bag that was "embroidered" with her name and we take that on Southwest.

Purchase toiletries, winter coat, boots, there. Everything is layered during winter.
San Diego to Buffalo- our last year of doing this!!!