Approaching Stanford (literally) - Page 3

Baten · 07-10-2009, 07:08 PM

Hmm...i might still be taking public transportation cause we've come to realize we don't have the luggage needed to pack up everything I need. I don't know what the cost of buying luggage to shipping will be so thats something else to consider. If I do manage to get 4 giant suitcases though I think I'll take Supershuttle as well. But if you're not planning on getting there move in day, whats the best plan of getting your things from the hotel to your dorm? In the end car rental seems like the best idea.

ngolsh314 · 07-10-2009, 11:06 PM

i think what we're going to do is get a hotel within short walking distance of a caltrain station that links directly to palo alto (so we only have to take a single train to the palo alto station) and take the supershuttle there (to the hotel) when we arrive Saturday morning. Sunday we're going to spend the day in San Fransisco, so we'll take the train for that. Monday is shopping. When tuesday rolls around we only have to do the short walk to the station and ride one train to palo alto, then get on the marguerite to campus.

whylion · 07-11-2009, 09:17 PM

Baten,
I think its OK to check boxes on the airplane, as long as they conform to weight and size requirements (you would need to look at the airline website for this). I've certainly seen them coming through the baggage pick up.
Also, remember that you could borrow suitcases, then empty them and send them home with your parent when they go back. At the end of the school year you can store stuff in the basement of one of the dorms for a small fee (they provide the packing boxes). As long as you have maybe 2 suitcases or duffels to transport the stuff you need for summer at home. You can buy duffels pretty cheaply at LL Bean or probably target.

Sly Si · 07-13-2009, 10:14 PM

I advise against the duffels from Target. I wanted something with wheels, but that would collapse nice and small for storage in my dorm room. So I got rolling duffels from Target. They were cheap, but by the end of my junior year, they were held together with duct tape.

ngolsh314 · 07-13-2009, 11:03 PM

I'm going to be packing mostly in duffels as of right now, other than my backpacking pack. That could change, though- do dorms provide a place to store hard luggage during the academic year?

Kmills · 07-16-2009, 11:30 AM

Would it make any sense to get a mac that can also run Windows operating system (using bootcamp)? I use Windows and prefer it over Mac, but Stanford really seems to push for Macs. Also, I'm a bit skeptical about using a Mac while majoring in computer science.

Kmills · 07-16-2009, 12:00 PM

Or, would it be better to run Windows virtually as a Guest OS, rather than use Boot Camp? This article seems to suggest that:
http://www.stanford.edu/services/ess...mac/index.html

ngolsh314 · 07-16-2009, 04:03 PM

ah, another comp sci major. they only push for macs because the tech support doesn't want to deal with the fuzzies who don't know what they're doing and inadvertently infect their entire dorm with a trojan rootkit. techies like you and i will be fine with windows machines- just keep your antivirus updated. i recommend lenovo, both the thinkpad and ideapad series.

hpfan018 · 07-17-2009, 06:48 PM

Is anyone else here having trouble making a booking for the Super Shuttle or is it just me? I've been trying since Saturday and it keeps saying that they're experiencing problems...

Baten · 07-18-2009, 09:21 PM

hmmm...boxes to the airline. another wonderful option! great. *sigh* i think i'm just going to not confuse myself and ship boxes and fly with luggage (not duffels bags ^^ - i don't have any of them anyways except for my tiny gym/track bag thing)

i can't help with the computer decision since i'm having my own. i don't have a set major (although i am considering comp sci) so i'm just looking for something with the least amount of problems. as of right now, thats my hp rather than the macbook i'm trying to embrace.

gladmom · 07-19-2009, 11:37 AM

hpfan018, regarding the Super Shuttle - I made the first reservation for my son via telephone. If you are still having problems doing it online, then you might want to try calling.

Change91 · 07-20-2009, 02:11 AM

Hi! Also from EC, and I'm arrive the night before move-in day and my and my parents are staying in a hotel in San Jose for the night... is that too far from the campus??

And, I've kind of been half following the thread, what is a Super Shuttle? Could it transport us and our stuff from SJ to campus?

ALSO, if my parents go around Tuesday buying the bulky things that I need, will everything already have sold out by then? Do you know of any good recommendations for stores in SJ/Stanford/PA to shop for these things? THX

gladmom · 07-20-2009, 09:48 AM

Change91, the Super Shuttle is a service that takes people to and from airports in certain cities. SUPERSHUTTLE - Airport Shuttle Transportation You can call to see if they could take you from the hotel. Otherwise, check with your hotel to see about other transportation options. Renting a car might be the way to go. I think that San Jose is about 1/2 hour from campus, so you might want to try to get to campus when move-in starts. It's a full day and you and your parents will want to take full advantage of what the day offers.

What do you mean by "bulky things"? You don't need a fridge and microwave right away. Often, a roommate will have taken care of the fridge already, so you might want to wait until you see what your roommate has. If you mean bedding stuff - I don't know if the stores will be sold out of that since we brought our S's bedding with. XL sheets don't take up too much room in luggage, and I'll bet the store will always have some pillows/quilts. My S didn't want a quilt - used only a sheet and light weight blanket - and he slept with his window open every night. I did provide an XL mattress pad, and the stores might be out of that. You don't need a plastic mattress cover, since the mattresses are all covered with waterproof material. My S didn't feel that any kind of softer mattress-topper was necessary.

Don't forget about the Bed, Bath & Beyond service that allows you to order the stuff and send it to the BB&B near campus for pick-up. I think you can either walk around your local store with an electronic device that scans barcodes and pick out items or you can do it online. There is a store in Mountain View, which is close to Palo Alto, and there are quite a few others around too, including San Jose. Or you could have it shipped to school, but you can never be sure of the exact arrival date if you do it that way.

My S didn't get an extra lamp, furniture or drawers - he had plenty of space for his stuff.

The only other big thing that I can think of is a printer. We brought one along in its original box, unopened, that was checked as a piece of luggage. I'm sure you could get a printer in town somewhere and that would be easier. But we got such a good deal on it that we couldn't resist getting it earlier.

Change91 · 07-21-2009, 01:57 AM

Thanks so much for all of the help! The BB&B feature seems really useful...
Yeah, by ''bulky'' I meant anything I'm not going to bring with me in my luggage, hangers, storage, etc. The BB&B feature seems really useful...

I think I read somewhere on here that you could buy a bike online at Target and have it picked up at a different store location? Does anyone know how to do this, because regular items are not allowed to be shipped to other stores for Target.

fifilicious · 08-04-2009, 01:42 PM

hey!
I know this is a late addition to the thread, but I am also moving to Stanford from MD, and as a graduate of a boarding school I have experience with the logistics of moving to a school.

I really don't suggest relying on shipping. Is there someone else who can come on the trip with you to make you elligible for another two bags? If not you should look up the costs for extra luggage because it might end up being cheaper and/or more convenient to accept the charge and bring a long an extra suitcase.

When are you flying up? My parents and I are getting there on the 13th, shopping for the bigger items in the bay area, and then arriving on moving day with a rental car.

If any or all of those things are feasible for you and your family I highly recommend them. When I moved up to boarding school it was truly the only realistic way to get things moved in comfortably-is by bringing them in a car. Shipping gets complicated because you run the risk of not having everything you need when you need it, and the campus is big, you really don't want to deal with moving stuff to your dorm without a parent with a car available to you.

Also, if its possible you might want to take a mac and a pc to school. I also currently have a pc, and though I think mac's are overpriced, they are good computers. I had serious issues with my dell at boarding school last year, and it was really hard to deal with technical issues without my parents there. I would suggest having a mac so that you don't have to deal with technical issues and the frustrations associated with it 3,000 miles from home.

Good luck with everything