<p>We moved our D from So. Calif. to Boston. We packed her stuff in our checked bags, and she was able to pack all of her personal possessions in those 3 checked bags. We rented a car for our stay there, and actually ended up driving about 1/2 hour out of down town Boston to do our shopping. There are a LOT of schools in Boston and it seems as if every student is shopping at the same time for the same things- stores were packed and CRAZY!!! When we went just a short distance away, stores were much more manageable and shopping was easy. We did pre-purchase bedding and towels at a JC Penney and picked it up when we arrived- that worked very well. We bought everything else there, including a fan, lamps, extension cords, etc. After she did move-in, she and her roommates made a list of a few more things they needed as joint items, and we did a little more shopping. One of the other roommates agreed to bring a fridge, and I think we chipped in for the cost. It is much easier to pre-purchase and ship the big stuff using free shipping offered by many stores. Even if you do not have a car, there are plenty of options to shop locally for items you still may need- it will be crowded but there is still plenty of inventory as long as you plan on standing in line for a while. </p>
<p>Another vote for BBB’s service; it was all waiting for us in a shopping cart when we arrived. We removed a few things we no longer needed, paid (using multiple coupons), & zipped off in no time. Have also had good luck with Target’s order online/pick up at store service.</p>
<p>Re:XL twin sheets, only the fitted sheet has to be XL. I’d buy a set of sheets at home, wash them, & bring with you. </p>
<p>D and I had an excellent experience using BBB’s service in Texas (All items waiting for us) and also found there were some items we didn’t need once she actually saw the dorm room she was assigned. No problem to leave it behind and not pay for it. If you’re really worried, call the store you’re working with and confirm by phone they have your stuff before you show up.) D moved from 700 miles away and we did drive an SUV full of stuff…much of which would have NEVER fit in that tiny tiny dorm room (was turned into a single the following year, it was so small!).</p>
<p>Anyway, her roommate came from about 1000 miles away and planned to purchase almost all needed items upon arrival. Her poor parents and she said they’d learned a lesson----EVERY store they went to was sold out of the things they were looking for (small nightstand, plastic storage drawers for under the bed, etc.) They spent the whole weekend driving around looking for stuff. Not fun.</p>
<p>When S went to college a year later (New Orleans), we used Walmart and Target to order and ship some stuff to his school which was waiting for us upon arrival. Worked great. Your school probably has an address you can use to do this as well. In both cases (BBB and the Walmart/Target shipping), we were able to move in with the main items covered. It’s true you can always purchase later, but both my kids didn’t want to deal with it later so they could focus on other things as they settled into their new homes away from home.</p>
<p>Another poster said it best—it will all be fine but a little planning in advance (as you’re doing) will make the experience less stressful. Best of luck. How fantastic to be going to Boston-lucky you!</p>
<p>Thanks for all the tips! I went to BB&B yesterday and it was so much fun. Bought some nice sheets and mattress/pillow protectors from target since they were cheaper and I’ll be taking those with me. Feels good to finally be done with college shopping. :D</p>
<p>Check with your roommate(s) on what they will bring. If your room isn’t carpeted, it’s nice to have a rug – but leave that one to the roomies who will be moving their stuff in a car!!! Same with the bean bag chair, etc. etc. Printers are fairly cheap (unlike their ink!!!) but BULKY so DD has made do with using the library’s printers for the past two years. As you accumulate stuff (and you WILL), keep in mind what you will do with it over the summer. After freshman year, DD had to rent space in a storage unit. This year, DD worked on campus but is spending fall semester abroad. She has farmed stuff out to several friends – which means it may take a few days to collect everything. And she had to drop some stuff off earlier than she really wanted to. This meant a day or two without a mattress pad, pillow, or comforter. The sheets she ditched because they were pretty trashed after two years.</p>
<p>You may need to order a study light if you study in your room. Amazon Prime makes the schlep after purchasing a little easier.</p>
<p>I’ve done it both ways and I maintain that sending a kid far away is easier than moving in the ones at a driving distance. Just pack what you absolutely have to have right away and order everything else from Amazon Prime. And plan early for summer storage with your new friends. Fly home light. Easy peasy.</p>
<p>Thanks so much for your input! </p>
<p>And…Tada…the BEST thing about having a kid far away…in the summer that kiddo will store all of the stuff in their college town, and just bring home a suitcase of what they need. It sure beats having a living room full of college dorm stuff from May to the end of August…which is what happens when your kid is closer!</p>