<p>My son reports to college in NYC in less than four weeks. What are the best tips you have from parents who have gone through this?</p>
<p>My D is 18 and will be going to college in NYC in 3 1/2 weeks. Her school has a schedule for move in days and then there is orientation for the parents during that weekend. They have activities for freshman orientation the whole week before school begins. It looks like your S is attending the same school as my D.</p>
<p>My plan is to stay for over the weekend to do some shopping and to help D get settled. Then to head home and let her freshman year begin. D has been to NYC several times last summer on her own while at a precollege program and she is comfortable with the city and can not wait to live there.</p>
<p>Best advice I can give is to arrive, at minimum, the day before and get down to the dorm early and have patience. When my D arrived for her move-in day (this was many years ago, though), you could stop in front of the dorm and unload but then you had to move your car and find parking. Having more than two people is helpful because you’ll have someone to stay with the ‘pile’ on the sidewalk, and two to lug stuff upstairs. Be prepared for crowds and waiting in line for the elevators. Get the room set up, see what he needs/has forgotten and head out to pick those items up. Have a nice lunch together then say your goodbyes. Activities usually begin that afternoon, even if it’s just a dorm specific event, and usually a short event for parents. I don’t recommend having family members or significant others who have come along, stay in the city during orientation/welcome week. If you all want to spend time in the city together, do it before move-in day. Best of luck to him!</p>
<p>D went to college in NYC at 17. All was well. She now lives on 87 St. at Central Park West where I could never afford to live. She does live in a shoebox and fifth floor walk-up. But her orientation taught her the city fast, and she felt very at home there immediately, and there were no problems in the four years she attended college. She had a gap year somewhere else and is back in NYC for law school.</p>
<p>She thinks it’s the homiest place in the world! Don’t be scared.</p>
<p>Echoing what mythmom said: NYC is a wonderful place to be for college, IMO. My d had just turned 18 when she started school there…and she also spent three weeks there when she was just 16 for a summer dance intensive. She thrived and loved it there!</p>
<p>Don’t worry about your son. You may find that your biggest challenge is not being jealous of all his cool experiences in the City!! :)</p>
<p>Oh, and a real tip: BE CAREFUL where you park. One year we borrowed our older son’s in-law’s van to move our daughter’s stuff. DH parked it in a spot that appeared to be quite legit. Alas, the van was towed and don’t you know THAT was a fun phone call to make!! “ummm, your van is fine, but we need some info so we can get it back…”.</p>
<p>Makes for a great story, though, and we were told that having your car towed is practically a rite of passage for NYC.</p>
<p>For the green thumb, you’d better park in a nearby parking lot, no matter how much it costs. the tow away “reward” is take a taxi ride to the West side, near the Hudson river to retieve your car, I don’t know how much it costs now, but 15 years ago it was around 200. I have since left Disney/ABC, so I have not had experiences with towing. Manhattan parking cost could be expensive, $30/day is easily attainable. Parking cost at Columbia is less, because it is uptown. I’d rather take a taxi to NYU if that works.</p>
<p>We did this last year with an 18 year old and it was fine. If it’s NYU you are referring to, they had a pretty good system going for unloading the cars, but I recommend arriving early. As someone else mentioned, it helps to have more than two people if possible to help unload, and stay with the stuff while you park and your child goes inside to get a cart. The school had a shuttle to Kmart and BB & B, if you need to buy. </p>
<p>Good luck! My D loves it and can’t wait to go back.</p>
<p>My d is a rising j at Marymount manhattan. She lives in an apartment now, but we did the drop off at the dorm two years ago. It was very organized, but it took a long time because
it was a slow process unloading the one car that could be placed in front of the dorm loading area.<br>
There is a parking lot right next to the freshman dorms to park in after you unload. (it’s expensive though There is also a nice takeout for sandwiches a block or so away-Pax Foods
My d has loved going to college in New York.</p>
<p>Thanks for the words of encouragement… I think I will be jealous of all the cool experiences that lie ahead for him and I want him to take full advantage of all his opportunities. I also hope he develops some NYC street savvy in a hurry. He has been there numerous times and loves it but now he’ll be on his own… His main concerns are finding a cool coffee shop and good Indian food nearby – I’m guessing that won’t be a problem.</p>