<p>We also left DS2 at home. He was not happy when I called to tell him we were on our way home and henceforth he would be the focus of all my attention.</p>
<p>Left D2 home (and ex-H :)). Drove her (1.5 days), so we purchased pretty much all she needed before leaving home. Got to town the night before, moved her in a.m. Went to lunch on campus with her and the roommate. College had a meeting for parents separate from kids in the afternoon (college president spoke). Then there was a mid-afternoon reception, and parents were encouraged to depart.</p>
<p>After leaving D, I drove around town and picked up a bunch of gift certificates to places I thought she would enjoy getting to know off campus (bookstore, frozen custard shop, movie theater, pizza place, etc.). Just $10-$20 each. I had researched ahead of time and printed a map of town that I marked them on. It gave me something to do (for her) after leaving, so that felt good. When I got home I bought a box of nice notecards and put a gift certificate in each one. Labeled each envelope with a remaining month of school (and one to open right away), and sent them off to her with instructions to open one on the first day of each month. She loved this… it was something to look forward to each month, and a reminder that her mom loves her :)</p>
<p>We 5 are tight-knit. Each move-in was a bit different.</p>
<p>S-1, 4 hours one-way drive, younger sibs very curious: first to go to college! what’s a dorm like? can we take the dog, too? Son pulled us aside and asked for breathing space from it all. So, we left the 2 sibs “home” by letting them choose a friend for sleepover there. Both parents and S-1 drove in to arrive by night before move-in day, staying at nearby motel room. Following move-in, we drove home as a couple same night very late. All of us with the 2 younger sibs returned to visit on Family Weekend in early October. S showed off his setting proudly. It worked for us. </p>
<p>D, 7 hours one-way drive. We took along S-2 this time, more mature by then, but not S-1 who was already packing himself back up for junior year at college. We 4 stayed in nearby motel night before move-in day. After move-in, we 3 drove partway home and picked up a motel on road when we got tired. This was alma mater of H and myself, so we knew the territory. All the focus was getting D moved in, feeling the feelings, buying decorative posters and other niceties. </p>
<p>S-2, something different, cross-country 3,000 miles away by air! Nobody including S-2, had seen the state or campus before move-in day. We parents hadn’t had a nonfamily/grandparent vacation in forever. So we honored S-2 by spending 3 adult-style vacation days together as his send-off, in a beautiful city 2 hours from his campus. Simple urban hotel let us all recover from pack-up, flights, jetlag. We chilled, went to tourist attractions and a play, ate nicely. The night before move-in, we drove up to campus community to stay in motel. Saved one hotel night by flying home overnight. </p>
<p>The last one is something I’ve rarely heard, but I recommend especially for cross-country college send-offs if parents go, too. If you are due for a short holiday (in your mind), and your child is open to having a late-August time with parent(s), it can be great. He’ll arrive at college well-rested and celebrated. Depends on the child, though; this S-2 is a Great Communicator so he liked all the 3-way meals together. If a kid doesn’t enjoy parental companionship (and some are chomping at the bit to ditch us by August…) then go for a couple holiday on the way home after you drop off the last child!</p>
<p>For D1 move-in day was Saturday and convocation and other various activities were Sunday so we moved her in Saturday, bought her books, made trips to Target, BBB, etc… then Saturday evening we left her there and went to a hotel, and then Sunday morning we all went to the convocation and then we went home. S3 went and was very helpful (set up the TV, etc…). Also we kind of needed someone at the car, someone at the elevator and someone in the room. </p>
<p>For S2, who went to school an hour away, the whole think took maybe an hour. We got there, moved him in, and were on our way. </p>
<p>So I guess my advice would be to find out if there are activities planned for parents.</p>
<p>All our kids were moved in in 1 day, though we always came the night before the move-in day, and started the moving-in/shopping in the morning (all 3 schools were flying distance, which limited the amount of stuff brought in - a good thing in retrospect!..).</p>
<p>Your OP asks also for shoulda/wouldas/best ideas and such, so I’ll add: </p>
<p>Each time, when we stayed at night in nearby motel, we managed to stroll campus the evening BEFORE move in and talked our way in for one quick-peek (5 minutes) at any dorm room the RA would let us (not their room number) in their building. We took measuring tape, too. The sneak-peek helped a lot. Next day, when parents had nothing to do, we went as a couple to purchase large last-minute items at mall box-stores to drive directly to the room. At some point, we also went to one pharmacy store with each kid, for bulky/fluid items which we never did from home (always ran out of time/interest). Fortunately, they sell familiar brands of detergent and shampoo just as well in the college town. Less to pack in the car, too. </p>
<p>On moving day, from the motel nearby, we set an early alarm to begin as early as each school would allow. That left us afternoon/late afternoon for picking up hardware, a mini-bookcase, anything last-minute we couldn’t have imagined without actually seeing the inside of the rooms. </p>
<p>An important thing: no matter what, parents need to leave campus at whatever hour the college publishes. International families are often allowed longer stays, before or after, than domestic families. Once students believe they’ve said “good-bye” to you, try not to run back to campus to surprise them with more hair-gel or a light bulb. They’ll be turning their attention to meeting brand new friends and doing activities. Try to let it go, and trust they’ll shop items themselves later.</p>
<p>DH drove S1 out to Chicago on Thursday, and I flew in on Friday after getting S2 off to class that am. I had not visited the school, so S1 had time to show off his new school and we hit the bookstore, hit Target, had dinner at a local hangout, etc. Move-in started bright and early the next am, followed by an outdoor buffet for lunch and Convocation around 2:30. Chicago has the first years parade through the main gate, and a big sign hangs above pointing that parents should proceed to the reception. (Translated: your kid belongs to US now!) We went back to our hotel and took a nap, then went out for a nice dinner. Left in the am well-rested for our 10-hour drive home.</p>
<p>We both drove S2 to Tufts. Arrived the afternoon before, went out to dinner, did not need to do any last-minute shopping. Unloaded the next am, had lunch and went to COnvocation. By 4 pm we were dying to get out of there and into our air-conditioned car. (It was 96 in Boston that day – no A/C in the dorms.) DH and I drove home that night.</p>
<p>Both my kids’ schools had activities planned for the kids immediately after convocation, which was their way of telling parents “it’s time to go.”</p>
<p>A previous thread that also applies here – <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/1131107-move-day-tips-tricks-hints.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/1131107-move-day-tips-tricks-hints.html</a></p>
<p>It depends on the college and the distance. For us it was a few hours for the move-in for each of the kids - both colleges within a couple of hours driving distance. They really don’t have that much stuff since not much will fit in a dorm room anyway so the moving part really doesn’t take long, the ‘fixin up’ part of putting everything into place, making the bed, etc. doesn’t take very long, and there was really no need to go to a store for anything. After the move in we went to one of the eateries on campus, we might have purchased something from the bookstore (ethernet cable or power strip or something), and that was about it - said good-bye, left, and let the kid get on with it. Many/most colleges have move-in activities for the students so it’s time for the parents to leave anyway to allow the student to do the activities and basically get on with it. If they discover they really need something else they can go to a store and get it themselves.</p>
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<p>Definitely YMMV on this part!</p>
<p>Last year, when we moved D2 into her 9th-floor dorm room, only two of the three elevators were working. I waited in line for the elevator (with the heavy items) while the other three people made trips up and down 10 flights of stairs – we were parked in the basement garage. I waited for two hours; the total “move-in” time was about three hours. And we didn’t even do the “fixing-up” part (see the above message regarding the six members of roommates family who were in the way).</p>
<p>^^ True on the ymmv (and broken or overused elevators with lots of flights of stairs) but the OP was asking how many days to spend and IMO it’s generally less than one not counting travel time.</p>
<p>Last summer S’s move in day was on a Thursday between 7 - 11 am. The 2 of us flew across the country (CA to PA) on Tuesday and checked into our hotel that night. On Wednesday we picked up our order from Bed Bath and Beyond and also shopped at Staples and CVS. We also spent some time driving around the city and the local area around the college. Thursday he wanted to get started early (hard when you’re still on CA time!) so we got to the school around 8 to move in. They had a lunch for everyone, a parent orientation and an assembly where we said our goodbyes 
I flew back home on Friday.</p>
<p>We are pretty much minimalists too. The colleges are far enough away that spending the night before in the area is easiest. You arrive at the college early to pick up keys. You unpack the car. You do as much in the way of unpacking and running errands as your kid wants. You go to whatever ceremonies your college provides. Generally the colleges want you out of their either right before or right after dinner of move-in day.</p>
<p>Mind you I think arriving early enough to see the town sounds like fun.</p>
<p>Day before move-in day: We drove to college. Stayed in a motel.</p>
<p>Move-in day: Son picked up keys, we helped him carry boxes, suitcases, other stuffs in his dorm room till about lunch time. Went to lunch together then a quick trip to Walmart. After that our son felt he could handle the rest of the unpacking himself. So we dropped him off at the dorm. He seemed very happy and excited to start this new phase of his life. I was all teary eyed. We stayed at the hotel that night. Son obviously stayed at his new dorm room with all his new friends.</p>
<p>Day after move-in day: We went for parents feast. Our son already made quite a few friends by then. He seemed very happy.</p>
<p>Next day: We left for home all sad and crying all the way. He called that night and said he is having great time with his friends.</p>
<p>So total about 4 days and 3 nights at the motel for us.</p>
<p>We’re flying in and flying out on the same day for D in Boston … we take a 6 am flight (landing in Boston at 9 am, so 10-10:30 by the time we get to campus) … and then H and I have a late night flight back. We’ll have some bags with us since I have free-bag-privileges on this airline, we’ll ship other stuff ahead of time to the UPS store in the neighboring town, which also has a BB&B. A month later, we’ll go in for parents’ weekend and bring more wintery stuff. To be honest, I don’t anticipate these “last minute runs.” What am I going to forget??? It just doesn’t seem all that difficult. Here are your clothes, here are your toiletries, bedding, computer / supplies, office supplies … what else is there?</p>
<p>D1’s LAC wanted parents GONE by 5 pm of move-in day so they could get on with orientation activities without hovering helicopter parents and torn attention of students. Arrived in the area the evening before move-in, had a nice meal together. Arrived campus 9 a.m., official sign-in paperwork, pick up room keys, unload car with lots of upperclassmen around to help carry stuff. Then parent/student lunch in the dining center. After lunch students and parents went to separate orientation sessions, the parent session basically to counsel parents on what to expect from their freshman kids and more importantly the need for parents to just let go and not try to cram in all the parenting that didn’t get done in the previous 18 years in the last remaining minutes before separating. Then some parent/student free time which we used to pick up a few last minute items at the local drug store (extra contact lens solution) and nearby Bed, Bath & Beyond (waste basket and desk lamp were promised by the college but the wastebasket was missing on arrival and the lamp provided was unattractive and inadequate), then back to campus for a parent/student reception, then final good-bye, that’s it, time’s up, parents not welcome here anymore. They were quite strict about it, but I think it makes sense. Letting go is hard, but there’s no point dragging it out, and it’s probably easier for the students if the parents just butt out, and easier for the parents to make a clean break if it’s enforced by the college.</p>
<p>We did spend some good time together before move-in day, though. Took a week to drive from the Midwest up through Ontario and Quebec, stopping to see a Shakespeare play at Stratford, Ont., and sightseeing in Montreal and Quebec City before heading south through New England to D1’s LAC. It was a lovely little family vacation and some good family bonding time, but D1 was ready to make the break by the time we got to her college, running on high adrenaline and anxious to get on with it. Weeks before were spent planning, purchasing, packing, and preparing, so everything was well organized by the time we left for our mini-vacation, and college move-in went off without a hitch. Most colleges have online posting of lists of recommended items to bring, and items not to bring. These are all pretty similar but not identical and we found it helpful to work off several lists, paying particular attention to items not welcome at D1’s college.</p>
<p>bclintonk - I am glad that your D is enjoying her school! </p>
<p>As much as it kills me, that’s the part where I’m just going to have to let D be and figure it out herself. There’s a CVS within walking distance, and she won’t die without a refill bottle of contact lens solution - she’ll have to figure it out herself. That type of thing.</p>
<p>At S2’s school, a few days after move-in before school actually starts, they have a bus that goes from the dorms to a local Target. S2 and his roommates picked up necessary supplies (which in their case included a football).</p>
<p>Both Tufts and UChicago had buses to Target during Orientation Week (at both schools, move-in is the first day of Orientation).</p>
<p>S2 did not want to spend time buying stuff he may have forgotten. “Mom, they DO sell toothpaste somewhere in Boston.”</p>
<p>OTOH, we did all walk down to Davis Square the day before move-in and checked out the BBQ place, found the CVS and general store, as well as an excellent butcher shop (S2’s favorite store). Also went to the North End to taste-test Italian pastry. 
</p>
<p>Hint: Do not to go the North End by car the night of Aug. 31st and expect to find parking. I swear, every apartment in that part of town must roll over leases on 9/1, because there were moving vans, beds on the sidewalks and packing boxes EVERYWHERE.</p>
<p>I will second the last posting. Do not venture into Boston at all on September 1, unless you are moving in, especially if it also happens to be a Yankees-Red Sox day game. We made that mistake older D’s junior year of high school as we had a family wedding outside of Boston that weekend. Succesfully toured Brandeis and quick look at Tufts on Friday afternoon. Saturday morning in Harvard Square for breakfast and drive-by of Harvard (no, I am not an arriving freshman) and MIT. Then made the fatal mistake of deciding to drive by BU…
after about an hour of barely moving a block, we tried to get out of town as fast as possible.
Older d, a proud graduate of Brandeis… stayed on in Boston for another year and so I would also not suggest a visit to Target in Watertown on Saturday afternoon of Labor Day weekend. It looked like locusts had descended and stripped the entire store - I felt bad for the families of younger kids who had wandered in simply to buy school supplies.
In both my kid’s move-in’s-went up the day before with all our stuff, got to campus early to move in early, left campus to get extra stuff-case of water bottles, cable wire for TV hook-up, towel rack… came back for opening convocation, said our good-byes and went to dinner. Only problem when moving-in older d was that younger d cried hysterically all the way home.</p>
<p>Such wonderful insight and help ~ thank you all, I sincerly appreciate each and every post!</p>