Now that my son has committed to FSU the realistic nerves are setting in. He is my first child going to college and I have so many question regarding getting and storing his things. I would love any information in your experience regarding this issue. Booking flights home?? Anyone use Bed Bath and Beyond (buying items here and picking up in another city?) or is it easier to ship items?? Do most kids store there items at a storage facility in the summer? Thanks 
In need of information for son going to school in Florida (FSU) from NY..travel..storage..shipping..
Congratulations to your son. DD went to school a 12 hour drive away, so we had some logistical issues that were similar, though we traveled by car for drop off and pick up.
BB and B pick up works great. We found it convenient. At the time, you could collect and use an unlimited number of coupons.
She did share a storage unit some summers, making sure it was climate controlled. It was very reasonable. One storage place local to her school actually picked up labelled boxes at the end of school and delivered them at a requested time on move in day. One year a local friend stored a couple of boxes for her. When she spent a semester off campus, she left her fridge for a friend to use.
Parent friends who flew to school with their freshman had a small carry on bag for themselves and took full advantage of the 50 lb checked bag weight limit to bring stuff for their student. Don’t send great, fancy stuff. I’d say that regardless of distance. This will all work out and many students are doing the same.
Others may have NY to FL flight tips. Best with this transition.
Thank you @travelnut I appreciate your help!
Bed bath and beyond was the best. The fact that you could pick stuff out in advance but didn’t have to actually decide and pay until you were there was wonderful. We also used fed ex ground shipping and shipped to a fex ex near campus. Check if FSU has one. This was a cheaper way to ship,and because the fed ex office was open 24/7 it was a very easy and relaxing way to pick the stuff up.
If you’re going to fly, see if Southwest flies from your city to the destination in Florida. As of now, Southwest still allows each passenger two free checked bags. If parents or other family members are planning to go along to move the student in anyway, you can pack their suitcases or bags with your son’s stuff up to the 100 pounds per person limit.
@jara123 how far in advance can I pick out items at BB&B? for instance I saw a comforter set I liked for my son now but wont need to pick it up till August. Will they hold it now without paying? Thanks
I don’t know how far in advance BB&B starts the college hold process. You may want to call the online number and ask.
You can (and should) start shopping at BBB now. When DD went from CA to MA, we ordered (e.g.chose…not paid) everything we could think of at BBB in April. They pull it off the shelves that day, and put it in a pod until you show up in August. As the summer progressed, I read all the threads here for items to hand carry or purchase there. We ended up flying with one suitcase and a backpack east for the three of us, and paid no extra luggage charges. Most of what we had was clothes, shoes, and electronics. Did not rent a car…instead took the T to BBB, we t through the preordered stuff and got rid of a bunch, picked up a few items that we had forgotten, and took a taxi to the condo. Time - 2 hours for 90% of needs. With the 20% off coupons, and the absence of a car, I think it was by far the least expensive route. Had a nice lunch, then left sibling at the condo and filled in the other 10% at Target. Do NOT register at Target…we did and it was a total waste of time, as they dont put anything aside so you still have to get individual items. Very picked over…we were glad that we had the bare minimum (e.g. Tea, medicines) to buy. Back to the condo…where there was a hurricane. In the two days we were stuck in the condo, opened, washed, and packed all the linens and undid the shrink wrap on everything that we knew she needed. When the movein time came, sent her ahead to check in with only a backpack. We had preordered an airport shuttle service (taxis in MA are small and they are prohibited from unloading your stuff) which came to our door. It was a breeze to load all the stuff in the car, ride to the drop off point, unload the stuff into the provided student carts, and head upstairs. No hassle…no car to park…so simple.
One other brillant tip we got from CC. Put all the bedding in garbage bags in reverse order (blankets on bottom, mattress pad on top.). Unpack those bags first…now you have a made bed to put your other stuff on. Criticalin tiny dorm rooms. We bought a doorstop, some 409 and paper towels, and hangers in a special so those could be u loaded first. Honestly, it was a piece of cake.
Congrats to you and your son.
My son is a junior at FSU right now and I have two degrees from FSU. I am replying just to say I am 95% sure your son will love FSU. One of my roommates at FSU was from Cleveland and there are a ton of folks from the NE at FSU so he will mix in fine. He will probably be shocked/homesick at first. Most kids are. My mom used to send me care packages but I was also a TF student so by the time I got there I was used to the work and I didn’t have any adjustment issues.
The FSU dorms, most of them, have been recently updated and most of them are good enough. They are not palaces. Yes, you could store your dorm stuff in a storage place over the summer. That would be wise.
He might need a bike. If he does get one in Tally. It is a pretty spread out campus. If he doesn’t have a bike he will walk … a lot … to get back and forth to the food, classes and back to his dorm. But it is a pretty, hilly, tree lined campus. Advise him not to go to far away from campus unless it is to the Seminole reservation. Frenchtown is the “bad” part of town and frankly there is no reason to go there and test your luck. I hate to say it but that part of Tally is Miami like in terms of danger (at least it was back in the day).
Advise him to open a bank account at the seminole credit union, forgot the exact name, I’ll ask my son, or maybe you can use your normal bank so you won’t have trouble TF’ing money as needed. Stay in the dorms for sure, to make friends.
And remember that at least half of what you THINK your son needs will go unused. Most items can be purchased as needed. Go the minimum and work from there.