We did pretty much the same as many above have mentioned, just to add that target do a similar thing to BBB where you can order and hold at destination target, and college students doing that get a discount (I don’t remember what it was - 15 or 20% I think). Warning: the nearest target on move in day is just totally crazy lol.
We used the samsonite “tote a ton” duffel bags on recommendation of some on CC. My daughter packed everything she needed (not bedding or linens, ordered separately) with space to spare into 2 of them. Pros: they are very light, they fit a huge amount, they are (just) inside allowed normal checkin luggage dimensions, and they fold flat when empty so they don’t take up much storage space. Cons: they are pretty awkward to move/carry. If you’re just going luggage belt-luggage cart-car they’re fine, but they’re not fun to wrestle on public transport.
She brought a pile of clothes home to swop out over fall and winter break.
We will also be using storage for her stuff between academic years.
As everyone else has indicated, it’s totally doable. There are tons of tips online. We’re from MA and D19 is a freshman at Ohio State. We’re fortunate that Southwest flies direct Boston to Columbus. No change fees and 2 checked bags free. If you book flights as soon as they open the schedule, you can get reasonably priced flights even at Thanksgiving.
We did a combination of carry-on, pick up and ship to dorm. For carry-on, we had one big suitcase and some big zip-top ikea bags (double bagged) for the clothes and bedding (I wanted to wash beforehand). Shipped the mattress topper to the dorm. And picked up plastics drawers, fans, groceries, etc, at a Target in a nearby town (not the nearest to avoid the crowds). We flew in the day before move-in, rented an SUV, and did the Target run. So we had everything all set for move-in day.
Haven’t done the move-out yet, but I know there are storage options, as others have said.
At some schools, most students move off campus after freshman or sophomore year. Then you are usually into 1 year leases (but often at lower total cost than dorms), which solves the storage problem.
My daughter went to college on the other side of the country.
We arrived in the college area a few days before school started to get her adjusted to the time zone change. We also bought as much as possible near the college rather than transporting it across country.
We found that paying the airlines for baggage was cheaper than shipping it separately.
She was in a dorm her freshman year and lived off campus the rest of the time. Off campus apartments require a 12 month lease. It was a 3 bedroom which she shared with 2 other women. It was cheaper than the dorm and meal plan for 9 months. The roommates bought food and shared the cooking . The 12 month lease solved the storage problem.
We bought a good quality bed, chest of drawers and desk for her. Common room furniture was all second hand and split between the roommates. Her job offer after graduation included moving expenses and she is still using the bedroom furniture and desk several years later.
Just make sure she knows what she is getting into with a college far away…it isn’t a commuter school for you because you are coming from out of state…but is it a commuter school for the locals?
Is she independent?
Is she healthy?
Is she mentally healthy?
Is she okay maybe not coming home for all breaks?
Can she get herself to the airport easily?
Lots of kids go in together on storage units for summer. My D did that for a couple of years.
I think a lot of colleges provided transport to,local,shopping centers in the first couple of days, so that students can get whatever they need. It’s common at my kid’s school for students to arrive without a lot of stuff, because people come from all over the country and the world. Maybe it’s more of a hassle, but it’s not a big issue. Ordering things to have delivered is also easy these days.
Flying is a pretty standard experience for MANY college kids. It’s entirely possible your child will find herself having to navigate all kinds of scenarios involving flights and it’s a great learning experience. I think anything involving more than one connection can become problematic, but there are kids who do that too. If she ends up having to fly, make her aware of how to handle potential issues and be sure she has a credit card to use in the event of unexpected cancellations, etc…
We approached move in with the mindset of “less is more” and bought the minimum for the dorm when we arrived and assessed the needs (items like bedding, towels, hangers, extension cord, laundry basket and a needed rolling storage bin that doubled as a side table) which could get our daughter by until Family weekend a couple of months later. We then took her shopping for anything else she thought would be nice and wasn’t so urgent that Amazon couldn’t fill in.
Storing the contents of her dorm room was easier than expected since her college provides storage on site and suggestions for off site options as well.
I will say that here on CC I found parents in her college forum that I was able to reach out to and ask about these things and that was so very helpful! Looking at you @OHMomof2@CottonTales
Yes, I can’t emphasize enough how much extra stuff kids take that they don’t need. Our daughter’s freshman year, we had our Ford Escape full to the brim, with a carrier on top. This year, D fits all of her stuff into her tiny Ford Fiesta. She said SO much of the stuff she brought her first year she never even used once! I think it’s advantage to have to limit stuff to what can be taken by air! It will make the dorm room much more pleasant to not be crammed full.
BBB or Target’s options to pick things up on site work for many people, but… if your kid has skin sensitivities, consider that you’ll be hauling all those new sheets, bedding, towels, etc back to the dorm and trying to find a washing machine so you can wash them before using. This can be a PITA.
For our oldest who’s in college 2000 miles away, we shipped up 4 boxes and then did the Southwest check in of two bags each. That way we could prewash any new sheets and towels. Yes, it did cost a little more to ship the boxes, but we also saved because we didn’t even rent a car and avoided the whole BBB/Target madness.
^ we actually just ubered from target. The dorms had those huge carts so unloading was easy.
Depending what city you are headed to, the driving/parking situations may make uber more attractive for when you need a car. We used a combo of subway and uber for move in weekend. And walked a lot, because it’s a nice way to orient yourself and get to know the city a bit more.
@thumper1 How did you manage at the airports with two checked bags plus carry ons? That is what I’m confused about. We would be shuttling to the airport from the parking garage at the departure airport and they don’t drop off at the terminal. Then when we get to the arrival airport, we’d have to shuttle to the car rental place. I don’t know to manage with so much stuff if each person traveling is carrying 4 things (2 checked, 2 carry on).
DH dropped us off at our departure airport where we curb checked the four checked bags. So all we were schlepping were our carry on bags and personal items.
When we arrived at our destination airport (San Jose), they had those handy dandy luggage carts you could rent for all of $5. We used those to get ourselves to the rental car bus stop. The rental car place…we just unloaded it all there, and DD sat with it while I got the car. Then we took turns schlepping to the car.
It really wasn’t a big deal. All the bags had wheels…no duffles.
How to carry 4 bags – 2 larger roller bags, 1 smaller roller bag (or non-roller) and 1 backpack. Lay the smaller bag on top of one of the larger bags. Pull that one with your stronger arm, and the other one with your weaker arm. Wear the backpack.
If you have any boxes you pretty much need to go with a cart.
With multiple people, generally leave one person with all the stuff while you fetch cars and whatnot.
DD is able to get herself through the airport to a Lyft car all by herself with a 3-roller bag and backpack setup.
We did move-in by buying everything from Amazon and checking 5 bags (3 people). We didn’t end up needing carry ons as well. DD stores her stuff over the summer and brings home up to 4 items using the method above.
@momzilla2D We live in MA too and it’s mostly Ohio schools that we are contemplating looking at. Not Ohio State but smaller LACs. Good to know the traveling has worked well with Southwest! I guess just the weather you have to worry a bit about…
Thanks for the advice everyone! Love all the responses and ideas!
Less is more, and even that’s too much a lot of the time. The only essentials are some clothes that you bring, some linens you buy, and a ceramic pineapple you carry in your arms.
For my DD it was agreed in advance that she wouldn’t be coming home that often. But my brother and my sister in law both lived within a couple hours of school so she could go see cousins over Thanksgiving and Easter. Also rented a storage locker after freshman year that she no longer needed by the next summer. She just kept shedding stuff year after year.
One other thing: I don’t know what she graduated with because she never moved home. New life in the new state, and we still only see her at holidays. The same thing happened to my brother and many others we know. That extended time away makes the Big Move after graduation a much easier option, so just keep that in the back of your mind and be prepared…
I agree with @thumper1 one and a few others that have seen the less is more work. I am on my second child through the process. With a few caveats, we parents tend to ‘overthink’ what our DS or DD will actually use. If they see a need, most schools have free Amazon Prime or at least a 6 mo version. I am a veteran of 6 move-outs at this point. I have moved at least 2 or 3 boxes of stuff that were never touched during the school year. When will I learn?
The order ahead services work great. We have used Target. Make sure you read the fine print on ‘hold’ times. I can’t remember which service said they will only hold it for a week, but someone did. That may get waved if you order through the store’s college program.
We have chosen the summer storage unit route. My boys are not experienced cooks yet, so we have opted for dorms. The summer storage (climate controlled is nice) runs about $150 total at one school and $250 at the other.
@Peachpie9 - while logistics are something to consider, the bigger issue is actual travel to and from school. This is a budget item to factor in. Ask questions like - come home for Fall break? Thanksgiving? Christmas (given)? Spring Break? etc. How close is the school to an airport? How do most students get to said airport (bus/Uber/train)? How convenient and reliable are these sources of transportation?
I have a son at Notre Dame. The local airport has service from major airlines, but is pricey. So, my son catches a bus to Chicago for all travel. The coordination of all that can be challenging at times. Not a deal breaker, but something to keep in mind.
No advice on logistics, but I do recommend visiting so she can see how far away feels. Have her lead the way in the airports, etc. It was good for DD’19 to visit a school by plane pretty early on, and feel the distance and experience the layovers.
Our daughters aren’t “ less is more “ people and never will be. I was fine with that. DH was freaking out a bit insisting that all that stuff(,including 30 pairs of shoes, a fully stocked medicine kit and a giant box of “dress up clothes” …costumes for theme parties) would never fit. It fit fine. We made good use of under the bed and things like cubes that could be used for extra seating in the room with storage inside them.
They were definitely the go-to people when a minimalist needed something…most borrowed items were all those costumes …stapler that could staple more than 9 pages, steamer for clothes…paper towels and plastic forks…Pepto Bismol, ( fyi your kid is not going to just “go to a drugstore and get what they need when they are there” when they feel unwell at 1 am)
