Three cars? Yikes!
By the time my DS was a junior, we could move him using our Volvo sedan…only. When he was a freshman, we used our van, but it was NOT full by any measure or means!
Like PG, we flew with one kid. We also fit the four suitcases, two carryon Bags and two personal items in our regular old car on this end for the drive to the airport. And it all had to fit into the rental car on the other end.
Three cars…just would not have happened here.
Yes, this is something I’m learning about on CC. These colleges charge what they do for room and board and then don’t furnish common areas in suites? Shame on them.
We didn’t have a problem fitting the extra bookcase. It was only 24" wide and 36" tall (6 12" cubbies).
Obviously, one doesn’t need a ton of stuff. But if you bring a lot of stuff, a well planned storage system goes a long way toward keeping things organized and the room from feeling cluttered.
IME girls tend to bring more clothes, and guys extra furniture. I saw a lot of boys’ rooms with lofted beds and futons and other seating underneath.
Newer dorm furniture is more versatile. The dresser drawers in D’s freshman dorm could be unstacked. Some kids put them under their beds (like D’s storage system) to free up room for lounge seating.
It is really helpful to find out as much information about the room (floor plan, type of furniture, and what is included) before move-in.
I can totally relate to the desire not to be with the ex for the long car ride. That ride home can be emotional enough without added stress.
D had room for a fridge and a chair for guests in her room. She could have had a bit more furniture I suppose but it wasn’t necessary, everything she needed was provided. Some of the built in shelving was never used.
Like everyone here…we were able to look at both kids’ dorm room floor plans online. It was pretty easy to figure out what would fit…and what would NOT fit. We only took what would fit…and we made no trips for storage systems to make more fit. We told them to take less! And they did.
I will say…one very important thing to remember. Whatever your kid TAKES…and then accumulates (and I can guarantee you…even boys accumulate “stuff”) will need to be packed up to either be stored, or moved home at the end of the school year. I think this was the single reason our kids took less with them. They knew it was going to be ON THEM to pack it all up at the end of the year. No easy task if there is too much stuff.
As an anecdote. When our 3000 mile away kid graduated, three of us flew SW, and took six empty (borrowed) suitcases with us.we made it very clear to DD that everything had to fit in the six suitcases and UNDER the weight limit as well. Nothing shipped! She did it…but boy did she purge at the last minute!
Before her senior year, DD2 put some stuff in storage; DD3 put her winter clothes there also since they were going to be at the same school. We then moved 9 hours away. DD2 took a car load for early move-in and we brought a van load at freshman move-in. My DH had made a loft and they had a refrigerator and microwave, so that was a good part of the storage stuff, along with kitchen items since DD2 had a kitchen. I think she had more baking stuff than I did, but used it all.
This is just incredibly good advice! I wish I had thought of it when I made S’s bed freshman year.
This brings back vivid memories of a two week camping trip to Newfoundland, with three adults and two children in a Ford Explorer, including two tents, five sleeping bags, one inflatable air mattress, the camp stove and cooking stuff, collapsible camp chairs, almost all of our food for the two weeks only some of which was in a large cooler*, and our clothes and what have you. Oh, and some firewood! We camped our way up, so one of the other adults and I became expert and packing and unpacking everything efficiently. Those of us condemned to spend the whole trip in the back seat (me and the children) were squished in with stuff and had bags (or firewood, or hiking boots, or whatever) under our feet the whole time. Now THAT was cramped!
^^^That. I would have booked a flight home.
I am obviously not very domestic. I would never ever use the phrase “lucky enough to help with making the bed.”
My son signed up last year to help other kids on move in day. So he got to move in two days early. Was a very efficient process. Pulled up next to the entrance and a swarm of other kids greeted us and had the entire van unloaded in a couple minutes. By the time I parked the car and got up to his room, everything was already up, my wife, son and daughter already had pretty much everything unpacked and put away.
Just joining this thread. I saw this mentioned early on so it could be missed with all the other wonderful advice but all 3 of my D’s college dorm rooms had doors that shut automatically. Bring a doorstop. you can buy one for a few bucks on Amazon and then leave it with your kid so she/he can socialize by keeping the door open when wanted. When you’re bringing all those boxes and bags in, or walking back and forth to the garbage, the door doesn’t continually shut behind you.
Mine all went across the country and we bought many things the day before move in, having pre-ordered at BBB. We found that having a scissors and trash bags were two additional important items.
We bought bedding online and shipped it to our hotel (with prior OK). It seemed silly to ship it home only to pack it up and take it on a plane. The exception was for one set of sheets (Target) which we washed and a bath towel I brought in a suit case so we could make the bed immediately. It’s also possible schools will permit packages be sent early but we were worried about reliability in terms of being able to access the mail room on the first day, etc. Having things sent to the hotel worked out well. If you think things should be washed before being used, this does leave washing for your kid, assuming you buy more than one set of sheets and towels. (My kids found that two sets was the right amount.)
If your child’s school offers a trip or activity that starts a few days early, take advantage of it. There are alot fewer people moving in. We moved D in a week early. Her first dorm room was on the second floor, so she set herself up at the window and stuck out a broom handle. Her tallest brother stood on a crate and attached light bags to the broom and she lifted stuff into the room. It was hysterical. The next years she was an RA and also moved in early. When our son enrolled there, we signed him up for the trip and dropped them both off a week early. Move in began at 8 AM and the meet up for the trip was at 9, so our good-bye time was limited. The year my son went, my daughter helped him set up his room when he got back from the trip.
When we had to use elevators, we did a relay. My husband, who has bad knees, would unload with one son, who would hand the stuff off to another at the building entrance. That one brought the stuff in and to the elevator while the youngest one rode the elevator up with the stuff to the floor, where my daughter and I waited to unload and move the stuff into the room. It does help to have 4 sons when you need to move a child into college.
Both of my kids are not into things. Every year at move out time, my daughter organized a clothing and stuff swap with friends; anything not taken was donated to a thrift shop or other charity.
My husband also gave both of them a tool kit and a basic first aid kit.
My daughter also did a bike trip that allowed her to move in 3 days early. Best $175 spent on the dorm set up, and she met a girl who became a good friend.
I have a little different “take” on the amount of stuff. As long as it’s a roommate decision/agreement, I personally support as much stuff as makes the room feel like home. All 3 of my kids have worked very hard on their studies, outside activities and kept a part time job during college. While they may not have hours on end sitting in their rooms, why not let that room - their “home”- be as comfortable and aesthetically pleasing as they like??? After all, to me, “home” is the best place to be!
D2 my last one in college was a freshman last year - she and her roommate were dorm room styling geniuses. They shopped this summer and will be styling a new room with some carefully planned out pieces including a pretty Ikea futon, HomeGoods rug, crafted tv stand, groovy Ikea floor lamp, etc. We will either take 2 fully loaded cars or take one car with us in it and rent a small UHaul trailer to cart everything in - go big or go home. 
Sorry, I know this is kind of old, but we launch my youngest this weekend, and I wanted to review these awesome tips. One thing I have found to be “critically important” : The fan is the first thing to go in the room. Especially helpful for the parents and women “of a certain age” 
Fan was key for a late August move-in. And then we bought a second one. Also, a change of clothes. Moving is hot, sweaty work.
I was sorry I didn’t pack a swimsuit. There was a great swimming lake not far from campus and we checked it out on move in day when d was doing orientation things. It was hot…so hot that day. But alas…hadn’t brought a swimsuit.
Those 99 cent patterned handle bags that Marshalls/TJMaxx have in the check out lanes are perfect for vehicle moves. They hold a perfect amount of weight, are more durable than garbage bags and the handles are long enough to be knotted.
Make sure you bring a couple of extension cords.
Many schools do not allow extension cords but do allow power strips. The ones with usb’s are great!