<p>Lots of good ideas here. My kid is going to school many miles from home. We shall go minimal and buy what we can there and use storage for the summer. </p>
<p>For the two boys, I would do a one way rental of either a van or UHAUL and take the stuff for S1, then S2 and then fly home once relieved of the boys and junk. I have done that with my other boys who are a long drivable distance from home. When I pick up for the summer, fly into the town, rent a car, one way, we pack it up and then head home, sharing the drive. Works well and is comparable or cheaper than flying both ways. </p>
<p>For a dorm room, you really do not need much. I ordered the linens through a flyer the college sent, bought the computer from the college shop so those items were there already. The problem comes when they move into an apartment and get attached to the junk in it and want it stored at home at times, but that is a whole different story. Most colleges have summer storage of sorts, or you can rent a small storage unit off campus. There never has been much with my kids. I think with the computer taking over the stereo systems, tv, etc, there just isn’t as much junk to haul.</p>