Hahaha @SomeOldGuy !
That reminds me - do most dorm kids use suitcases? Where do they stash the suitcase?
I told my kid she should just use cardboard boxes and she gave me The Look.
LOLZ^^ So funny to see some of the parents in this thread on that thread too, and not just you SOG. 
@scholarme, thank you SO much for starting that thread!
@Wrestlermom, that’s sort of like putting on a winter jacket for the first time in the season and finding a twenty in one of the pockets, but much, MUCH better. Jeez, I can’t even imagine!
My older kid has a big wheeled duffle bag stuffed in his closet that will hold enough clothes to come home for winter break. We brought the other luggage home after unloading. He said that was too much suitcase for weekend trips so his grandma got him a small roll-aboard that he uses for three-day weekends or road trips.
On another topic, is anyone’s kiddo taking AP Physics 1? If so, do you know which review book they are using?
One other thing before I forget: For a lot of that junk we did take down to school, I took ALL of it out of the packaging at home and packed it into two Rubbermaid under-bed storage tubs. That saves time on move in day and also gives your kid the option of keeping the tubs in the room for out of season clothes.
Good idea SOG! However, I would recommend not unpacking the foam mattress topper if you ordered one. That thing takes up about 3 times the room it did compressed in the packaging!
Lessons learned the hard way: Those vacuum storage bags are great for transporting comforters and pillows and sweaters to college. BUT, unless your kid has access to a vacuum cleaner with a hose attachment at college, you won’t be able to use them when packing up to come back home. I remember one trip home from Kirksville when I couldn’t see out the back window of the car because of the plethora of pillows, comforters, and other fluffy things that fit fine when they had had the air slurped out of them for the trip down but expanded to fill the entire car interior when freed from their vacuum bags.
I have been doing 100% of the research with much help from CC. If it was not for CC, all of the knowledge that I hsve regarding FA for schools that meet 100% of need would not exist. The only " problem" that I had - not really a huge problem- it that she had too many safeties. I also learned a lot about the essay process, etc. My H is the one making the plans to visit- he schedules all the tours, books hotels, etc. I think in the past 2+ years we have traveled the entire east coast from Rhode Island down to Florida, plus the midwest and southwest. All driving- one plane ride.
Wrestlersmom you had money track you down? Congrats!!
@scholarme , for DD’14 we took everything in rubbermaid totes and left 3 there under DD’s bed, which was high enough to give space for them. When DD comes home she packs everything in a large soft-sided duffle bag that folds flat when empty.
Something to check on, if you haven’t already (especially @cd2015 and @co4usc2016); our college requires that the physical be submitted by mid June but our doctor can barely get DS in for the physical before then. Plus, there’s the complication that if DS goes in for his physical earlier than 365 days before he had his physical for camp last year, we pay for the whole thing out of pocket. It’s a full time job trying to wrangle these deadlines!
@mdcmom that is a great idea!
Stupid question about meds - my D takes a daily prescription (thyroid), - initially she’ll take it with her but for refills do most students have theirs shiped directly to their schools?
On daily medications some insurance allows 90 days refills and others such as med script upto 6 months. If your child will be coming home for Thanksgiving or fall weekend both will cover you. Then at Christmas break refill should get them through to spring break. D will fills her the week before we leave and then again at Thanksgiving.
All national chains ie; CVS; Walgreens will be in the data base so refills can be transferred to the closes location. I also recommend that parents have a hard copy of eyeglass prescription (current) and allergy information. This will save you time and money.
@Scholarme, not a stupid question at all. D had the exact same question (now, if she had told me which school she had picked, I could have researched it.)
Thanks @Hoosier96 for the answer!
Our unseasonably cold morning had me diving into the closet for a sweater this morning, and I wound up dressed more or less head to toe in black and grey, so I guess I’m SomeOldGoth for the day. In any event, I’ve had this set kicking around in my head for awhile, and I heard one of the three on the radio last night. Enjoy!
(For Albert’s benefit, “Goth” is what we called “emo kids” back in the 1980s, but there was more black nail polish involved.)
[Sisters of Mercy – “Dominion/Mother Russia”](Sisters of Mercy, Dominion / Mother Russia - YouTube)
[The Cure – “Charlotte Sometimes” (1984 live)](The Cure - Charlotte Sometimes (Live in Japan, 1984) - YouTube)
[The Cult – “She Sells Sanctuary”](The Cult - She Sells Sanctuary (Official Music Video) + Lyrics - YouTube)
You may inquire about a pharmacy in the student health center.
Our rx coverage is such that her long term meds havevto be mail order, actually.
I am tempted to rename the SS Indecision to the SS Hotel California Indecision.
Yesterday D got the final number from her number 1 choice, which is more expensive than choices 2 or 3. She said - “I still want to go there.”
This morning she’s saying “I’m worried I might get buyer’s remorse if I go there!”
@mdcmom, thanks for the head up. We already booked the appointment for physical. Luckily, our insurance pay for one physical per calendar year, so we are set there. Cornell has a huge freshman to do list. It is crazy.
Thanks again.
I don’t post often but I wanted to thank all of you for the wealth of information I have received. This journey has been entertaining, educational and enlightening.
@mdcmom and @co4usc2016, does it say specifically that physicals are required? I checked with Student Health at D’s choice, and they told me that what they really needed were her records for specific shots. Faxed immunization records in, and within a couple of days, the hold regarding health records was removed.
Edited for grammatical use.
@DiffMom, every school has different requirements regarding health information.