@me29034, we had ordered a backrest pillow and a shower caddy from BBB and picked that up on the way to the dorm. We got go the dorm and parked in short term parking to unload and then moved our van to a bigger lot.
My D’s roommate moved in earlier and she did a Target run while we unpacked.
So if you get there and find you still need things one parent can help unload and the other can go to the store if needed. Or once you get all things moved into the room you can all take a break and go shopping or to eat etc.
We did not rush at move in. We helped unpack and hang up clothes, I made the bed and cleaned the shared bathroom.
“Upper classmates are giving away many items now for free, but I don’t know what will be available when she gets there. They have online service where people post things they need or want to give away or sell for a fraction of the price. It seems that they have very collaborative environment and people are eager to help each other.”
Okay, I just did a search for some terms that might bring to life what you have mentioned here, as I had no idea what you were talking about. I arrived at an old blog written in 2013, by way of a link from a 2015 article.
The images I saw of the room where the low-cost/exchange/community board purchases were the mainstay of the items were in a room which in no waybegins to resemble any room I have seen at MIT. Not that it does not exist, but, really, it has got to be a GRT’s (think RA) room in a new building.
Next, the student had purchased a wine refrigerator. What the heck for?
I’m glad to know of these things are in play, and that the exchange has existed since 1958. I’d like that to reach the eyes and ears of every parent sending their kid off to MIT.
I do have a sense of ‘what is going on?’, though, as I have stated before, with the dorm-as-first-full-fledged-apartment approach.
@waitingtoexhale - D dumped her bike somewhere so someone can claim it when we were leaving after graduation. Wife asked D to collect the U lock because the lock alone was $50 to secure the $300+ bike. D was being inventive trying to ensure the bike was not stolen by adding tapes and some other cosmetic looks to make it over used and so it lasted the 4 years. However, she has been in dents and scrapes for which the repairs can run into $100.
To think that we spent better part of 2 days running around every walmart and target to find the right bike 4 years is mindboggling.
“D was being inventive trying to ensure the bike was not stolen by adding tapes and some other cosmetic looks to make it over used and so it lasted the 4 years.”
D’s school allows for the entire day for move-in, so we can take our time as well-make extra trips, etc.
@mommdc , I’m hoping you mean that the whole move-in process took several hours and not that the bathroom cleaning took that long! Was it really not clean, though, on that first day? Kind of glad D will have a community bathroom with janitorial service!
They give us from 8:30 to 2 for move in and lunch. Then there is a required Parent/Student session, Conovication and class photo before Parent’s Farewell at 4:15. Do other colleges have a set time for parents departure?
@mommdc - while I might make his bed, I think I will definitely not “clean the shared bathroom” (!!) Good heavens; I barely stand cleaning the bathroom after my own family. (Officially DS1 is “Mr. Refills, Trash, and Recycling” and DS2 is “Mr. Bleach and Windex but never together” so it’s a bit less work for me…)
@me29034@Waiting2exhale and others in the discussion on stores - I did order a laundry basket, caddy, and bucket from The Container Store. Someone gave DS a GC so it was mostly “free” even though online I couldn’t use the Teacher discount that I think they have. Most “soft” goods will come from Lands’ End or LL Bean. I ordered a toolkit, sewing kit, doorstops and whatever else you all suggested from amazon.com - including a big bucket of Gain Flings. I brought some Gain Flings on our recent road trip and they were great for small loads.
In our elephant-capacity HE front-loader at home, I use powdered detergent and usually Bubble Bandit booster. But the Gain Flings will be much handier to grab one of and take downstairs to the laundry. (Otherwise you’re either lugging a big container or leaving it to be poached.) Princeton provides “free” (included) use of the laundry machines, so I intend to go there twice daily for our use to make back the tuition $$
I haven’t ordered the linens or planned any fridge/etc. yet - some will depend on measurements and final dorm assignments aren’t out yet.
Ok so I too am a bit confused about the shipping to the store for Target. Do you just scan everything, hold it in the “cart” and hit purchased 2 or 3 days before you arrive on campus? I thought Target only holds things in-store for 4 days max. Also what happens if the item that I scan today (such as a specific comforter etc) is not available for purchase in the 2-3 day window frame closer to move in?
My son had several gift cards so I went down his list of needed items and purchased what was left using the gift cards. As someone stated earlier, it was mostly free ;). We have an SUV so I think we will get everything there pretty easily. His move in time is from 8:00-2:00 and that includes lunch.
He has his room assignment and his bill has been posted to his account. I’ve paid our portion. I can’t tell you how that made me feel. He proudly said today that he has 37 days until he goes to school.
@Justathought1 I just have to say, 37 days is way too few! That is just a little over a month. Didn’t all of our kiddos graduate from high school… like yesterday? It doesn’t even feel like summer is in full swing yet!
@Justathought1 37 days must be pretty early August as I have 54 left and I’m the end of August. Enjoy these last weeks. @4kids2graduate Yes it wasn’t that long ago! One of my friends said us Northeastern kids get jipped this summer ending high school so late then starting college so early! Of course she starts the beginning of August for soccer but still.
@labegg the scanning i was talking about is the “college registry” where you scan anything you’d like to go on the registry that people can look up (if you want it public), but which also serves as a kind of shopping list. It should last until school starts, as far as I know. Things are not in the cart, only on the list. So when it’s time, we’ll buy what we want from the list and have it shipped to the location store, unless it’s so common it’s bound to be there without pre-ordering.
“Do other colleges have a set time for parents departure?”
@readingclaygirl , Beloit College does. On move-in day, in the late afternoon they have an event described as: “Dessert First: New students and family members are invited to mingle and enjoy desserts and refreshments before family members depart.”
Then, as the parents leave, the kids head to the dining hall for their first dinner as college students.
We will get a three hour window to move in. S’s dorm is on a main thoroughfare in Philadelphia, so time is of the essence. They have big carts, and I’m guessing all his stuff will fit in one.
On an unrelated not, S18 was jumped by a big group of kids while walking home from the store. He wasn’t hurt, and they weren’t able to get anything. I ran out while he was calling 911to see if I could see which way they were headed. They were terrified when the saw me (I’m average size, but I was a very angry adult) and ran. I was able to tell the police where they were headed. Hopefully the police can find at least some of them. The mail carrier had seen the group earlier and knew where a couple of them lived.
(Officially DS1 is “Mr. Refills, Trash, and Recycling” and DS2 is “Mr. Bleach and Windex but never together” so it’s a bit less work for me…)
The bathroom was clean when they moved in.