This may be unusual since most parents drive their students to campus and help them move in and move out. But my mom is not driving me to campus, so that just makes the whole situation more stressful since we have to take the bus. This is what happens when your parent sucks at driving! Well has anyone moved in or moved out without a car? Please share your advice!!! This is so stressful!!! :((
You could probably ship your room essentials to your dorm via UPS and pick up the boxes at the commons. Or buy online and ship to your school address. Pack as much of your clothes as you can comfortably carry (two suitcases?) and bring those on the bus. You can also wait and buy most (probably all) of what you need at McClanahan’s downtown and at Walmart, a bus ride away. I think the university still provides a free bus out to Walmart/Target during move-in. Good luck, you can do it!
Sunrise97, try not to stress. Many, many Penn State students are from states all across the US and a fair number from other countries. Lots move in without a car. As stealthposter mentioned, pack your clothes (and bedding if possible) to take on the bus. Have a good list and take a bus out to Walmart. Call a taxi for the return if you have too much to carry back on the bus. Or have it shipped to your school address. If you don’t need any of the big stuff, you can buy toiletries, food, study supplies right in town.
Re:moving out, once you get your Fall room assignment, call that Housing area and arrange to store your stuff there between semesters (either in your new room, or if that is not possible, they have storage rooms in the basements). Find or save some boxes and label them well. You will have to get everything to the new area but you could probably snag one of those carts on wheels to do it.
Have you checked locally to see if there are any students driving up themselves? You could possibly see if they have room for a few items to take up for you for a few bucks. Maybe you could even split the costs going up. Not all students will have a packed car, especially the off campus kids that already have the bulk of their items up at school.
May I suggest that you neatly fold your clothing items in half and then roll it up. This takes up less room in a suitcase. You’ll be able to pack a lot more in that suitcase.