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This was the most organized operation I think I have ever seen. There is not a certain time that you must arrive - move-in is constant all day long. You will be assigned a certain entrance based on your student’s dorm and and directed to an unloading area. You quickly unload everything to the curb and then one member of your party gets back in the car and parks (free) in a designated structure. The student goes to check in while a parent sits on the curb with the “stuff.” If two parents came along, one should get in line for a cart (the carts are huge and can carry a LOT) while the other sits with the stuff and the student is checking in. Bringing your own handcart(s) is a good idea - the line for carts can be long. EVERYONE is friendly and helpful and organized.</p>
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Because students are arriving from early morning until late afternoon, there isn’t an organized ceremony for “everyone.” There was a parent reception early afternoon - the kids are supposed to escort their parents to it, give hugs, say goodbye, and leave them there.</p>
<p>We didn’t go to the parent reception - I think we were in the middle of carrying all her worldy belongings up three flights of stairs while she and her roommates set the room up. We were exhausted and hot, so we had her use two “guest meals” from her meal plan to get us into Parkside Restaurant where we stayed for two hours resting and enjoying the air conditioning (and eating!) while she and her roommates got to know each other. </p>
<p>Then she proudly showed us her room all set up. Next we went to the bookstore to get “USC” merchandise, gave hugs, shed tears, and headed home. A good day.</p>