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Tips For Moving To College (And Back Out)

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Moving to college is unique because it’s a series of short-term relocations. The move lasts for two semesters, with a long winter break in the middle.

While a lot of kids can pack everything in the car and drive, packing is an even bigger challenge for those who attend school overseas or so far away that they need to fly.

Use these handy Tips For Moving To College (And Back Out), plus, how to prepare, stay organized, and make any move-in or move-out less stressful.

Tips For Moving To College (And Back Out)

*Go halfsies on furniture and appliances. It’s hard to keep track of everything necessary for your child to move into their new dorm, but you have an entire summer to plan. Coordinate with the prospective roommate to determine who will be responsible for big items like a microwave, coffee maker, or refrigerator.

Move-in is typically well-coordinated by universities that supply carts and volunteers. The room is clean when you arrive. Move-out is more hectic because the students are expected to be more independent and capable after living away from home for a year. Moving to college is exciting, but there are lots of things to think about when making the move.

*Packing materials. Try to avoid boxes if possible, but make sure you have plenty of blankets and bubble wrap to transport fragile items. If you have multiple computer monitors, protect them with flat cardboard or bubble wrap taped securely.

Trash bags make excellent hanging bags for clothing if used upside-down, with a hole poked through the bottom for hangers. Packing materials are available from local storage facilities, so you don’t have to haul them across the country.

The consensus among experienced parents is to use the sturdy, blue, rectangular, zippered IKEA bags to move everything. These bags with handles are easy to carry, lightweight, and collapse down to the size of a spiral notebook.

They’re simpler to store underneath a bed than luggage, but can be checked in with the airline if necessary. With the exception of oversized items, the handy bags fit everything.

*Prepare for grouchy kids. When it’s time to move back home for the summer, you only have a few hours to complete the job and clean thoroughly. Your child may be prepared, but most college kids don’t have experience planning or packing for a big move.

Moving out is hard emotionally, but especially so because the move-out deadline typically comes on the heels of finals. The kids are exhausted and unprepared, and revert to less independent behavior once parents show up.

They accumulate books, t-shirts, cups, souvenirs, a few sweatshirts, and all of the items from care packages over the course of the year.

*Store what you don’t need. Self-storage units will conveniently store your child’s belongings until the next academic session, so you don’t have to transport possessions every year.

They’re also handy for storing seasonal clothing that they don’t need right away, study materials for the previous or upcoming semester, or even a car during a long winter break.

Students who live on-campus may only need a 5×5 storage unit and safety lock, which provides enough space to store boxes, oversized items, and appliances.

Off-campus students or those who have more to store should consider a 5×10 unit. Larger units can accommodate bulkier items like a bicycle or couch or can be split with a friend. If your child is embarking on a semester abroad in a popular location like Scotland, consider renting storage in Glasgow to store valuables during the long breaks.

*Bring a change of clothes and cleaning supplies. Expert parents recommend that you wear the most comfortable shoes you own and bring a change of clothes for the ride home. Whether you’re moving in or moving out, packing and cleaning in a small space can be dirty work, and you’ll be glad to have a clean shirt.

Small dorm rooms packed with stuff are hard to keep clean. The chaos of the end of year and finals don’t leave time for even the neatest kids to clean. Even neat kids will have to clean the bathroom, scrub down surfaces, and vacuum the floor to check out without incurring a fine.

*Organize and be flexible. No matter how much planning and organization have gone into moving in or out of a dorm room, you’ve got to remain flexible. Not everything will go as planned. Incorporate as many of these tips as you can to prepare for anything, and remember you can always ship things.

Do you have a child moving to college? What are some things that helped the transition be easier?

 

 

Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. Shannon says

    My daughter is only 3 but time flies. There is some really helpful information and tips for parents and students.

  5. Lisa says

    I really liked your tip about using the blue collapsible Ikea bags. I wasn’t aware of those. I could use those not just for sending a child to college, but in the car and around the house. One other tip I would suggest would be to send rain gear with your child, and not just rain boots, but a good waterproof backpack and a sturdy windproof umbrella or rain poncho.

  11. Cheryl Burns says

    great ideas, and making a list and checking it twice saves a lot of extra driving and shipping charges

  12. Linda S Davison says

    Great college tips and so glad my last one finished. Great advice that it’s very important to remain flexible.

  13. Sally Gearhart says

    These are really great tips, i know i learned a couple of things! My daughter will be starting college and this is totally new to us. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge.

  14. courtney b says

    I never went to college, and my sister never did either, but hopefully MY kids will go to college and we will come back and read these super helpful tips!

    thanks ! xoxoxo

  15. kara bryant says

    Great ideas! This will definitely come in handy when my daughter goes to college, thank you for sharing :))

  17. dana says

    I live in a college town and the local grocery store is absolute madness the weekend “of” so keep this in mind if you forget something. Consider ordering it on-line and ship-to-store for a later date. Let your college student pick it up after the dust has settled.

  18. Rosanne says

    Remember my husband getting there after taking time away from work which wasn’t easy and not only was by son not packed up at all his stuff was all mixed up with his roommates. Could have used these tips and sent them to him if he would read them

  19. vickie couturier says

    i have sent one boy thru college,,oh wow,,,,get several rolls of quarters and a big bag of toss pod type laundry detergent,make sure they do their own laundry there,,because if it comes back home in a duffel bag,you will get objects that are stinky,,hard,,round and unreconizable,,,trust me on this lol,,,ive seen towels socks,shirts in hard stinky shapes that takes more than one washing to make clean again

  20. Apple says

    Thanks for the tips. I never thought of bringing bubble wrap and blankets for the return trip. Whoops. Would’ve had lots of broken items!

  25. DEBIJOT says

    Great tips. Keeping a checklist is a great idea. Also, don’t try to take everything you own. Only pack items you will use.

  27. nicole cannon says

    have fun and try to major in something you enjoy so you dont ever have to work . and keeo in touch with your parents so they dont worry.

  28. Vyrna Leporacci says

    great tips for college move ins and move outs.. I remember when i was in college, i was running around getting things packed up. now i have kids and one is starting Kindergarten.. i can already see her heading to college… eeeekkkk. i can imagine how parents feel this yr, dropping off there college student. the emotions that run thru.

  32. Missy Wilber says

    Some great tips for college parents! I had one that went to college, but she was only an hour away 🙂 even though she lived there in an apartment, we still had to move her there, but it was nice having her closer to home. she’s now an RN in California, so college paid off. It’s always nice to get tips from others when you are so stressed out about it because you tend to forget things.

  38. jaci says

    this is something ive never had to go through a very good read ive always heard to have lots of roman idk if that true or not but always something to kewp in mind i guess

  39. Danielle says

    Well we just moved my son to school it was over 20 hours to drive, we drop him off unloaded everything drove four hours and decided to stay at a hotel for the night get a csll from my son freakin out he wanted to come home he doesn’t fit in its to far blah blah so basically all the driving packing unpacking buying stuff rented a car gas food was for NOTHING

  42. Hannah Chase says

    Going away to college was one of the best experiences of my life— I would just remind your kiddo to enjoy and work hard!

  43. donna porter says

    When it comes to college this is really hard on the parents. Helping them move, shopping and organizing really makes you feel more comfortable that they will adjust better and have all they need.

  46. PAULA BROWN says

    I haven`t had the moving out experience but I know it has to be hard but necessary. This is the next phase in a young adults life and they will still need all of your support and advice even though they think they don`t.

  48. Denise Anderson says

    Anything that makes for an organized move is great. It’s hard enough when they leave.

  49. Sandy Klocinski says

    I do not have a child moving to college. One thing that I would suggest is if you still have dorm shopping to do, take a close look at what stores like Bed, Bath & Beyond, Target or The Container Store will do to ship for free. On move-in day you will have an even better idea of what is needed for your teen’s room and you can go to the local store where your items will be set aside for you. No hauling.

  51. Carla W. says

    Great tips for moving in general. My daughter is out of college now but I am hoping she goes back to finish her nursing degree. She is now a CNA but I want her to become an RN or a medical assistant.

  52. Ina Gribbins says

    My grandson has moved back to college housing and I wish we has known about the zipper ikea bags before, will have to look into that. Thanks for the chance to win!

  53. monique s says

    It is such a big moment in life and so many things you need to get for the dorm room or apt

  55. Jillian Burton says

    My baby is still a baby, so don’t have to worry about this YET! Great read though!

  57. Tonya Smith says

    These shoes and boots are super cute. I am looking through and seeing so many I like. Great styles.

  58. elizabeth miller says

    I like the idea of just putting it all into a storage unit over the summer. Usually you get the fist month on a storage unit for a special of like 1.00 too so you really would only pay for 2 months. Way better than bringing it all home and back again.

  60. mami2jcn says

    I never thought of a self-storage unit when I lived in my college dorm. That’s a good idea! I once stored some things in the communal storage room and my things were stolen.

  63. Jaye Smith says

    There was no internet back when I moved to college. It would have been great to have these tips. It would have made it so much smoother.

  64. Jackie says

    These are all great tips. I learned (after stressing the first year), that if there is something we forgot, there is probably a Target or Walmart nearby.

  66. Mia Rose says

    I do not have a college age student but I remember well the planning that went into the first years and just trying to figure it all out.

  67. Jessi Housel says

    Less is more when it comes to moving! lol My kids are years from this but good overview of what to expect.

  69. ellen beck says

    ARGGGGGGGGG I had a comment, page crashed :/
    retyping bu maybe a bit shorter…

    Remember cleaning supplies. Treat rooms either on or off campus like a landlord situation noting damage upon entering and leaving and address it. Great tips!

  71. Kim Beranek says

    Great Post. My daughter is a junior in high school . She’s excited for college already though.

  72. gloria patterson says

    I live in a college town and when they move in to dorms it is on a certain day at a certain time. Traffic is a mess and stores are so full of parentss that don’t have what they need or want for the room. Even parent that move their kids in that live here have problems.

  73. Darcy Koch says

    I think it would be exciting getting prepared to go to college.The sad part would be dropping the student off. That would be heartbreaking. I would make the transistion easy for him by sending lots of care packages.