A Million Questions About College

[dis-happy]

Oh, the VERY BEST THING you can buy for 4 years of college: a small hand truck! Bought one for $29. at Lowe's last week and it was so much easier for moving our dd in this year. First year she was on the 3rd floor of a building w/o elevators, second year she was on the main level and it was super easy to park and get her stuff in, but this year, in an on-campus apartment, again on the 3rd floor, with a long walkway from the parking lot....the hand truck completely rocked.

 

[DISNEY1975]

Thanks everyone for the answers/advice. I am reading every one of them, so if you think of anything else, keep writing!

I looked at the courses, not his schedule and found books listed. I knew the "no book" thing could not be true! Thanks to all who lead me to the right spot!

Thanks for the Chegg.com info! Looked into it this morning and saw 1 of his books listed. Just that will save me $80!!

 

[christineann]

YES to the hand truck - moving in and out is much quicker and easier on everybody's backs. I think I could have auctioned ours off to the highest bidder on many occasions (instead, we just loaned it to others).

A GREAT SUGGESTION!

 

[MrsPete]

1) His school offered a welcome basket for $75 filled with junk food. I opted out, but want to make my own. What kind of food other than granola bars can I put in that would be healthy, but last a long time (I dont want fruit flys in his room!)

Those baskets are a fund raiser for some group on campus, or they're a money-maker for the campus housing. They'll offer them again at exam time. You can do your own better on your own.

2) I looked at his schedule and it seems he is taking all lectures??? There are no books listed for him to buy. Is this normal? Will I be hit with $1000 bill because the teachers will tell them on the first day they all need books?

Every class I had in class was a lecture, and every one of them required a book. When I was in college, you could go to the bookstore before classes began and look up your section #/teacher's name, and you could find your books -- or you could wait 'til the first day of class to hear what the professor said. We were never told about books with an in-the-mail schedule.

3) Will a minivan load of "stuff" fit into dorm rooms? Should he only take necessities and see what he needs later, or should I bring everything and come home with 1/2 if it doesnt all fit? (He's about 1hr 15min away, I could go back if needed, but I want to try to make it a month before asking to visit!!)

Let him decide what to take. If whatever he takes is a mistake, let it be HIS mistake, not yours! Really, he's a big boy. As long as he has a week's worth of clothes, a bookbag with notebooks and a laptop, linens, and personal grooming items, he can function in college. Make it minimal to start with and let him "add on" as he figures out what he needs.

 

[MrsPete]

Oh, the VERY BEST THING you can buy for 4 years of college: a small hand truck! Bought one for $29. at Lowe's last week and it was so much easier for moving our dd in this year. First year she was on the 3rd floor of a building w/o elevators, second year she was on the main level and it was super easy to park and get her stuff in, but this year, in an on-campus apartment, again on the 3rd floor, with a long walkway from the parking lot....the hand truck completely rocked.

Our dorms always borrowed carts from the nearby grocery store, and there were plenty on hand for moving in. You had to leave your school ID at the front desk to "check out" a cart.