High School class of 2011

[linnylu]

My ds leaves Sunday. He is taking a week long, intense chem workshop and then starts marching band. We aren't near ready and of course he thinks it can all be done the night before.

 

[agnes!]

I took DD to file for a passport today. DD doesn't have any particular plans to travel out of the country but I wanted her to be prepared just in case an internship or other opportunities became available. Yesterday she set up a no-fee student savings/checking account at our local bank, turns out they have a branch about 1.5 miles from the campus and I like being able to transfer money for her from home if she needs it there.

The next things are:
*get a few more pairs of jeans
*get some formal dresses altered/hemmed (She didn't have any, these are the ones we got at a nice consignment shop).
*get some little plastic drawer cubes at Target. They're about 12x12x12 and either have two large drawers or three smaller drawers in them. I think they're pretty flexible in terms of usage (pens/pencils/jewelry/first-aid kit/ whatever, placed in bathroom/closet/on dresser or desk/bedside) and in size since they can also be stacked.
*figure out how in the world we will pack her clothes for the drive down....plastic totes? garbage bags? plastic under-the-bed drawers? use space-saver bags?

We're not ready either linnylu.

agnes!

 

[minkydog]

I took DD to file for a passport today. DD doesn't have any particular plans to travel out of the country but I wanted her to be prepared just in case an internship or other opportunities became available.

agnes!

We did that too, got DDs passport for her birthday in April. DD has plans to take at least one overseas opportunity, hopefully to Paris. I'll keep the passport at home where i know it will be safer. She won't need it until next year, probably.

I don't think DD has ever thought about how she's going to get her clothes and stuff down to her college. Maybe she will just pack a suitcase. If she has space to store the suitcase, she can keep it there. If not, then we'll just take it back home with us. I guess I need to get on her to start packing her stuff, since we leave Aug 9.

 

[michst8alum]

When taking our DS to school we just used laundry baskets to take his clothes in. It was very convenient carrying up stairs with the handles and it is wide enough that I can put breakable items between the clothes. Now, taking our DD to school is very different, we will use the laundry baskets, but it is ALL the other stuff that is going with her. Girls are so much more involved! Our living room looks like Bed Bath and Beyond!

 

[minkydog]

When taking our DS to school we just used laundry baskets to take his clothes in. It was very convenient carrying up stairs with the handles and it is wide enough that I can put breakable items between the clothes. Now, taking our DD to school is very different, we will use the laundry baskets, but it is ALL the other stuff that is going with her. Girls are so much more involved! Our living room looks like Bed Bath and Beyond!

Yeah, mine looks like a military staging area

 

[golfgal]

We did that too, got DDs passport for her birthday in April. DD has plans to take at least one overseas opportunity, hopefully to Paris. I'll keep the passport at home where i know it will be safer. She won't need it until next year, probably.

I don't think DD has ever thought about how she's going to get her clothes and stuff down to her college. Maybe she will just pack a suitcase. If she has space to store the suitcase, she can keep it there. If not, then we'll just take it back home with us. I guess I need to get on her to start packing her stuff, since we leave Aug 9.

We did some suitcases for DS19's stuff last year. They stack nicely in the car and they are on WHEELS. We left him a rolling duffle bag that fit under his futon to take clothes back and forth when he came home and the rest we took home with us. They had those canvas laundry carts to use to haul stuff up and down the stairs which was REALLY nice. We got his stuff in two loads in those things (except for the suitcases). DD will be a different story.

When we were loading up to come home this past spring we were just getting to our car with the first load and a woman come up and says "I need that cart, we are trying to move my DD out of the dorm". Um, we are using it right now and so is EVERYONE ELSE . I told her we would be done with it when we were done. She got all huffy and walked away. I could have told her there were about 10 more in the lobby but I didn't

 

[geffric]

We aren't near ready and of course he thinks it can all be done the night before.

LOL yep my DS too.. keeps telling me to "chill" ..but he did worry about getting a bike lock..

 

[ctinct]

We feel lucky! Upperclassmen unload and carry all the stuff from the first years' cars---all we have to do is pack it into the car and unpack it once we get there. She's on the second floor, too, so this will be great.

Now, the other three years.....

 

[minkydog]

My ds leaves Sunday. .. We aren't near ready and of course he thinks it can all be done the night before.

You know? I asked DD when she wanted to start packing and this is what I got: Totally deer in headlights. I truly do believe that she doesn't intend to even start packing until the night before we leave. Lucky for her, we're going down the night before and we don't need to leave until about 3pm that afternoon. But still...I guess i'm just a little too anal for that. I would have everything organized and cross-referenced by now, if not IN the car!~

 

[agnes!]

Went online and checked the bookstore today to see what our costs could be since we opted for the stressless ease of dorm-room delivery. I know that next semester she'll probably not get the dorm-room option. She has no problem with going Used but we figured with the hubbub of Move-In Day, getting the books up to her 4th Floor room, I still like lessening the stress of it all. Plus next semester she'll have a better 'read' on the profs (to figure out if they over-order), will know what venues around campus are best for Used (fellow students, bookstore) and we've bought used textbooks before from online vendors (Amazon, Alibris, etc.)

If the books are all new the total will be $713 . If all Used the total will be $547. What's funny is that I thought that the total might be as high as $1000, so I'm not feeling totally freaked-out. For instance, DD is taking a Business Law class that uses a custom book - New the textbook costs $198, Used it "only" costs $149. The Bookstore pulls Used versions first so I am hoping we score some Used books along the way. She's also taking some Honors courses that utilize a LOT of paperbacks (Topics in the 20th/21st Centuries, Classical Civilizations). At least I can pay for them through her Financial Services online account in about a week...that way we won't have to stand in line to pay during Check-In weekend.


agnes!

 

[linnylu]

Well, today is the day. DS got up at 9 and decided it was time to pack. There has been a lot of, "Mom, do you know where .......... is?" I hope check in goes smoothly. My sister took our younger children for the weekend which has worked out great. Wish us luck!

 

[golfgal]

Went online and checked the bookstore today to see what our costs could be since we opted for the stressless ease of dorm-room delivery. I know that next semester she'll probably not get the dorm-room option. She has no problem with going Used but we figured with the hubbub of Move-In Day, getting the books up to her 4th Floor room, I still like lessening the stress of it all. Plus next semester she'll have a better 'read' on the profs (to figure out if they over-order), will know what venues around campus are best for Used (fellow students, bookstore) and we've bought used textbooks before from online vendors (Amazon, Alibris, etc.)

If the books are all new the total will be $713 . If all Used the total will be $547. What's funny is that I thought that the total might be as high as $1000, so I'm not feeling totally freaked-out. For instance, DD is taking a Business Law class that uses a custom book - New the textbook costs $198, Used it "only" costs $149. The Bookstore pulls Used versions first so I am hoping we score some Used books along the way. She's also taking some Honors courses that utilize a LOT of paperbacks (Topics in the 20th/21st Centuries, Classical Civilizations). At least I can pay for them through her Financial Services online account in about a week...that way we won't have to stand in line to pay during Check-In weekend.


agnes!

Another thing to consider with buying text books is the first day of class for every one of DS19's classes both first and second semester, the prof gave them a list of acceptable "substitutes" for each text book--older versions and "changes" from that version to the current. Usually it was just a few page number changes, one book it was a chapter that was in a previous version that wasn't in the new version but she had photo copies for anyone that needed them.

 

[agnes!]

Another thing to consider with buying text books is the first day of class for every one of DS19's classes both first and second semester, the prof gave them a list of acceptable "substitutes" for each text book--older versions and "changes" from that version to the current. Usually it was just a few page number changes, one book it was a chapter that was in a previous version that wasn't in the new version but she had photo copies for anyone that needed them.

Yeah, I figure that second semester DD will be able to get a 'read' on the profs, maybe ask them if other editions can be substituted - we probably won't go the less-stress/delivered to dorm-room route. The nice thing about buying them through the campus bookstore is that we'll be able to exchange texts and/or get our money back if the teachers change their minds.

agnes!

 

[Nancy]

I took DD to file for a passport today. DD doesn't have any particular plans to travel out of the country but I wanted her to be prepared just in case an internship or other opportunities became available. Yesterday she set up a no-fee student savings/checking account at our local bank, turns out they have a branch about 1.5 miles from the campus and I like being able to transfer money for her from home if she needs it there.

The next things are:
*get a few more pairs of jeans
*get some formal dresses altered/hemmed (She didn't have any, these are the ones we got at a nice consignment shop).
*get some little plastic drawer cubes at Target. They're about 12x12x12 and either have two large drawers or three smaller drawers in them. I think they're pretty flexible in terms of usage (pens/pencils/jewelry/first-aid kit/ whatever, placed in bathroom/closet/on dresser or desk/bedside) and in size since they can also be stacked.
*figure out how in the world we will pack her clothes for the drive down....plastic totes? garbage bags? plastic under-the-bed drawers? use space-saver bags?

We're not ready either linnylu.

agnes!

This is my big issue too. I have a van but there will be 4 of us in it since my middle DD is coming home for 2 weeks and going back with us. (goes to the same college but lives there all the time). I'm thinking space saver bags might end up being the way we go.

I still have lots of time though. The college is on quarters and she doesn't need to be there until 9/18. She has orientation this week, we drive down on Wednesday. Hopefully she'll find out about her room mate soon and she can start final planning. The school has mini fridges and microwaves in each dorm room so that is an expense she won't have. They will loft the bed for a fee so she is deciding if she wants that or not. She already bought her bedding and some storage stuff. She was worried about stuff being gone since all the schools around here start back soon.

 

[ctinct]

This is going to sound REALLY stupid, but what is lofting a bed? Is it raising it up to bunk bed height and putting other stuff, like a desk, under it? My daughter's college provides the pieces to loft or bunk. At first, I thought lofting was just raising the bed a few inches with those riser things, which is what my dd wants to do so she can shove more stuff under there. Now I'm thinking it might mean raising the bed even higher.

 

[cruisnfamily]

I was searching for info on "Collegiate Welcome Services".A month ago we received info from DD's college with info on 4 different packages and it's being presented as a fundraiser for the school and they're aiming for 100% participation.

I had seen things previously on the college website that were some kind of care packages from a different service (I think "mom" was included in the name) and I read through them thinking she would NEVER eat the stuff in the packages.

Well the stuff listed in this mailing from collegiate welcome services, DD would actually eat most of it and would probably think it was cool to get a treat 4 times during the year.

So, my point? Feedback! Anybody used this particular service? What did your kids think of the packages?

 

[golfgal]

This is going to sound REALLY stupid, but what is lofting a bed? Is it raising it up to bunk bed height and putting other stuff, like a desk, under it? My daughter's college provides the pieces to loft or bunk. At first, I thought lofting was just raising the bed a few inches with those riser things, which is what my dd wants to do so she can shove more stuff under there. Now I'm thinking it might mean raising the bed even higher.

Yes, bunkbed height.

 

[cruisnfamily]

Well, today is the day. DS got up at 9 and decided it was time to pack. There has been a lot of, "Mom, do you know where .......... is?" I hope check in goes smoothly. My sister took our younger children for the weekend which has worked out great. Wish us luck!

You're leaving today and he's just now packing today? Wow, I wish you luck! And I hope your day does indeed go smoothly!

 

[disykat]

We've still got a while. DS got his housing assignment yesterday. Due to overcrowding, he was assigned a triple in a double room. Yikes! From the floorplan it looks like maybe they'll be able to loft all three beds and put their desks and dressers underneath, but it'll probably block the window.

 

[cruisnfamily]

I read a tip somewhere that said if the clothes will be hung in the dorm, go ahead and hang them at home and then just put large garbage bags over the hanging clothes. This is what we've decided to do. The "dresser" clothes will be going into duffle bags, she has a set of small, med, large, hopefully all the clothes and some of the misc stuff fit in there. The rest , I guess we'll just wing it

Hey, minky did you make that "how do I treat this illness, is it an emergency?" type list yet? I'd love to see it!

I'm thinking of making DD a "how to do laundry" cheat sheet. But really, all it's going to say is:
1)sort into piles (dark and light)
2)wash on cold/gentle
3)dry on low
4)towels and sheets, warm water, dry on high
So many of her clothes are those expensive brands that are really, really junky and fall apart or shrink if washed in warm or dried on high. So ALL her stuff gets washed cold and dried low.