Moving to an Out-of-State College
So you’ve decided to go to an out-of-state college. Now what? Moving to college looks a little bit different if your travel distance is farther than a couple hours’ drive. Moving out of state for college can seem like a daunting task but planning ahead helps to alleviate any potential headaches that may arise. Below is a guide that will help you learn how to pack for college when it involves long-distance travel. Start by creating a college packing list with the following three options and categorize each item you are bringing according to option one, two or three.
1.Ship
Include items for shipping that you will not need immediately before or during your travels. This may include items like out-of-season clothing, room décor, linens/towels, textbooks and shoes. Collegeboxes can ship you a kit that includes five boxes that can be easily packed and will be picked up from your home. They will then be shipped to a storage facility near your school until you arrive on campus. Boxes are delivered to your door during a scheduled college move in day.
2.Buy upon arrival
Not everything you need for school has to be packed or shipped, especially if you don’t have a pressing need for it. Remember that you can buy items once you arrive on campus. If you want to buy large and/or fragile room décor, like mirrors for example, it may be best to find a home goods store in the area. Items like bikes are also hard to ship; if you want to bike on campus and are open to making a new purchase, it will be easier to do that in-town.
3.Pack for travel
The most important items to consider for taking with you while you travel are items that are needed on a day-to-day basis, including toiletries, clothing, jewelry and other personal items. Make sure you have easy accessibility to things like medications and glasses in a smaller personal bag as you travel.
Packing for airplane travel
Packing for airline travel may seem difficult because you are limited in what you are able to bring. Shipping items is a great option for when you must fly and may be more cost-effective. If you decide to pack and check bags for the flight, you will need to consider weight and size. Each airline determines the cost of each checked bag, adhering to a maximum weight of 50 lbs. and maximum size of 62 inches. There will be added fees for going over this threshold. Research the cost of carry-ons as well if you are flying on a discount airline.
Packing for a long-distance car ride
When driving to college, there are a few things to consider.
- Coordinate how much to bring according to your car size. SUVs allow for more space, while compact cars only allow for a few boxes.
- Allow space to see out the rearview mirror – do not block your line of sight with items. This will ensure you stay safe during your long drive.
- Pack large, heavy items on the bottom of the cargo area/trunk of your car. This will keep the center of gravity of your car lower.
- Do not put small, loose items on top – in the situation that that you need to stop suddenly, they can become dislodged and quickly move, which is both a danger and distraction.
If you are not looking forward to your college move, it is possible to avoid it altogether. Collegeboxes can do all the heavy lifting, picking up all your packed items and getting them to your school in time for your arrival. This can help take out some of the stressors and guesswork associated with long-distance moves and give you more time to explore your new campus and city.