I live in South Florida and go to school in upstate New York, which means I travel about 1,300 miles when I’m moving in and out of my dorm. It’s most convenient for me to fly to and from each location, so I can’t pack my entire closet, a desk lamp, and a DIY phone projector into my suitcases. Luckily, after some stressful experiences during my first year of college, I’ve found that there are ways to make a long distance college move much easier (and possibly cheaper)!
If you know you’ll be going home after your first semester (i.e. during winter break), just bring the clothing you need during the late summer and fall season! Leave behind the puffy coats, snow boots, gloves, and thick knitted scarves, and then swap them when you come back home. This is a great way to save money on baggage fees during a long distance college move!
I was amazed at how much space this method saved me last summer; and I was able to pack six weeks of clothing in a carry on.
I know you’ll want to bring your heels and sexy nude wedges, but don’t forget the must-haves: athletic shoes because you’ll be doing a lot of walking, shower sandals for obvious reasons, and ankle boots because they go with pretty much anything.
Bedding and pillows take up a lot of room in suitcases, so the best thing to do is buy these items in your college’s city/town. You can even get ahead of the massive crowds in the stores on move-in day by ordering them in advance for pick up!
Moving far from home is pretty hard. The best decor, in my opinion, is pictures of my loved ones. They don’t take up a lot of room in your suitcase, and they help whenever I feel homesick, especially since I can’t visit as often as other students who live just three hours from school.
Look into your college’s mail policy for moving in and out. Some colleges will let you ship items to your new address before you move in, so you can order decor items, school supplies, and other essentials in advance. This way, they’ll be waiting for you once you get to your new dorm! For moving out, your college might have a service that lets you purchase boxes for shipping to your house at a flat rate.
Don’t buy extra furniture, like lounge chairs, without knowing exactly what is already provided to you and how much space you will have. For example, my college provides every room with a desk lamp, so it’s not necessary to bring my own. Remember, it might have looked nice on Pinterest, but it might make your room feel cramped!
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