What to bring to college
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Going to College Far From Home

If you are going to college far from home you may not have the luxury of bringing everything with you. The added distance makes the college preparation process a little more stressful. The following section will offer tips and advice that will help to avoid the added stress and assist any students traveling far from home to attend college.

I. Don't put all your focus on flying or driving.
If you want your own transportation when you get to school you will probably have to drive yourself. If you will not be driving yourself to school you should research as many forms of transportation as possible to find which is best for you. Try going to www.Amtrak.com to get rates on rail travel. Traveling by train will take a little longer, but it may be cheaper. You will also be able to take much more luggage on a train than you would on a plane. Taking a bus is also an option that you should consider. Bus tickets are cheaper than airfare and train tickets, and you are able to take a good deal of luggage on a bus as well.

II. Only take with you what you can't buy at school.
Your clothes or your favorite pillow are things that you should pack because you could not buy them once you get to school. You can purchase all the other stuff you will need when you arrive. Buying all of your living supplies when you get to school will be cheaper than shipping them from home.

III. Shopping online can save you a lot of time and money.
Doing your shopping when you get to school is a good option but it will take valuable time, and you will need to find transportation to the store(s). Take advantage of the fact that you are living in the age of computers! Before leaving for school buy all your stuff online and have it shipped to your new address at school. If you do this everything will be waiting for you when you arrive! The only downside to this approach is you will have to pay for shipping.

IV. Leave most of your stuff at school on breaks.
You will go crazy (and broke) if you try to bring all of your stuff home during breaks. You will just have to bring it all back again in the fall! The key is to leave everything behind. Renting a storage bin is cheaper and less of a hassle than bringing your things home. This way all your stuff will be secure and waiting for you when return from break.

If you make friends that also live far from school, rent a storage bin together and share the cost. If you make a friend during the year that lives near school, ask to borrow a corner of their basement for the summer to store your goods. This way you won't even have to pay to store your stuff (if your friend is nice)!

Check with your school to see if they offer storage space for students. If your school does offer a service like this you must sign up quickly. What little space that is available will fill up fast.

V. Contact your school to arrange an earlier move-in date.
Colleges and universities are usually sympathetic to a long-distance situation, and they may give you special treatment. If you will be traveling a long distance to attend college, contact your school's Residence Life Office to try and arrange an earlier move-in date. Getting to school a couple days early will allow you to get settled in before the rest of the students arrive. This way you can relax your nerves, get everything done that you need to, and concentrate on making new friends!

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