Image courtesy of Dormify. 

If you are someone who is planning to simplify move-in day by shipping some of your belongings to school, but you are nervous about what happens to your packages before you arrive, look no further. We have the rundown of everything you need to know when it comes to sending packages to your school address.

Can I ship something to school before I move in?

In short, it depends on the rules at your school. However, in most cases, school mailrooms don’t allow packages any earlier than a week before move-in, because they know that the mailroom would be completely overwhelmed if they allowed packages over the summer.

If your school doesn’t allow storage for these summer packages, there are many different options to still get your packages to you safely and on time without worrying about someone taking them or misplacing them. 

So, what are my options?

Whether you fly, drive, or you just have too many things to bring with you (trust, we’ve been there), there are many different ways to get your belongings to your dorm. This is a limited list, and there are many more options out there. So, we encourage you to look at all of your options to see what is best for you!

For Fall Semester Storage Only:  

Dormroom.com

Dormroom.com partners with many different schools to offer early over-the-summer shipping. It is important to note that this program is only available for Fall semester move-in students, so unfortunately you are unable to use their service during the Winter and Spring semesters. 

This option is great if you know that you will most definitely not be able to ship some items to your home address before move-in, and also if your school is eligible for the ship-to-school option. There is a convenience fee associated with this program which covers administrative fees, handling, storage, and delivery. Not all items are eligible for campus delivery, and Dormroom.com encourages students to ship items to their houses to ensure the safety of the item.

For The Study Abroad Students: 

CollegeBoxes by UHaul

CollegeBoxes by UHaul simplify the moving process for college students and their families by serving hundreds of schools across the country. With storage and shipping worldwide (we’re looking at you, study abroad folks), CollegeBoxes offers dorm room delivery and direct shipping. UHaul makes the process easy by having the process fully online with barcode tracking and live updates.

CollegeBoxes also offers a supply kit, which includes five double-walled boxes, one bonus box, one roll of packing and mailing tape, one permanent marker, five zip ties, and 10 FedEx label pouches. 

Prices vary depending on the services provided, but they range between $35 and $95. All pricing is done on a per item basis, which makes it easy to see what you are paying for. 

Dorm Room Movers

Dorm Room Movers offers full service moving, shipping, and storage services to schools around the country. They offer this service to students not only studying in the country but to students studying abroad, as well! The warehouses are secure and climate controlled, ensuring that all of your belongings are safe for the duration of the time that they are in the possession of Dorm Room Movers. 

All of the supplies for this program are distributed through UPS and they offer $100 coverage on each item. For select colleges, Dorm Room Movers offers direct-to-dorm-room delivery. You can store your belongings with Dorm Room Movers for just $14.99 per month per box, with no minimum quantity or storage period. All of the supplies are mailed directly to you and your first pick-up is free!

For Year-round Storage:

Parcel Pending

Parcel Pending understands that the stress of messy college mail rooms can be overwhelming– both for students and the people who work there. Things can get lost, or you might not receive a package until weeks or months after it has been delivered. Parcel Pending pride itself on being a global leader in package management. They also offer a mobile app that makes it simple and easy to work with them! 

Parcel Pending doesn’t stop helping after move-in. If your school offers it, many Parcel Pending lockers run year-round, which makes it quick and easy for students to receive packages throughout the school year. Once you set up your account (or sometimes your school will set it up for you), you will receive a code through your email or phone number when your package arrives. You will take that to wherever your Parcel Pending location is, type the code on the keypad, and the locker will open and reveal your item. 

DIY Low Cost Options: 

U-Pack

U-Pack offers an easy and efficient way to delay your belongings that need to be moved if they will be getting there before you. Your items remain in a secure storage space, and all of the costs are explained up front (AKA no hidden fees). They also allow you to change your mind or switch something around as you see fit. It’s as simple as paying monthly, and then calling when you are ready to receive your items. 

U-Pack includes liability charges and gas within its fees, which can make it easier to afford than other options. There are a variety of options to choose from when it comes to selecting your storage, making this a great idea if you have lots of things, or even if you only have a few. 

Lugless

‍Lugless offers an affordable way to ship your belongings in just 4 simple steps. They begin by identifying which shipping platform will be the least expensive. Then you have your choice of  3 different types of shipping labels -  printed, digital, or mailed pre-printed labels. After you pack up your items you are then able to customize your package pick up. The next two steps are the simplest, pack the rest of your belongings and arrive relaxed knowing Lugless is taking care of your stuff!  

Storage Scholars

Storage Scholar is a company that aims to make moving to college easy for as many students as they can. They have a list of schools in which they serve, but if you don’t see your school on that list, you can submit a request to have your school featured. 

Storage Scholars offers a variety of features, including boxes and moving supplies distributed on campus, insured and temperature-controlled storage facilities, $100 complimentary insurance on every item, on-campus pick-up and delivery by fellow students. They have locations in colleges all over the country to help students with their moving needs. 

College specific pre-move-in storage

Depending on your school or campus, they may offer their own pre-move-in storage at a fraction of the price so that students can have a simple option when moving in. Not all schools offer this, especially without partnering with one of the companies mentioned above, but there are some schools out there that do. Here are some of them, just to name a few:

• Florida Atlantic University
• Lewis and Clark University
• Stanford University
• Loyola University Maryland

Reach out to your campus housing and residence life department to see what storage options they offer and to compare prices to other companies. This will help to save some time in the long run by knowing whether to go through your school or a third party!

Interested in helping students just like you?

If you have needed to ship or store your belongings before school starts, you know how intimidating and nerve racking that can be. So, if you are someone who wants to give back and help students who are in the same boat that you once were in, many of these companies offer jobs that allow you the chance to deliver the students’ belongings to their dorm rooms. Not only does this help out the students, but it is also an efficient way to make some money before the school year starts.

Programs to help avoid the move-in hassle

Besides storage facilities and shipment, there are several other programs to help your move-in day stay stress-free. Planning your room’s layout and knowing exactly what you need to bring is a helpful start, and booking a hotel can give you more time to move in and set up your new space instead of trying to fit it all into one day. 

Roomie

Roomie is an app that allows you to fully design your living space before you even step foot in your dorm on move-in day. They work with universities to scan their unique dorm floor plans, and then students have access to interactive 3D models that allow them to fully design their dream space. Roomie utilizes accurate measuring, an integrated marketplace with shoppable links, and collaboration between roommates. Several universities use Roomie, such as: 

• Ole Miss
• Pepperdine
• University of New Hampshire
• Elon University 

Using Roomie also promotes sustainability and saving money, as a fully planned-out room allows you to know exactly what you need to bring to school instead of guessing. 

Graduate Hotels

Often, students and their families need to book a hotel for the duration of move-in, as they’re dropping you off at your school potentially hours away. Graduate Hotels is a collection of boutique hotels across the country, located in the heart of college towns, that can help you feel acclimated as you move into your new home. Each hotel is decorated with the town’s collegiate culture to excite you as you make this important transition on move-in day. They have locations in:

• Ann Arbor, Michigan
• Berkeley, California 
• Iowa City, Iowa
• New York City, New York

Pricing for your stay at one of the Graduate Hotels depends on the location and time of year. 

If you plan on staying at one of these hotels, they allow you to ship your packages there and they will store them in the mailroom until you are ready to pick up.​​ Select locations have a $10 per box storage fee.

Moving doesn’t need to be difficult

In short, moving into college does not need to be difficult for you and your family. There are so many options that can make move-in run smoothly and that allow your belongings to move from one place to another without you having to drive or fly with all of them! Doing this will make your life easier and lift some of the stress from your shoulders in the first few weeks of college. This gives you time to enjoy yourself, relax, and take it all in.