44 THE QUEENS COURIER • BACK TO SCHOOL • AUGUST 9, 2018 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
back to school
Back to campus? 7 tips for a manageable college move
In many areas of the country leaves
are turning, apple orchards are attracting
crowds, football teams are starting practice
and nighttime is bringing a chill to
the air. For better or worse, that means
college students’ thoughts are turning to
studying and everything else that goes
with campus life.
Th is year, some 15.2 million students
are slated for enrollment in America’s
public and private post-secondary institutions,
up from 15 million last year. If
you’re a student or parent, that means it
may be time to transport key belongings
to a new living space.
Th at process can be emotionally bittersweet,
even without the logistical challenges
of packing, carrying, unpacking
and installing multiple loads of gear.
Fortunately, forewarned is forearmed,
and there’s much you can do to make
the process easier for everyone involved.
Consider the following suggestions for
making a move to college effi cient and
friction-free.
1. Be selective. When packing, use your
college-provided checklist as a guide, setting
aside the essential items needed to
make your fi rst term at school convenient
and comfortable. Remember that
college dorm rooms and apartments tend
to be small, so avoid bringing unnecessary
clothing, knickknacks or valuables
and plan to revisit home to retrieve seasonal
items later on.
2. Assemble your tools. You’re likelier
to do a better job packing if the right
tools are at your fi ngertips. Secure cardboard
boxes, packing tape, bubble wrap,
moving blankets and/or markers well
before your move, and make sure you call
at least two weeks ahead to reserve your
moving vehicle at PenskeTruckRental.
com. A 12- to 16-foot truck is oft en perfectly
sized to transport the contents of a
dorm room or apartment, but such rentals
tend to get booked up quickly during
the ultra-busy summer and fall moving
seasons.
3. Identify everything. Start packing
several days ahead so the process seems
less burdensome, saving daily-use items
for the last 48 hours. Mark the outside of
packed boxes with descriptions so contents
are unmistakable and will be easy
to fi nd even if mixed with other students’
belongings.
4. Keep crucial items separate. Instead
of inadvertently packing away important
papers, identifi cation, credit cards, medications,
glasses or contacts and other
important items, set aside a “carry-on”
bag you’ll keep in your car during your
travels.
5. Pack your truck strategically. Use
your space well by positioning heavier
items in the back of your vehicle before
proceeding with lighter items. Th at optimizes
the vehicle’s power and allows you
to fi t smaller items into smaller spaces.
6. Drive safely. Getting behind the
wheel of a moving truck need not be
intimidating as long as you keep a few
precautions in mind. Handling the extra
size and weight requires that you avoid
sharp turns, brake earlier before stopping
and navigate around low branches
or building overhangs. Depending on the
length of your drive you may also wish to
pre-map your route, review weather forecasts,
avoid rush hour and leave yourself
extra time for breaks, refueling and
unloading.
7. Stay secure. Unfortunately, students
are oft en targeted for theft during
the hectic moving process. Protect your
belongings by parking only in well-lit and
well-attended areas when you stop, and
padlocking the back doors of your vehicle
when it’s not in use.
Back-to-college time can be ultra-busy
while fi lled with anticipation and hope for
what lies ahead. For more tips on making
your move to campus smooth and easy,
visit PenskeTruckRental.com.
Courtesy BPT