Keep it simple! Put their hanging clothes on a rod, put the rod in the car, and carry the rod up to the dorm room. Then it's super simple to put the hanging clothes in their new dorm closet.

Make sure you and your college student are in agreement about who gets to see what - have the proxy access discussion before tuition bills...or grades are released.

Many colleges will have volunteers waiting for you to arrive on Freshman Move-In Day. The students will swarm your car, empty it, and carry everything up to the dorm room. IT IS AWESOME! Be ready for them by labeling everything with name and room number.

Just send them with one set of sheets. They can wash (yeah, right) and put right back on their bed. This will save valuable dorm room storage space - can anyone really fold a fitted sheet anyway?

Remember to pack the fun stuff they love to do. All work and no play doesn't sound like college to me!

Good Luck!

Maureen Paschal is a freelance writer, tutor, teacher-librarian, and a mom to four almost grown kids. You can find more tips on her blog Raising The Capable Student and Facebook.