1. Have plenty of boxes. Overestimate how many you need; you can always recycle or let someone else use the extras. Having to put a pile of books or sweatshirts on the floor of your backseat is inconvenient, and one highway lurch and you've got stuff everywhere. Grab some boxes at the grocery store or one of the stores on Prospect Ave., or you can buy them pretty much anywhere.

2. Keep things together. Put all your kitchen stuff in one box, all your bathroom stuff in one box. Unpacking is easier, and if you don't need your plates and other kitchen stuff at home, you can just pick up the box in August and bring it right back to school.

3. Get rid of stuff. Papers, magazines, clothes you don't wear, etc. all take up room and if you didn't use them this semester, you probably won't use them next semester or over the summer. Unless you're stockpiling notes for the MCATs or something, you probably don't need your IB100 notebook if you took it as a Gen.Ed.

4. Label boxes. This seems like a no-brainer, but in the rush of trying to get all your stuff packed and running to the car in hopes you didn't get a ticket in the illegal spot, it is a step that is often looked over. Again, unpacking will be much easier, and when you get home and are wondering where your half-used bottle of shampoo is...hey, I bet it's in the boxed labeled "bathroom."