No more school, no more books, no more dirty looks from professors - with the last day of classes, students are now able to turn their thoughts to the move back home.
Shipping belongings, such as clothes, books, and cars, home for the semester break can be made easy. The key is finding the right choice for individual needs, accompanied by the best possible deals.
"Figure out when you will be leaving the area, [then] decide how important the items are to you and when you will actually need them," said Eric Comins, coordinator for Student Programs.
Students should make sure to plan ahead for timing and necessity, but make sure to carry all fragile items if possible instead of shipping, according to Comins. This prevents breaking or losing precious things that cannot be replaced.
"Ask the shipper questions, including how long will it take to arrive, will it go right to the address I use and is insurance available," Comins said.
It is smart to begin the shipping process with a plan, preparing for fees and charges, especially when considering insurance for international shipping, according to Comins.
"If you send to another country, customs charges may apply, and each country's laws will be different," Comins said. "[Students should] ask the shipper if they must complete any customs declarations and be sure to keep all receipts."
For those who purchase insurance and like to keep records, they should hold onto all receipts in order to ensure that the companies accept responsibility if something happens during shipment.
Students have quite a few options when choosing a business for shipping belongings back home, and one of the most accessible is the U.S Postal Service.
The post office now has an easy-to-use "Click-N-Ship" Web site, which allows users to create and pay for their order as well as make postal labels that include postage, said Anthony Vilardo, a postal service employee.
"When choosing shipping options, you can request either a flat rate box or a weight based price," Vilardo said. "The flat rate box means you can put as much as you can fit into the given box for one price. This is good if you are shipping heavier items."
Although printing out labels online with shipping information intact can be useful, there are a number of other things to note when shipping internationally with any major service.
"If you are shipping to another country, we recommend that you also write the shipping information in the country's native language to ensure it is delivered properly," said Debbie Stoeckert, an employee with U.S. Postal Service.
Another service that may be familiar to students who have shipped items in the past uses airmail bags to get things home.
"The M-Bag is a clear bag used for shipping books as airmail with an 11-pound weight minimum," Stoeckert said. "It is a great way to send a lot of books home at the same time."
For those students who look beyond cost and convenience, the post office is continually making strides in becoming more environmentally friendly.
"Every single package used at the USPS is biodegradable material, and that is something we are very proud of," Stoeckert said.
Another international shipping service available for students is also one of the world's largest package delivery companies, the United Parcel Service, more popularly known as UPS.
This business offers a variety of options and packages based on time schedules, so students are informed when their package will arrive and can choose to pay for the timely delivery they need, said Sara McQuay, an employee with UPS.
"We verify all packages that are allowed to be shipped to your destination," said Maria Pirrami, an employee with UPS. "We can help with shipping service selection, properly packing and preparing your shipment, filling out all documentation needed and tracking your shipment until its delivery."
It is important to remember that faster services tend to be more expensive than slower services, according to Comins. Also, what you're not allowed to ship, such as aerosol cans, chemicals, foods, sharp objects, flammable items and fragile items is important to know.
Students should do their research in advance and make shipping plans early in order to prepare for when and where they need to ship their belongings, but the main goal will be escaping school for a few needed months of recuperation.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
