You are likely to move at least once during your tenure as a graduate student. It will probably be an unpleasant experience. Here's some info to lessen the hassle slightly.
Moving Vans
Late August and early September are difficult times of year to rent a moving van or truck, largely because local leases tend to begin and end with the beginning and ending of local colleges' school years. Call ahead to reserve a truck so you're not hung out to dry on moving day. Two rental companies in Cambridge are Budget (220 Mass. Ave., 1-800-367-0522) and U-Haul (844 Main St., 617-354-0500), both located near Central Square.
Moving Services
Local relocators may be an option for people who want help moving over a short distance. You can hire movers and a truck for a few hours. One example is listed below:
MICHAEL'S MOVING & STORAGE
10 Penniman Rd., Allston, MA 02134
1-888-668-3761
Shipping Packages
Shipping can be an efficient way of moving your belongings. There are two main options for shipping packages: the US Postal Service (USPS) and United Parcel Service (UPS). The USPS is generally the cheaper, more reliable, and slower of the two. It is most important for its book rate, a reduced rate on packages containing only printed matter. If you are planning to send books using book rate, plan for a week or two in shipping time. UPS is a bit more expensive, but usually quicker. Both UPS and USPS offer shipping insurance; UPS, however, is generally more careful with its packages. UPS will not pay for damage to any insured computer not shipped in the original computer packing. Hence if you are shipping a computer you may want to have it packaged at a UPS office or a store such as Mail Boxes, etc, which has locations in at 955 Mass. Ave (617-868-5055) and 1770 Mass. Ave. (617-661-7171). UPS is located at 76 Arlington St., Watertown (1-800-742-5877).
Address Changes
Whenever you move, pick up the change of address package at the local Post Office (on Mt. Auburn St. near Harvard, or on Cambridge St. in Somerville). It includes, first, a request to the Postmaster to have mail forwarded to your new address and, second, several cards you can use to inform those who send you mail regularly of your change of address—such as, say, the Registrar's Office, your GSAS Financial Aid Office, the Term Bill Office, and your department. In addition, students moving out of GSAS Residence Halls will need to file a mail forwarding form, available at GSAS Housing Services, with Harvard University Mail Services.
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