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🚨 Attention Class of 2029: It’s 4 Months Until Dorm Move-In

Attention Class of 2029: It’s 4 Months Until Dorm Move-In — Here’s What You Actually Need to Start Doing' on Dorm-Dwellers.com. Offers funny, practical advice for incoming college freshmen preparing for dorm life, including shopping tips, roommate advice, and essential Amazon product recommendations.

🚨 Attention Class of 2029: It’s 4 Months Until Dorm Move-In — Here’s What You Actually Need to Start Doing

Hey there, future dorm dweller! 👋

If you’re reading this, chances are you’re about to embark on one of life’s great adventures: living in a dorm room. Congrats! You’re four months away from late-night ramen, awkward roommate encounters, and learning just how many ways you can avoid doing laundry. For instance, classes start at the University of Alabama on August 20, 2025, so move-in’s will be happening in – checks notes – 4 MONTHS!

But before you sprint toward the exciting chaos that is college life, let’s talk prep.

Because here’s the thing: those four months will fly by. And if you wait until August to start planning, you’ll end up panic-buying a SpongeBob shower caddy and a twin XL sheet set made of fiberglass.

Let’s not do that.

Instead, read on for what you should actually be thinking about now — and yes, we’ll throw in some Amazon goodies before the summer rush wipes them off the shelves.

1. 📅 Mark Your Move-In Date (and Don’t Just Rely on Mom’s Calendar)

Step one: find your college’s official move-in date and write it everywhere. Your phone, your planner, your forehead if you’re into Sharpie tattoos. Once you know the date, you can backward-plan for packing, shopping, and mentally preparing to share 130 square feet with a stranger.

Also, figure out how long you’ll have to move in. Some schools give you a full day. Others, like Michigan State University, will hand you a 30-minute window to get everything into big big green carts and to your new room like it’s the freaking Amazing Race.

2. 👯‍♂️ Stalk Your Future Roommate (Respectfully)

You probably don’t have a roommate assignment yet, unless you’re rooming with your annoying sibling or bestie from Girl Scouts or High School Cross Country, but once you get that assignment – things will move quickly.

The goal here is to make contact before move-in so you don’t both show up with microwaves, mini-fridges, and emotional baggage from high school. Start with a casual DM like:

“Hey! I heard we’re gonna be roomies at [insert school name]! Can’t wait to meet you — also, do you already have a fan or should I bring one?”

Boom. You’re breaking the ice and coordinating supplies.

Also — pro tip — look them up on social media, but maybe don’t like a pic from 2017. It’s a roommate, not a romantic interest – and it’s creepy.

3. 🛍️ Start Your Dorm Shopping Now

Trust us: if you wait until late July, everything on your list will be sold out or overpriced. Just ask those clamoring for Woo Zoo fans the past few years. So start now while your Amazon Prime still delivers in under 48 hours and stores aren’t yet swarming with incoming freshmen.

Here are some must-haves to grab early:

✅ Twin XL Bedding (Yes, it has to be XL)

Don’t try to fit regular twin sheets. You’ll just end up sleeping in a sad, wrinkled cocoon.

  • Twin XL Sheet Set — Soft, breathable, and comes in a million colors.
  • Mattress Topper — Because dorm mattresses were apparently designed by medieval torture experts.
  • Comforter — Lightweight but cozy. Your emotional support blanket, basically.

✅ Shower Caddy & Flip-Flops (Trust No Tile)

Unless you love the idea of stepping barefoot into a communal shower shared by 40 other people (some of whom think soap is optional), get these:

✅ Desk Supplies (Because Studying is, Like, the Whole Point)

At some point, you will have to study. Your future GPA says thank you.

✅ Fan (Because Dorms = Sauna Season)

Dorm AC is a lie. If you get it at all, it’s either broken or set to “arctic tundra.” Get a personal fan and prepare for whatever version of hell your building offers.

✅ Coffee Maker (Your Lifeline)

Caffeine will become your best friend. Don’t depend on campus coffee lines that are longer than the DMV.

  • Mini Keurig — Compact, efficient, and basically your morning hero.

4. 🧳 Don’t Pack Your Entire Childhood Bedroom

Here’s the reality: your dorm room will be smaller than your parents’ walk-in closet.

You don’t need 12 hoodies, your prom dress, or a giant stuffed panda. Start thinking now about what you’ll actually wear, use, and have room for.

Create three piles:

  • Absolutely bringing (everyday clothes, bedding, laptop, toothbrush)
  • Might bring (winter coat, extra towels, ukulele)
  • LOL no (your old yearbooks, lava lamp, that fondue pot from Aunt Susan)

5. 👕 Learn to Do Laundry Without Destroying Your Clothes

Four months is just enough time to practice washing your own clothes — before you end up tie-dyeing your entire wardrobe with one rogue red sock.

Ask your parents or a responsible adult (YouTube counts) to show you:

  • How to sort by color
  • What temperature to use
  • Why dryer sheets are not edible

Bonus: learn how to sew on a button and iron a shirt. We’re not saying you’ll need it, but Adult You will be impressed.

6. 💻 Set Up Your Tech Life

Make sure your laptop is up to date, your student email is activated, and you’ve got your school’s portal bookmarked.

Also, start organizing your digital life. Pro tip: create folders for each class on Google Drive. That way, when the semester starts, you’ll pretend to be a responsible student for at least two weeks.

Also, don’t forget:

  • Noise-Canceling Headphones — For studying (or blocking out your roommate’s 4 a.m. Call of Duty session)
  • Portable Charger — Because your phone will die during orientation and you’ll be lost forever

7. 💸 Budget Like a (Kind of) Grown-Up

Start tracking your spending now, especially if you’ve never had to budget before. Think about:

  • How much you’ll need monthly (snacks, laundry, weekend pizza binges)
  • Whether you’ll get a campus job
  • If your parents will Venmo you every time you “accidentally” run out of money

Apps like Mint or You Need A Budget (YNAB) can help, or go old school and use a spreadsheet. It doesn’t have to be perfect — just start being aware of where your money goes.

Spoiler: a lot of it will go to coffee and Uber Eats.

8. 😬 Mentally Prep for the Big Transition

College is exciting, but it’s also a big change. You’re leaving behind your friends, family, pets, and that one local pizza place that knew your order by heart.

Start thinking about how you’ll stay connected with home — maybe a weekly FaceTime, care packages, or even good ol’ snail mail.

Also, give yourself permission to be nervous. Everyone’s pretending to be cool, but they’re all freaking out inside. It’s fine. You’ve got this.

Final Thoughts (AKA TL;DR for the ADHD Crowd)

Four months out is the sweet spot. You’ve got enough time to plan, but not so much that it’s overwhelming. Here’s what to do:

  • Lock in your move-in date
  • Reach out to your roommate
  • Start dorm shopping (early bird = better deals)
  • Practice adulting skills like laundry and budgeting
  • Don’t overpack
  • Get hyped (and maybe a little scared — that’s normal)

And hey, we’ll be here all summer at Dorm-Dwellers.com dropping more survival tips, product picks, and hilarious cautionary tales. Subscribe to our newsletter, follow us on TikTok, and don’t forget to check our dorm essentials shop.

Because college might be chaotic, but at least your dorm setup can be 🔥.

Got questions? Drop them in the comments or slide into our DMs. We’re like your older sibling who actually wants to help (and won’t steal your hoodie).

Peace, love, and lint rollers ✌️

👉 Don’t forget to grab our Ultimate Dorm Essentials Checklist so you don’t miss a single thing — from surge protectors to shower shoes. Print it, share it, tape it to your forehead. You’ll thank us later.

Heads up: Some of the links in this post are Amazon affiliate links. That means if you click through and buy something, we might earn a tiny commission — at no extra cost to you. It’s like tossing a quarter into our dorm vending machine, which helps fuel our ramen habit and keeps this site running.

So thank you for supporting Dorm-Dwellers.com — one shower caddy at a time. You’re the real MVP.

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