Tick-tock. It’s officially mid-June, and if you’re a soon-to-be college freshman, that means one thing: you’ve got two months. Sixty-ish days until you haul your life into a dorm room, meet a roommate who may or may not eat string cheese with their mouth open, and attempt to find the bathroom in your residence hall without a map (or a priest).
But here’s the good news: two months is the perfect amount of time to prep like a pro without freaking out. It’s not too soon to pack. It’s not too late to plan. It’s just enough time to avoid dorm doom and get a head start on surviving (and thriving) in your new college life.
🎯 Month One: The Calm Before the Target Run
1. Make Peace With Change
It’s okay to feel weird right now. You’re not a high schooler anymore, but you’re not quite a college student either. You’re in a strange emotional limbo where every moment feels like a rerun of a teen movie and a graduation speech at the same time.
Write down how you’re feeling. Celebrate your high school wins. Say goodbye to the locker you hated. Accept that it’s okay to be excited and terrified. Both can be true.
2. Start Your Dorm Shopping List (Like, Now)
Waiting until August to shop? That’s adorable. You’re not alone, but you will be when the good stuff is sold out. Start your dorm list early and tackle it in categories: bedding, storage, laundry, comfort, and what we call “panic buys” — aka things you forget until the night before move-in, like surge protectors or command strips.
Check out our Ultimate Dorm Essentials List if you want to start strong.
3. Get to Know Your Roommate (or Accept the Mystery)
If your school shares roommate info early, now’s the time to reach out. A simple “Hey! I’m your future roommate — excited to meet you!” message works wonders. Don’t overthink it. You’re not marrying this person — you’re coexisting with them for a year.
If you don’t have a roommate yet? Enjoy the mystery. You’ll meet soon enough. Until then, mentally prepare for anything from chill to chaos.
4. Prep Your Tech
Make sure your laptop’s running smoothly. Update your phone. Get a cloud backup system going (Google Drive, Dropbox, whatever). You’ll want your tech game strong from day one — especially when your prof assigns a syllabus scavenger hunt due by 11:59pm.
5. Learn Some Basic Adulting
You don’t have to be Gordon Ramsay or Marie Kondo. But knowing how to do your laundry, cook one meal, and keep a semi-clean bathroom will make you 3x more prepared than half the dorm.
Bonus points if you learn how to budget, unclog a toilet, or send a polite but pointed email.
🔥 Month Two: The Countdown Gets Real
6. Lock In the Logistics
Check your school’s move-in date. Find out where you’re living. Look up the floor plan. Know what you can (and can’t) bring. Confirm you’re registered for orientation and classes. These details matter now.
And please — please — don’t forget to upload your ID photo if required. Nobody wants their student ID to be a default picture of confusion.
7. Go on a Local Farewell Tour
You’re leaving your hometown soon. Now’s the time to hit up your favorite spots — ice cream runs, late-night drives, random gas station snacks with friends. Capture the memories. Say real goodbyes. Hug your dog like you mean it.
8. Practice the Art of the Solo Grocery Run
We’re not saying Target will become your therapist… but Target will definitely become your therapist. Learn how to shop with a list, avoid impulse buys (mostly), and walk confidently through the dorm aisle without buying three novelty mugs you don’t need.
9. Get Comfortable With Uncomfortable Conversations
Roommate agreements. Boundaries. Talking to professors. Asking for help. College will stretch you, and learning to speak up early will make a world of difference.
Start small. Ask a barista how their day is. Tell your parents what you need emotionally right now. Then build from there.
10. Have Some Fun (Seriously, Go Live a Little)
Don’t spend all summer in prep mode. Go to a concert. Travel with family. Have that “last hurrah” pool party. Yes, college is coming, but this time — these last two months — is still your life. Make it count.
📦 Bonus: Things You Can Start Buying Now
- Woozoo Fan – because dorms = sweatboxes.
- Twin XL Sheets – good ones sell out early.
- Storage Bins – you’ll need them more than you think.
- Shower Caddy – no one wants a soggy soap bar in their tote.
(Dorm-Dwellers is reader-supported. We may earn a commission when you shop through our links — and that helps keep our lights on, our coffee brewed, and our posts full of sarcasm and honesty.)
🎓 Final Thought: You’ve Got Time, But Not Forever
So yeah. You’ve got two months. That’s not a threat — it’s a gift. It’s the perfect runway to go from “I’m not ready” to “Let’s do this.” Use this time to prep, breathe, laugh, cry, and stock up on fans before the heat hits harder than your tuition bill.
And remember — the best part of college isn’t what you bring, it’s who you become. But a well-packed, cool dorm room? Definitely doesn’t hurt.
Need a full list? Check out our Dorm Essentials Guide
Let’s do this.