Title: How to Make the Most of the Last Month Before College Starts

The countdown is real—college is just weeks away! Whether you’re feeling excited, nervous, overwhelmed, or all of the above, this last month at home is more important than you might think. It’s a window of time to prepare not just your suitcase, but your mindset. Here’s how to make the most of it.

---

1. Take Care of Practical To-Do’s

Use this time to check off the must-dos so you’re not scrambling in the final days:

• 📋 Finalize your housing and roommate info. Connect with your roommate(s) if you haven’t already to coordinate what each of you is bringing.
• 💳 Sort out banking and budget basics. Open a student checking account, set up Venmo/Zelle, and talk with your parents about managing money.
• 📚 Check your class schedule and school email. Make sure you’re registered for orientation, have access to your student portal, and know when classes begin.

---

2. Practice Healthy Habits Now

College life can be a big shift—late nights, dining hall food, freedom overload. Start creating rhythms now that you can take with you:

• Try setting a consistent sleep schedule.
• Practice doing your own laundry and managing your own meals.
• Get in the habit of organizing your day (even if it’s just in your Notes app).

---

3. Have the Real Conversations

Now’s a good time for heartfelt talks with your family—and yourself:

• Talk through expectations with your parents: communication, boundaries, support.
• Reflect on how you want to handle stress, peer pressure, and independence.
• Make a list of 3 people you can turn to for support (on and off campus).

---

4. Connect With Your Future Community

You don’t have to wait until move-in day to start building connections:

• Join your college’s Class of [Year] Facebook group or Discord.
• Follow clubs, sports, or campus ministries you’re interested in.
• Reach out to your assigned roommate, even just to say hi or plan who brings what.

---

5. Say Goodbye Well

Don’t rush through your last few weeks at home—make them meaningful:

• Visit your favorite local spots one more time.
• Schedule time with family and friends to make memories.
• Write a letter to yourself to read at the end of your first semester.

---

6. Prepare Your Mind, Not Just Your Dorm

College readiness isn’t just about bedding and school supplies—it’s about resilience, curiosity, and confidence.

• Watch or read something inspiring about starting college.
• Make a list of things you’re excited to learn—inside and outside the classroom.
• Remind yourself: You don’t need to have it all figured out. Growth is the goal.

---

Final Thoughts
This next chapter will stretch and shape you in ways you can’t fully predict—but that’s part of the adventure. Use this last month to set the tone. Prepare, connect, reflect, and celebrate what’s ahead.

You’ve got this.