Dorm Ready

From dorm budgeting and shopping to move-in day and beyond, this practical guide for parents will help you create a smoother, smarter, and simpler college transition for the whole family.

Preparing your child for college life can feel overwhelming, especially when it comes to dorm living, move-in logistics, and knowing what they actually need while they’re away at school. In this comprehensive and approachable guide, founders of Simply2Moms—the lifestyle brand that has helped thousands of families confidently navigate the college transition—AnnMarie Christiano and Anne Zirkle share their trusted strategies, advice, and real-life solutions to work with your child to get them dorm ready.

Drawing on years of experience with their own kids and helping other families, Christiano and Zirkle walk you through every stage of the process, including how to:

• Understand college housing options
• Build a realistic budget
• Shop with intention and avoid costly overbuying
• Create a functional, comfortable, well-designed living space
• Maximize—and compromise—in small shared spaces
• Pack strategically to handle move-in day like a pro
• Set your student up to thrive throughout the school year

Beyond the dorm itself, Dorm Ready also offers thoughtful guidance for the emotional side of the transition, helping you support your student throughout this process and stay connected after drop-off. Filled with actionable tips, smart planning tools and worksheets, and reassuring encouragement, Dorm Ready is the indispensable resource to one of life’s biggest steps.

• 'Through this comprehensive and inspiring guide, parents and students will learn the important questions to ask during the campus tour, how to ensure your purchases will conform to dorm rules and regulations, ways to handle roommate issues, and how to survive the move-in day. The checklists and practical advice offered throughout will ultimately build confidence and save everyone time, money, and aggravation, smoothing a students’ transition to their new home and life.” 
  Katharine Brooks, Ed.D., author of You Majored in What? and What Color is Your Parachute? For College
• "You survived college admissions. Congratulations! Now comes the next big challenge: getting your kid ready to actually GO to college! From the endless shopping lists to the emotional goodbyes, it’s enough to make any parent’s head spin. Founders of Simply2Moms Annmarie Christiano and Anne Zirkle have taken a process that often feels overwhelming and broken it down into practical, manageable steps, complete with helpful worksheets for parents and kids and plenty of tried-and-true mom tips along the way. Thoughtful and incredibly useful, Dorm Ready is the book you’ll want by your side as you help your child get ready to leave the nest!” 
  Beth Heller Gelles, author of Crazy for College and co-founder of Acceptance Ahead