Dorm life can be new and exciting for incoming freshmen. Here are dorm must-haves from LSU students:

1. Medicine and First Aid Kit
   Getting sick is an inevitable experience for freshmen entering campus for the first time. Nevaeh Rhine, an upcoming sophomore who lived in Herget Hall, believes medicine and a first aid kit are a necessity.“One of your biggest needs for your dorm is a medicine kit. I definitely recommend this because everyone knows that at some point between the first and third month of your freshman year, you may get sick—whether it’s from the change of air or just other sick students.”
2. Air Purifier
   Dorm life means cooking, cleaning, and existing in small spaces. Kaleigh Fleming, an upcoming sophomore who lived in South Hall, suggests an air purifier for keeping the air crisp.“Since your room is where you and your roommate will do almost everything—like cook, clean, and maybe shower in if you have a suite—an air purifier will help keep the room feeling crisp. It helped me a lot with my skin when I started having bad reactions to the air in our room, as well as with sickness.”
3. Rolling Carts
   Organization is key when space is limited. Emma Ebel, an upcoming sophomore who lived in Cedar Hall, suggests rolling carts to help with organization.“They help everything stay organized, and you know where everything is. We had a rolling cart in the bathroom for cleaning stuff and toilet paper, and we had one that held some food, our utensils, plates, cups, drinks, etc. The more storage items you have, the more your dorm can stay organized.”
4. Damp Rid
   Living in South Louisiana means humidity, and that can make clothes damp. Reagan Hodge, an upcoming sophomore who lived in Spruce Hall, suggests using Damp Rid to keep clothes dry.“Damp Rid, because your clothes in the closet and drawers will get damp without it, especially in the summer.”
5. Disposable Dishes
   Living in a dorm also means cooking and cleaning in tight spaces. Gabriella Gray, an upcoming sophomore who lived in North Hall, recommends disposable dishes.“Paper plates, bowls, utensils. Makes having to do dishes in a small space much less of a hassle.”

Dorm life can be new and exciting, and being prepared can make everything run smoothly. LSU Residential Life offers a recommended packing list to help remind new students and parents of the essentials—as well as easily forgotten items—that make dorm life that much easier.