I’ve become a bit of a pro at picking out dorm room essentials, which means separating the must-haves from the nice-to-haves from the not-going-to-haves. Especially if I’m paying for it.

Do I Have to Live on Campus? At Saint Louis University, yes. Although there are exceptions, most first- and second-year students live on campus — and that's a good thing. Undergraduates who live on a ...