Its the summer before your first big year of college! After grad parties and summer vacation...you're probably starting to think about move-in day. August is just a month away and all those back-to-school sales are starting to pop up. Its officially time to start buying bedding, organizers, cute mugs, and all the fun accessories you'll see everywhere in Target, Walmart, and Bed Bath & Beyond.

If you're like me I'm sure you've already searched through the Pinterest pages and blog posts of what to bring to college...but I'm here to tell you things that I didn't personally find necessary.

DISCLAIMER: Everyone has their own styles, needs, etc., and this list may vary depending on each school or living arrangements, so this list fits my preferences and my first year at the University of Dayton.

What NOT To Bring To College:

1. Lots of excess storage.

Most colleges provide closet spaces or drawers. A few containers make sense of course, but having lots of bins and crates can get in the way and often go unused.

2. Special hangers or racks.

A good philosophy to live by is if you don't currently have it hanging in your closet, you probably won't use it much when you come to college. For example, at home I just stack shoes on the bottom of my closet floor, so buying a brand new hanging organizer would be something new I wasn't used to. I don't use a plastic door hanger at home, so I couldn't see myself using it in college.

3. Overpriced shower shoes or shower totes.

A lot of "college dorm shops" online or in-stores have overpriced bathroom gear. Shower shoes are a MUST...but a cheap pair from Old Navy or Walmart works perfectly. An inexpensive plastic shower bin with a handle is perfect for the little trip to the bathroom, but don't worry too much about paying more than $5 - $10 for a bin or flip-flops.

4. Too much decor.

I love decorating. I love matching picture frames and throw pillows and creative art pieces...but it can get overwhelming if you buy lots of new dorm decor. I would bring the essentials...string lights, pictures of friends and family, some stuff for the walls, but bringing too many candles, mini-figures, posters, or little trinket can get in the way. Bring the memorable things from home...but don't bring too much. Dorms aren't huge so it may get too crazy with lots of little things everywhere.

5. Lap desk

While it may seem ideal for chillin in bed and working on some homework...you'll be surrounded by desks and tables in your dorm, in the library, and in other student places.

6. A lot of high school t-shirts or apparel

Give yourself a fresh start and leave old jackets and high school logos at home. You'll get a lot of new (free) stuff in college and be able to move on to a brand new chapter in life. Obviously, keep those awesome memories, but maybe leave them at home.

7. Ironing board and iron

Pulling out an ironing board in the morning before an 8 am seems unrealistic...consider a mini clothes steamer instead if you have a bad habit (like me) of leaving clothes in a laundry basket after the dryer. If anything, only bring clothes that are low-maintenance and don't require constant ironing.

8. Miscellaneous appliances

TV, toaster oven, fancy coffee maker, skillets, crock pots, DVD players, etc. These may be nice for an apartment...but for my freshman year at UD I found these things were not needed at all. Especially with Netflix, Hulu, or other services being accessible on a laptop, I wouldn't bring any crazy media devices. I would definitely recommend an electric tea kettle or making sure the room has a microwave and mini-fridge...those were awesome to have around.

Hopefully these tips help with preparing for move-in day!