In this day and age there seems to be an app for anything and everything. If everyone is already on their phones, though, we might as well make them useful. There are hundreds of apps marketed towards college students these days, but these are the ones everyone needs to get through the semester.
1. Studyguide
This app is essentially a class planner, grade tracker, and homework reminder all in one. You set up your classes and instructors when you first enter the app and it guides you through the rest. There is a tab for you to put in homework assignments and set reminders when they are due.
Another tab lets you put in your test and quiz grades so you can see how you are doing in the class in case your professor is not updating you regularly. There is also a great tab where you can put your professor's information so you are never scrambling to find where his office hours are held. This is a must have if you are unorganized and a great addition to the already overly-prepared student.
2. Mint
College is a great time to learn budgeting and money control. Mint is a free online program that allows you to set a budget and tracks all of your purchases. You can have multiple accounts on it (Savings and Checking), and it works with most banks! Tons of people already use this, and every college student should, too.
3. Flipboard
If you are not taking advantage of the discounts students get on magazines and newspapers, have no fear: flipboard is here. This app is a great way to get easy access to news, and you just flip through the stories, reading more only if they interest you. It is Pinterest-esque in that you can choose what you want to see on your feed and can pick new categories. Just because you are hiding away on campus doesn't mean you shouldn't keep up with the real world, so download flipboard and you'll never need to worry about not being up to date.
4. Quizlet
Okay, if you haven't heard of Quizlet, you probably live under a rock. Anyone can make flashcard sets and study them or play games with the terms. It is a very simple setup, but also very effective. You can search other sets that people have allowed to be public which can save a lot of time. Quizlet the app is a great way to study on the go. It is also only $14 a year to upgrade for unlimited "classes," which is an amazing deal. If you study with flashcards, get this app right now; you will not regret it.
5. Spotify
If you don't like music something is not right in your head. I am not that into music, and Spotify is my life. This is available online and in app form, and you make a profile and can essentially listen to any song for free. T-Swift is not on here, but she's really the only exception. It shuffles the songs for you and there is even a playlist made just based off the music you listen to. It has led me to rediscover some major throwbacks (can it get any better?). You can pick songs to listen to if you get Spotify premium, but if you have a student email then you get it for $4.99 instead of $9.99. Enjoy your listening, my friends.
6. Pomodoro
Raise your hand if you're really good at procrastination. Keep your hand up if it takes you 3x longer to get stuff done because you get distracted. If you raised your hand you need this app. It allows you to work for 25 min. and then you receive a 5 min. break. It has a cute little ding, and after 4 intervals you get a 15 min. break. It is a great way to keep you focused because you just let the app count down the time for you. I love this because half the time I am looking at the clock for the next break, but this app does it for me. Enjoy, and happy working!
7. Todoist
This is a great app if you like making lists and watching them get checked off. It can sync with your computer and your phone so your lists are very accessible. You can categorize them AND color code them! You can also set reminders to complete the task, or put them on repeat. Now you know that you should clean the bathroom every Saturday at 10 a.m. This has saved my butt more times than I care to admit and is just a nice thing for everyone to have. No more losing your grocery list somewhere in your purse; it's in your phone.
8. Intellidrink
Every app on this list is free except this one, but this is probably the most important. In college most kids partake in drinking whether or not they care to admit it. Intellidrink lets you enter in your body weight and age so that it can track how you metabolize alcohol. You put in what you drink when you drink it and it will tell you your BAC. Now drinking is illegal for anyone under the age of 21, so if you are going to be rebel please be smart about it.
9. Duolingo
Most schools require you to take a language at some point, which is smart since the US is one of the only countries where every person in it is not bi or trilingual. Whether it be your first time learning Spanish, French, or German (there are many more to choose from) or you are already enrolled in the class, this makes for great practice. You can pick how much you want to learn each day; just a little bit can go a long way and you're good to go. It is an awesome way to pick up what you need to know before going on a trip or studying abroad. Get started and fest studieren (study hard).
10. Circle of 6
Sometimes we end up in the wrong place at the wrong time, and a lot of those times we can be incoherent enough to ask for help. Luckily someone invented an app to help with that. You put in 6 people as your emergency contacts. You can click on their picture and send them a text or call through the app asking for help. In case of an emergency you press the yellow triangle at the bottom and it notifies your circle of 6 where you are and that you need help immediately. It is a great way to stay safe. I hope no one ever needs to use this, but it is a great way to stay prepared.
With school fast approaching, I hope that everyone can find use in these apps. I know that they have helped my friends and me out quite a few times. Now there are many variations of these apps by all different names, but these are my personal favorites. Enjoy!
