Being a college student can suck. You're broke, tired, or stressed about 99.9% of the time- struggling to meet graduation requirements and expectations while also trying to stay healthy. Even when you are out with friends, it can be hard to forget the mountain of homework piling up on your desk saved for Sunday. Unfortunately, Sunday is 24 hours long, just like every other day of the week. People always say that college is the best years of your life. How are you supposed to enjoy them when you can barely keep your eyes open after pulling three consecutive all-nighters in the library? Long story short: you can't.
College is about learning, both inside and outside of the classroom/library. How are you supposed to learn about the world around you when you’re trapped on the 3rd Floor of a library in a 24/7 study room? To spend the best four years of your life falling asleep in the library at 4 am is flat out wrong. You would be doing a disservice to yourself, while at the same time pouring thousands of dollars down the drain. The money you spend on tuition isn't just paying for a degree, it's paying for a set of experiences unique to college life. It's paying to sing Mr. Brightside in a Bryant-Denny Stadium packed to capacity. It's paying for homecoming bonfires and Movies in the Ferg. It's paying for you to meet individuals from all walks of life and making connections that will last a lifetime.
In the 1930's, Allan F. Mogensen made popular the phrase "work smarter, not harder". Today, many students are unaware of the many different resources available to them online. Used properly, these resources can help students work more efficiently and allow them to get the most out of their four years. Here is my list of Top 10 Free Websites All Students Should Use.
1. EasyBib
Go here to be directed to EasyBib.com
Bibliographies are extremely important when writing papers, regardless of the course. Unless the information/research is your own, it is critical that you cite its source. Otherwise, you are committing plagiarism- something most reputable colleges consider Academic Fraud or Misconduct. With EasyBib, simply choose the required format (MLA, APA, Chicago, etc.), fill in the required information, and presto! The site produces a properly formatted citation for your source. All that's left to do is copy and paste! EasyBib is a free service offered by Chegg and can help students save a lot of time, especially when you have more than three sources.
2. Grammarly
here to be directed to Grammarly
When the smallest mistakes can prove detrimental to your grade, it's always nice to have a final line of defense. After all, weary eyes can easily miss things if they have been writing the same paper for several hours. Grammarly is a website and plug-in with limitless implications, ranging from papers or projects to emails or newsletters. Gone are the days of missing simple grammar errors or spelling mistakes due to overreliance on Microsoft Word or Google Drive! Grammarly can help get work done faster and to a higher standard than either platform for zero cost. A premium version of the software is available, but when the free version works so well why pay?
3. Sparknotes
Go here to be directed to SparkNotes
Everyone student has used SparkNotes at least once in their life. It's unavoidable. Did you do the reading for class but not quite understand what you read? SparkNotes. Did you read the book like you were supposed to and want to refresh on the material before the test? SparkNotes. Did you forget to do the reading and have a panic attack five minutes before class? SparkNotes. The free site is a reliable database of information on just about every possible reading you may be assigned for class. SparkNotes paraphrases readings and highlights important information, even if you didn't realize that the information was important the first time.
4. Quizlet
Go here to be directed to SparkNotes
Students have been taking notes for thousands of years, making observations of their learning and using it to improve themselves. Over time, notes have evolved to become a study tool for important tests and exams. One popular method many students use to incorporate notes into their studying is note cards. Quizlet is a free website that allows you to create virtual note cards using notes taken from class and share them with the rest of the world. At the same time, you can also find note cards from people who have already taken the class- saving you from doing extra work or studying the wrong information.
5. Mathway
Go here to be directed to Mathway
Struggle with math class? Allow Mathway to help. If you really can't figure out an equation or problem, simply select the type of math problem and Mathway will solve. While this site is nice for finding the answer in a tight squeeze, only the paid version of the free site will show you how the problem is solved. Otherwise, you are on your own- which isn't very helpful if you are trying to study. However, the site is great for checking your answer before submitting it on a problem set or graded assignment.
6. Wolfram Alpha
Go here to be directed to WolframAlpha
Another useful resource for students struggling in math or science classes, WolframAlpha is a free computational knowledge engine designed to help people learn. Besides just providing answers to most math related questions, the free site also provides instruction on how to complete the problem. Additionally, the site has answers and explanations on a variety of other topics, ranging from 'Culture and Media' to 'Web and Computer Systems.'
7. Purdue OWL
Go here to be directed to Purdue Online Writing Lab
Although I am not personally a student at Purdue University, the collection of information available on their Online Writing Lab is fantastic and incredibly helpful. Instead of having to search certain rules of writing and composition individually, this free site provides a complete and comprehensive guide to help fail-proof your work. Besides providing examples of proper citations and proper grammar, the guide also helps students with advice on writing for a variety of purposes. Whether you need advice on Graduate School Applications or Personal Correspondance, Purdue OWL has your back.
8. RogerHub Final Grade Calculator
Go here to be directed to RogerHub Final Grade Calculator
Studying for a final exam is an art. It requires focus, dedication, and determination. You have worked hard all semester long, just to have your final grade boil down to a single test. Wouldn't it be easier to study knowing you only needed a 65% to get a B? Is it refreshing to know that it would take getting a 32% on the test for you to get a C in the class? RogerHub's Final Grade Calculator is what helps many students sleep easier at night, helping them to know exactly the bare minimum they need to scrape by in the end. The calculator is free for all students to use, and an important weapon in the Finals Week arsenal.
9. GPACalculator.net
Go here to be directed to GPACalculator.net
If you are going to use a GPA Calculator, this is the one I would recommend. If you prefer to leave it to fate and just do the best you can, that's fine too. Use at your own risk.
10. Spotify
Go here to be directed to Spotify
Music soothes the soul. Whether it be before, during, or after studying- music is exactly what you need. If you need pump up music before heading into a test, choose Spotify. If you need something relaxing at the end of a long night to help your brain cool off, choose Spotify. Spotify offers both a free and premium version, which comes at a discounted rate for students. All the music you want, whenever you want it. While it won't help decrease the amount of time you are working, Spotify will certainly help make it feel like it's going faster.
