App Suggestions for College Students
College kids are moving back to school and starting classes here in Virginia, and I thought it would be fun to look up what Android apps are available that could help make the college transition a little simpler and more organized.
I am super-jealous of kids that have smartphones to help with school. I got a Palm IIIc my senior year of college, and it did help me keep track of assignments (and give me Bejeweled to play between classes), but it’s nothing compared to the power and information-accessibility available on today’s smartphones.
We know students use their phones for texting and playing games, so let’s look at a few apps that can help with the serious stuff, too.
- Class Buddy Pro – This app allows you to track class schedules & locations, assignments, and tests. You can set reminder notifications, and even use it to calculate your GPA by entering your grades.
- Amazon – Don’t have a car and need some new school supplies? Amazon.com generously offered free Amazon Prime accounts for all US students this year. Normally $80, Amazon Prime membership gives you free 2-Day shipping for eligible items, without having to meet the normal $25 minimum order. That means students can order textbooks from their phones using the Amazon app, or parents can order their students “care package” items, and it all ships for free. You must sign up for the account using a .edu email address at the link above.
Hint: Compare prices while in the bookstore by using the app to look textboooks up by scanning their ISBN barcodes! - Flashcards Study Helper – Create digital flashcards to quiz yourself to prepare for tests, and even share the flashcards with your friends!
- Arity Calculator – This is a graphing calculator that would be great in a pinch when there’s a pop-quiz in class and you left your TI in the dorm. There are several scientific/advanced calculators in the Market, so pick the one that is easiest to use in the level of math you’re taking!
Other apps to look for:
- Subject-Specific Apps -There are a lot of apps with tools & information specific to a certain subject, such as equation solvers for math, voice translators and foreign-language dictionaries for language classes, and thesaurus apps for writing.
- Apps for your College – Depending on how large your school is, there’s a good chance there are already a few apps with campus bus schedules, campus maps, and your team’s season game schedule. Enter in your school’s name or abbreviation and see what you get!
One last idea: If I were a student, I’d take photos of the whiteboard with my cell phone and store them in Evernote so I wouldn’t have to copy everything down. Depending on how good your professor’s handwriting is, you may even be able to search whiteboard photos for specific text afterward! You could also use Evernote to record audio clips of important parts of the lecture.
If you use an app for school that’s especially helpful, please let us know in the comments!
