Technology has allowed life to become way easier than it used to be. You better believe that there was a time when you moved around with a printed map and carried coursebooks whenever you wanted to study.
Today, you can basically do anything from the comfort of your gadgets, which brings us to our topic.
What apps are the most useful for college students?
Well, there are millions of apps accessible through Android, iPhone, and Windows devices. Out of those, there are thousands that college students would find super helpful.
How to Determine the Usefulness of an App
Before we hop into our choice of top five apps we think students will absolutely love, here’s the criterion for how we arrived at our decision.
These are things students love about the apps:
- Simple and easy-to-understand interface
- Multiple features
- Customizability
- Cloud storage
- Functionality
And with that, here are our top five useful apps for college students:
1. Uber or Lyft
Taxis have been around since the ‘20s, but you no longer need to hail one down or fight over it with a businessman running late.
Thanks to ridesharing services that have taken over the country and half of the world, cab rides are now just a few taps away.
For college students and many young people, Uber and Lyft are the most popular cab choices as they are available in cities across the country.
The two companies enjoy 32%-68% of the U.S. market share, with Uber having the lion’s claim as the most popular taxi service there is.
What makes Uber and Lyft so successful among college students is their accessibility and convenience.
But that’s not all.
Both Uber and Lyft offer ridesharing options. Two or more people can opt to share one cab if they’re heading along the same route. It’s cheaper that way, which can be a godsend in college.
2. iStudiez Pro
Student planner and organization apps are basically a must-have in college as they help you track and make sense of your busy schedule.
A good planner should help you stay on top of your tasks with little effort. And this is where iStudiez Pro comes in.
iStudiez Pro is a student planner available on macOS, iOS, Android, and Windows devices. It has a unique interface and takes planning to the next level.
The app allows you to set up your terms, then your subjects, and your classes. It gives you a straightforward way of always knowing what is due at a glance. You can plan your lessons, assignments, exams, and even track individual grades.
It also lets you sync across multiple platforms with ease.
For college students, this is the ultimate planner. It has the crucial features you could want in an organizational app, like a calendar, reminders, and a to-do list.
3. Apple Music or Spotify
College isn’t all about studies. It’d be overwhelming if that were the case. Lots of students prefer music as the extracurricular activity of choice.
You see, college students listen to music frequently, for a range of reasons from boredom to helping with focus.
That brings us to our following apps, Apple Music and Spotify. These are music streaming services available on most devices.
Apple Music and Spotify pretty much share similar features. They have comparable pricing, intelligent playlists, and choose songs depending on your habits.
For both, the pricing model has a $5 student category, the cheapest subscriptions on their platforms.
4. GoConqr
The thing about study apps is that they often have limited resources. But not so for GoConqr. The app might as well be a study app on ‘roids.
GoConqr offers a learning platform that you can customize to your needs. It has an excellent interface where users can upload and share materials in real-time.
The app isn’t just perfect for college students. It has also come in handy for companies in various fields. Professionals can use it to keep their team updated with info and learning materials.
For college students, GoConqr offers:
- Note-creation and sharing
- Flashcards
- Quizzes
- Mind maps
- Presentations
- Slides
It absolutely makes for better study sessions.
5. Cite This For me
Citing sources and doing it right can be a pain. It’d help if someone came up with a tool that can do it for you, right? Well, Cite This For Me is a tool that does just that.
You have to browse the page you want to cite, make a few clicks, and the software generates formatted citations for you.
The tool provides correct references in line with all acceptable formatting styles like Chicago, APA, MLA, and Harvard.
The ease of use and automatic referencing make Cite This For Me a must-have. As a student, this tool can save you a lot of time and headaches.
At the moment, Cite This For Me comes with a browser extension to help you cite pages on the go. You can also access the site on the device.
Honorable Mentions
There are many amazing apps for college students that didn’t make the list.
Here are five honorable mentions that you’ll find just as valuable:
- Mint: we all know money can be tight in college. You’ll need Mint to help with budgeting.
- Venmo: this popular instant transaction app lets you enjoy your nightlife without carrying around cash.
- Microsoft Lens: a versatile scanner that lets you convert files into multiple formats.
- Photomath: not a fan of math? This app helps you solve all kinds of equations.
- Acorns: the app is free for college students to save their spare change, invest, and learn to be responsible about their finances.
Conclusion
These days, student life comes with a ton of helpful technology that makes things easier, fun, safe, and rewarding.
There’s always something that can help lighten up every aspect of student life. So, if you’ve been living without any of these apps, download them now to lighten your load.
Author bio:
Adam Marshall is a freelance writer who specializes in all things apartment organization, real estate, and college advice. He currently works with Grove at Cheney to help them with their online marketing.