It used to be when high school students graduated, you would give them a copy of Oh, the Place You Will Go, a present like a nice pen and notebook or a dictionary/thesaurus set, and maybe a little cash. These days, a new smartphone and a gift certificate to the iTunes or Google Play store would be just as effective. Of course, a list of recommended apps to make their journey easier wouldn’t hurt.
We assembled some of the top apps available to college students today. All of these can help students adjust to their new academic challenges, as well as their newly found freedom. Check it out.
1) iStudiez ($9.99) offers students that most valuable toolset—a calendar and planning feature that helps with time management. Of course they can schedule assignments, tasks, and reminders on due dates. The beautiful thing about iStudiez is its focus on academic schedules and coursework.
2) Evernote (free or $5 a month, capped at $45 per year) bookmarks everything and creates ways to tie them together. Driving Evernote’s utility is its ability to search, thread, and make the notes available across any logged on device.
3) Oxford Dictionary ($9.99) is the app version of the ultimate dictionary, a must have for any student. The app includes 350,000 words as well as 75,000 audio pronunciations of those words.
4) EasyBib (free) lets students build quick and accurate bibliographies for their research assignments, which in turn helps them produce a better paper. Students can scan book barcodes, tap in citations, and switch between MLA, Chicago, and APA styles.
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5) Dictionary.com (free) offers students an alternative to the Oxford Dictionary. While not as thorough or in depth, it’s free and comprehensive. Dictionary.com also offers a complementary Thesaurus.com app.
6) Self-Control to Focus (free or $0.99) acknowledges the reality that social networking can be addictive. Sometimes, if we want to be successful, we just need to shut certain apps off. Study time, sleep time, class time—all of these can be scheduled in the free version.
7) Chegg (free) lets students buy or rent textbooks at a low cost. The app boasts a 90% in savings over bookstore costs, but even 50% would be a substantial boon!
8) TED Talks(free) offers students a new way of thinking about common problems. These videos are always invigorating and can breathe life into dry subjects. Students can use the videos in the TED app to bring a different perspective to the collegiate classroom.
9) StudyBlue (free to $84) gives students the modern equivalent of flashcards with mobile cards. The free version lets students build their own, while the paid version gives students access to a library of study guides and course materials.
10) Circle of 6 U (free) acknowledges that college can offer more risky situations for students, and that sometimes we might need a little help. Who better to text, call, or chat with than your circle of six (or one of six) for help? The app also includes hotlines. A must have app for every student.
Which apps would you suggest to an incoming college student?
Amanda Whitener, M.S.
A former Director at the Great Lakes Science Center with a M.S. in Conservation Biology, Amanda’s primary focus is creating high quality, student-led experiences, robust staff training, and innovative, career-focused curricula within the STEM Academy.
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