By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
Of course, you should download whatever proprietary app or student portal that your school provides so you can stay abreast of what’s going on, from fun events to security alerts.
But additional digital tools can improve your college experience. With any app you’re downloading, look for student versions or student discounts.
Consider a VPN. A virtual private network helps hide your location for greater security and reduce your risk of being hacked.
• Eventbrite lists off-campus events in the area so you won’t miss out.
• Pintrest can help you organize ideas, aesthetics and interests related to your degree. Create a vision of what you want for your future on Pintrest.
• LinkedIn can aid you in connecting with others professionally. Even if you’re a freshman, it’s not too early to create your online professional persona and to network in your industry. Make sure you both post and comment on others’ posts. Handshake can also help you network and find opportunities such as internships.
Stay better organized with a planner or calendar app. This can help you stay up to date on classes and schedule study time in advance of tests.
Try MyStudyLife, Todoist, Microsoft To Do, Google Calendar, Upbase and Evernote. They’re all free but have upgrade capability for greater access to tools.
Evernote and Notion are also good apps for notetaking. Keeping your notes all in one place is the best way to keep your academic life on track.
Whisper AI can transcribe speech and research videos into organized notes so you don’t miss a thing.
Quizlet can help you prepare for tests by quizzing you on material with interactive flashcards and practice tests. This can decrease test anxiety and improve learning.
Grammarly — if allowed by your instructors — can help you polish your papers with a grammar checker, plagiarism screener and more tools. Some professors do not allow use of Grammarly because of its AI functions, so abide by your syllabus.
For your projects, Canva can help you develop visuals and videos. As a student, you can use premium features for free.
Get your bank’s app to keep a closer watch on your finances. As busy as you’ll be, it pays to have an app that helps automate payments and keep accounts under closer scrutiny. Also download the app for your school loan company. Mint may also be helpful as a “home” for tracking your finances. YNAB (You Need a Budget) can help corral expenses as well.
If you don’t have it already, get Venmo. It’s handy for paying back your roommate for pizza or receiving money from your family for expenses.
Download the apps for your favorite fast-food restaurants and stores, as these will make you aware of deals and allow you to collect points towards discounts. The Dollar General app, for example, allows shoppers to “clip” virtual coupons such as $5 off every $25 purchase on Saturdays.
