Apps Every College Student Should Use To Make Life Easier

Being in college requires us all to take on way more responsibilities than we ever have before. Somehow, we are expected to coordinate our schedules, manage our finances, stay on top of school and maintain a social life all at the same time. Needless to say, it can get pretty overwhelming. 

During my first year of college, I compiled a tool box of mobile apps that help me manage different aspects of my life. Check out these ones to help simplify your life: 

Notability

Let’s start with academics. Notability is an app I had in high school but didn’t fully utilize until recently. Notability is a sort of virtual notebook. You can use it to write or type with a variety of background options, including lined or graph paper. With the help of Notability, I almost never use paper notebooks. Instead, I create new virtual notebooks for each class (and one for my to-do lists). This app is a great way to use less paper and reduce clutter. 

Forest

I think most of us can agree when I say that phones can be a huge distraction. I am always tempted to check my social media notifications when I probably should be finishing homework. Forest has made such a difference for me. The app allows you to set a productivity timer. If you stay focused throughout the entire time and don’t close out the app, the app “plants” a tree. Over time, you can watch your tiny virtual forest grow. This has become a valuable incentive for me to steer clear of social media when I have work to be done. 

Google Calendar

If you don’t have a Google Calendar yet, now is the time! I use this app to plan out every detail of my weeks, from club meetings to class office hours. The color coding feature allows me to divide obligations between school, extracurriculars and social activities. Overall, this app gives me a visual for the week ahead and ensures I don’t forget anything. 

Buddy

Budgeting is vital in college. With textbooks, groceries and random coffee runs, the expenses add up. The Buddy app allows you to manage your money by inputting your income and spending. For each month, the app also gives you a breakdown of what categories of things you’re spending the most on. This breakdown has really helped me grasp where my money is going and how I can make smarter decisions. 

While our phones can be really distracting during the school year, they can also be amazing tools in helping us achieve our goals. Work smarter and utilize all the tools they have to offer. These four apps have hugely improved my college experience, and I hope they help you out too!

• Academic
• apps
• budgeting
• mobile app
• note taking
• Planning
• productivity
• technology