They days of scribbled on agendas and backpacks full of textbooks are over. Being a student is easier than ever, as technology makes everything from note-taking, organizing assignments and socializing can all be enhanced greatly just by owning a mobile device. If anything, it reduces excuses as to why you can’t keep up with what’s due when not having the right software and not knowing what’s going around your campus and community. The following are some essential apps that can help students in college and university and give them that much more of a chance of staying on top of things and the class grade ranking.
Microsoft Office 365
One of the advantages of having the world’s most popular operating system like Microsoft does is the integration and addition of native software that are included. Microsoft Office is the world’s most popular word processing program, allowing for a vast selection of document creation and editing. Whether it’s a spreadsheet, slideshow or an essay, Office is the go-to choice for many Windows users because it’s reliable and simple to use. Microsoft Office 365 takes that experience further, adapting usage to mobile devices where saves and edits can be done on the fly thanks to its cloud functionality. If you have an active subscription to the Office family, you can access all of your files as well as several document types to work on your projects on the go. Then, simply save your changes to the cloud and when you’re around a printer or on a desktop, log in from your desktop. It comes available on Android, Windows Phone, iOS, desktops and tablets.
Google Calendar
If you’re a naturally organised person who never misses a date and is never late for anything, then congratulations to you. But people like yourselves are rare; even Batman needed Alfred to help keep him organised and fill in the blanks. Google Calendar is a stock option for Android phones and also available for iOs and Windows platform. It can be the difference between a pass and a fail if used right. For example, say you have a paper due in three days. When logging it into your calendar, you can put endless details and alerts to help you along the way. You can add the time, location, other people involved, directions, notes, all to the passages. Then, add reminders at different intervals such as a day, 12 hours and 30 minutes before it’s due. This means you’ll keep getting pinged with notifications at the set moments, making sure your paper is always in the front of your mind. Got a reoccurring paper due every week? Simply set it to repeat. It’s also extremely helpful for birthdays, anniversaries and other important dates. Set up notifications before your girlfriend’s 20th birthday and you’ll have more than enough time to get the perfect gift or plan the coolest party.
Snapchat
While Snapchat isn’t a traditional university or college app, it’s a must have for socializing on campus. The demo for it is the exact people you’re sharing classes and dorms with, and it allows the freedom of video or text chat. With functionality to add people directly near you, it’s easy to exchange info as you pass by a cute boy or need to get in touch with a classmate for a project. It’s more interactive than Instagram, and playing around with filters can also improve your social life as it shows your playful side and helps break the ice for conversations you may be too shy to start on your own. Next time you want to low key ask someone for their number, ask them if they’re on Snapchat. You’ll be able to do more than just text and you can get a peek into their lives and interests outside the lecture hall.
RealCalc Scientific Calculator
Back in the day, it was a big deal to own a fancy scientific calculator. Some would co st as much as your cell phone, which nowadays packs more than enough power to handle any complex math problem. The RealCalc Scientific Calculator is as close to the real thing as lugging one around, but with the advanced functionality and features of being a mobile app. With over 100,000 reviews and 20 million downloads, a glance at its 4.5 rating makes you realize just how powerful and useful this is. It can do averages, conversions, algebra, fractions, and trig calculations, to name a few. It has an extensive memory to bring up past equations and can be customized depending on the layout that is most appealing.
iStudiez Pro
While Google Calendar is a great app for anyone looking to keep organized, this app is specifically created with students in mind. You can add your classes, assignments, homework, and tests all in specific locations, making it very fast to pull up. This iOS app allows you to prioritize by importance, due date or alphabetical order, meaning you’ll always have an idea of what’s due and when. You can input your test and assignment marks and keep track of your grades and add or delete classes from your schedule as you go along. Add special events like seminars and networking socials, integrating them with Google Calendar so you will never miss out. It can also be fully integrated with Apple Watch and smart gear, allowing you to keep track of those nearing deadlines even when you’re not on your mobile device.
What are the best college and university apps?
Deciding the best college and university apps can be as difficult as deciding which school to go to. With programs such as Solo Learn, Evernote, Lecture Notes, Hi-Q MP3 Voice Recorder and Wunderlist, there seems to be something for everyone. The best way to identify the apps you need most is to figure out the areas you want to improve in most. If you’re shy and looking to get out more, something as simple as Snapchat may be of benefit. Or maybe you need help staying organized or can’t afford a scientific calculator good enough for your needs. Find the areas you most need to improve and then add apps that can help make handling those areas better.