Ready for College? Download These Essential Apps First | PCMag

2022-07-12 12:18:50 By : Mr. Janwei Lou

These are challenging times for everyone, but college students have extra worries. These apps can help you manage your money, time, mind, and more.

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College means new challenges and new responsibilities. You might not feel prepared to handle them, and the truth is, you're going to need some help. That should come from trusted people in your life and the resources offered by your school. But there's also a whole world of guidance in the palm of your hand.

We've put together a comprehensive guide of apps designed to help you with some of the biggest things you'll have to face in your four (or more, we're not judging) years of school. They're clutch whether you're trying to manage your money, space, time, or mind.

Two certainties of college are that you'll be writing papers and doing presentations. Office 365 Education can help; it has Word for writing, Excel for plotting things out, PowerPoint for presenting, OneNote for organizing, and Microsoft Teams to coordinate with classmates. It's also free for college students. You can sign up and then download the app (Android, iOS). Another option: Office on the web, which offers free standard editing and formatting commands, and some additional features for Word, Excel, Powerpoint, and more.

Though Google ditched free, unlimited storage for its productivity apps, you still get 15GB across your Google account, which is a lot of Docs and Sheets. Access files on the PC and via Google's mobile apps (Android, iOS); changes will sync across devices. (Here's how to get started with Docs.)

Sometimes you can study as much as you want, but you're still not going to grasp a concept or even an entire class. Before you despair, try tutoring. There are lots of online options, such as Wyzant (Android, iOS), which has an app that lets you find and book a tutor.

Good communication can save you from so many problems in life. Good grammar can do nearly as much when you're in college. Whether you're submitting a paper, writing an email to a professor, or applying for a job, make sure your words are free from error. If you've got Grammarly on your laptop, it's a smart idea to also put it on your smartphone. Grammarly Keyboard (Android, iOS) works with your other apps to check for spelling mistakes and keep your grammar on point.

Flashcards are a very effective way to study. Cram.com(Opens in a new window)  has a database of millions and an easy-to-use feature to make your own. Take or create your flashcards on the go with the site's app (Android, iOS), which also lets you review your cards in four different modes (including game mode) to maximize your memorization.

If you're in campus housing, you likely have a furnished room. But if you need more storage or have an off-campus apartment, you're going to need to shop for some furniture. Avoid couches or dressers left on street corners. Open Facebook (Android, iOS) and go to the Marketplace section, where you can find low-cost or even free options. Just be sure to take a friend or meet in a public place when you're picking up your purchase.

When you want something a little more upscale but still affordable, Chairish(Opens in a new window)  (Android, iOS) is filled with lots of stylish vintage pieces looking for new homes. You can find furniture, accessories, and art at a good price (just sort from high to low when you search).

Everyone's flat-pack favorite has an app that lets you see how furniture and other decor will look in your room using AR. Ikea Place (iOS(Opens in a new window) ) also lets you search using your camera, so if you're looking for a new desk, snap a photo of the one you already have for related matches. Of course, you can also use the regular Ikea app (Android, iOS) to shop and see what's in stock at your local store.

Solve the problem of bare walls and homesickness in one go by turning to Instagram or your camera roll. You can turn your snaps into wall art with Social Print Studio(Opens in a new window)  (iOS). Put up giant photo strips featuring your hometown friends or make wall hangings of places you miss hanging out in.

College students love discounts and brands love college students. This mutually beneficial relationship is reflected in Unidays(Opens in a new window)  (Android, iOS), which directs you to online and in-store discounts on clothing, shoes, food, tech, travel, and events.

Whether you're living on beans (or ramen) or not, you're going to want to take advantage of all the discounts you find on Student Beans (Android, iOS). You'll find restaurant discounts in addition to all of the usual in-store and online shopping, as well as some exclusive offers.

Whether you're shopping online or just browsing in a store, RetailMeNot (Android, iOS) is a great companion. The app has discounts for over 35 categories, including travel and food. Visit the site itself for a list of discounts for college students(Opens in a new window) .

(Disclosure: RetailMeNot is owned by PCMag parent company Ziff Davis.)

Standing in a store, holding a product in your hand, you wonder if you should buy it now or if you can get it for less elsewhere. One scan with ShopSavvy (Android, iOS) can tell you. Plenty of other apps also let you check prices.

Gas is expensive, but you're often at the mercy of the closest gas station if you're in a new place and don't know what other stations are around or how much they're charging. With GasBuddy(Opens in a new window)  (Android, iOS), you can check both and sign up for savings.

When you want to get off campus and explore but funds are limited, go to Groupon(Opens in a new window)  (Android, iOS). You'll find plenty of deals to use locally or when traveling.

Free video streaming services are a welcome relief for budget-conscious consumers. Don’t expect many originals or the latest conveniences, but our top picks—including Peacock (Android, iOS) and Tubi (Android, iOS)—are good options for free entertainment.

Netflix doesn't have a student discount, so if you want to spend your streaming dollars more wisely, go with Amazon Prime Student, which includes perks like Prime Video (Android, iOS). You'll get new shows and movies every month for just $69 a year (Prime is normally $139 a year), as well as access to over a thousand books, comics, and magazines on Kindle (Android, iOS) and over 2 million songs on Amazon Music Prime (Android, iOS).

Spotify Premium gets rid of those annoying ads, but Spotify Premium Student(Opens in a new window)  adds subscriptions to Hulu (with ads) and Showtime for $4.99 a month. The deal is for 12 consecutive months of Spotify (Android, iOS), but you can renew it three times.

If you live on campus, it's often mandatory to subscribe to a meal plan, particularly in your first year. Those points often go to waste because it's not often that you'll eat three meals every day in a dining hall. You can send your points to a food-insecure student who needs them more with Share Meals (Android, iOS) and also post notices about leftover food from club events.

Should you be lucky enough to have access to a kitchen, or at least an in-room approximation of one, save some money by cooking. To avoid eating ramen every day, use Budget Bytes(Opens in a new window)  (Android, iOS), which has step-by-step, voice-guided recipes for low-cost but tasty meals that you can easily prepare. Aside from sorting by cuisines and dietary needs, you can set a cost per serving in your search. The more you use the app, the more credits you earn to unlock new recipes.

Maybe the only kitchen appliance you own is a hot pot to boil ramen in, but that doesn't mean you can't eat well in a small space. Download the Ramen to the Rescue Cookbook to your Kindle app (Android, iOS) and make the most of that packet of noodles.

If you don't want to cook, there's Seamless, DoorDash, or any other food-delivery app. But Grubhub(Opens in a new window)  (Android, iOS) has a campus dining option that lets you order and pay ahead to pick up food fast from on-campus restaurants. You can even pay with your campus card.

Figuring out how to get from point A to point B and then to points C and D could be harder than any calculus assignment you have. A new town means you need Citymapper (Android, iOS) to figure out public transportation. It maps out routes, shows you service disruptions, lets you find bikeshares and scooters, and connects to rideshare options.

For those who are driving from place to place in a new place, there's Waze (Android, iOS). You won't be alone on the road with other Wazers out there reporting on traffic, hazards, and police activity. The app has lots of other features, including alerting you when you should leave to get to your destination on time. As Waze is owned by Google, many of its features have been incorporated into Google Maps, another helpful app (Android(Opens in a new window) , iOS(Opens in a new window) ) to have on hand (here are our top tips).

Put aside panic about the freshman 15 and focus on just feeling healthy. Fooducate(Opens in a new window)  (Android, iOS) lets you track what you eat and rates the quality of what you're putting into your body. It also gives you alternatives for healthy substitutes.

Sometimes you just need to still your mind. Headspace (Android, iOS) is much more than a meditation app. It has full meditation courses for all sorts of life situations, multiple methods to help you sleep, workouts that include cardio and yoga, and focus music playlists from world-renowned artists. Normally $69.99 per year, Headspace is only $9.99(Opens in a new window)  with a student plan.

Campuses and their surrounding areas can unfortunately be dangerous places. Stay safe by using an app like Noonlight (Android, iOS), which can silently send for help. It's one of a few apps and gadgets that are useful campus companions.

You can use the Peloton app (Android, iOS) with (or even without) your school's gym facilities. It's filled with on-demand cycling, running, bootcamp, stretching, strength, cardio, and yoga classes. Students qualify for a half-price subscription(Opens in a new window)  that's $6.99 per month.

Mental health counselors on campuses are in short supply(Opens in a new window) . If it's difficult to find help at your school or from a therapist nearby, you can try online therapy services. Talkspace (Android(Opens in a new window) , iOS(Opens in a new window) ) is a popular option that comes with the convenience of texting a therapist.

Sometimes you have a health issue at an inconvenient time. If it's not something that requires urgent in-person attention, you can turn to Doctor on Demand (Android, iOS), which puts you in immediate touch with medical professionals.

If meme stocks aren't your thing, take up investing with Acorns (Android, iOS). The app, which is free for college students, rounds up your purchases and invests the extra for you. Over 12,000 brands partner with Acorns, so you can add to your account any time you shop with them.

You might think it's impossible to save money when you're spending so much on school. But Digit (Android, iOS) examines your spending every month and stashes away any extra cash. You can create goals, such as saving to pay off your student loans or rent your first apartment.

Budgeting is not fun, but it can be one of your greatest assets in college. Use Mint (Android, iOS) to budget, keep track of bills, and know how much you have in your account. You'll also be able to see your credit score, which is a good thing because credit card companies bombard college students with bad offers that can hurt you down the line(Opens in a new window) .

Applying for scholarships is a tedious process but very worth it. Fastweb (Android, iOS) matches you with scholarships and grants you could qualify for and tracks the process.

Whether you want some extra cash or need a job to pay for classes, Snagajob (Android, iOS) is the go-to app for part-time employment. Fill in the profile once and use it to apply to jobs in a click. In some cities, you can use Shifts by Snagajob (Android, iOS) to pick up shifts in retail stores and restaurants.

College means lots of shared expenses, but money is an uncomfortable topic, particularly among friends. Venmo (Android, iOS) makes it easy to split payments and pay people back.

There should be a degree in putting together a class schedule that works each semester. The complicated procedure is made easier with Coursicle (Android, iOS), which lets you map out your classes and notifies you when a spot in a previously full class opens up.

There's an endless list of things to get done when you're in college. Keep track with Todoist(Opens in a new window)  (Android, iOS), one of our favorite to-do list apps. It lets you be hyper-organized, is super easy to use, and integrates with and syncs across all your devices. It's free, but you can upgrade for more features.

After you've figured out what city you're going to live in post-college, you need to find an actual place to live. Apartments.com(Opens in a new window)  (Android, iOS) has a huge database of available places and lots of ways to search. It also lets you figure out how much time your commute will take. If you're eyeing the Big Apple, Zillow's Street Easy (Android, iOS) is a popular way to snag a New York City abode.

That rent's not going to pay itself. Get yourself on LinkedIn(Opens in a new window)  (Android, iOS) before you graduate, so you have a career history and network before you start job hunting. The site has plenty of tips(Opens in a new window)  for how to make the most of it while you're in college.

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