Top Smartphone Apps For College Students
By Lauren Brose ‘15
Call me obsessive, OCD or flat out an overachiever but I enjoy staying organized and on top of all of my school work. To say my iPhone is my life-line and most cherished accessory would be the understatement of the century. Productivity can be achieved through these following smartphone apps. As a college student, we should take advantage of these available resources. Who knows, they might come in handy when you’re on the run.
Google Drive
I found that with Google Drive, I was able to access a ton of apps on the go through my iPad and iPhone. For example, my marketing class is frequently sharing PowerPoint presentations and word docs.We frequently need to make quick edits, share the file or view the PowerPoint or word doc and Google Drive keeps everything in one place. I find comfort knowing every important file is accessible through my smartphone or tablet.
Nike+ Running
Running is a great way to stay in shape and get the recommended 30 minutes of cardio in. Nike has an app that measures distance, mile splits, and personal records as well as mapping running routes. You can pre-select songs that are strategically placed so that you get a boost of motivation during specific parts of your run. It also features famous athletes and celebrities who speak words of encouragement.
Genius Scan – PDF Scanner
Never worry about scanning files onto your computer again! Every now and then, I need to upload a document onto my computer and share the file with someone. Whether it’s a paper form I filled out and need to email or if it’s a reading from class that I want saved in my documents folder, being able to use my phone’s camera as a scanner is beyond convenient. It doesn’t turn out so bad either.
Blackboard
Track your classes through Blackboard on your smartphones. This includes announcements your professor makes, updates to grades, viewing and saving files uploaded by professor, and accessing the course syllabus.
iStudiez
For all who doesn’t want to carry around a physical school planner and track of all assignments and exam dates. This stores relevant information to your classes including deadlines and due dates as well as your class information including your professors’ contact information and office hours. Additionally, there is an app that syncs with the smartphone app on MacBooks.
Quizlet
Quizlet is perfect for those who need to memorize important terms. Personally, I use it for my french vocabulary. There are two options on Quizlet: create your own notecards on your computer or mobile app, or search for available notecards on the app. There are also a number of games that can be played to test your memorization and knowledge.
Venmo
I have a bad habit of never carrying cash around with me; however, many of my friends have synced their checking accounts to Venmo. Similar to the concept of Paypal, Venmo can be accessed through computers and mobile apps. Credit cards, debit cards and checking accounts can get synced with Venmo and doesn’t charge any fees for sending money directly from bank account.
Uber + USC
Uber is 100% paid for by USC every week, Thursday-Sunday from 8PM-12AM. As long as it’s in the designated zones for Campus Cruiser, and the wait time for Campus Cruiser has exceeded 15 minutes, students are able to call Uber’s through Uber’s app. Sign up on www.uber.com/USC2015. Current Uber users only need to enter the promo code “USC 2015” on the app.
