Our generation have seriously become way too attached to our phones… or so our older relatives say. But, it doesn’t always have to be a bad thing! Being on my phone has brought my attention to. many apps that have really helped shape my college experience. Whether it’s to help me get my priorities straight or help me on my homework, I’m constantly on my phone (most of the time) to better myself! I’ve compiled a list of my must-have apps that I use a ridiculous amount that would help any other college student, regardless or their year, major or situation.
Google Calendar
You can use any calendar app you’d like, but I’m partial to Google Calendar. I don’t think my college career would have been possible without using it. It is so easy to add events, change colors and dates, and move things around! With a traditional planner, I always seem to find that it ends up looking really messy and I can’t even keep everything straight. I am getting better at staying on top of my planner and keeping it organized, which I recently did a post on! However, this allows me to have everything in more than one place and it’s easier to keep track of in a rush! Many people think I’m crazy for being this organized, it has helped me stay on top of everything and be the best version of myself as possible.
Grubhub/Postmates
When you’re in a bind, these apps can be great! With either Grubhub or Postmates, you have hundreds of options right at your fingertips. I especially use these apps when I’m sick and don’t really have the energy to get out of bed. They will bring your order right to your door (or at a university will meet in the lobby of your apartment or dorm)! It’s such an easy way to make sure you’re eating without having to lift a finger! It’s also great for those late night study sessions when you’ve realized that you’ve skipped a meal. You’ll be able to find some of your favorite fast food to some of your favorite sit down restaurants on either of them. It’s seriously a game changer!
Quizlet
Quizlet is huge at my university! This will single handedly change the way you study. Quizlet has helped me develop effective study habits that can sometimes be FUN because it has different ways to study for each type of learner. On features such as Learn, you are able to choose how you want to study the material. As a combination of an auditory and visual learner, this has best helped me learn the material in an effective way that has allowed the information to stick long after I’ve actually needed to use it. You are also able to share study sets with others you know that are in your class, and you can even set it up to where they can’t edit your study set without the password that goes along with it. It helps keep your study sets from disappearing and can help you bounce ideas off of one another. If you’re in college and don’t use Quizlet, I would be interested to know what works best for you!
Rate My Professor
I’ve been stuck with horrible professors a few too many times NOT to use this. This has honestly made my semesters and has made them quite terrible–it’s very hit or miss. I personally have a bad habit of not checking Rate My Professor when I only have one option for a class because I know that I have to take it anyway. If anything, still check a professor’s reviews to see what you’ll be getting yourself into. At the end of every semester, be sure to review the professor! Even if you’ve taken a class with them multiple times, it will help others who take the class after you. Please use it; you’ll thank me later.
UNiDAYS
This will be your hub for all things student discounts, and you’ll begin to wonder where it’s been your whole life. It’s also easily the best thing about being a college student. You can get a student discount through brands such as Kate Spade, Fanatics, Hello Fresh, and Grubhub. It has seriously saved me so much money in the long run. I’ve been able to stack some discounts, where I haven’t been able to on others. For example, I’m a huge fan of Kate Spade but don’t want to spend a ton of money. I found out that if I go to the Kate Spade outlet that I can stack my student discounts on top of their discounts. The last time I went, I got a wallet for 85 percent off! This app is amazing and you need to be using it. For a full list of student discounts, check out my ultimate list of student discounts!
Walmart Grocery
I grew up as a Walmart kid. My dad has worked for Walmart longer than I’ve been alive, and I’ve learned to appreciate it in so many ways. Fairly recently, Walmart has come out with a pickup program. And although I may be a little biased… it’s seriously awesome. By downloading the app, you can have scheduled grocery pickups at your fingertips. You pick your day, your timeframe, place your order, and when you’re ready to pick up your groceries, all you have to do is let them know you’re on your way. It has saved me SO much time and I will definitely be using it in the future. For someone that is always on the go (as I’m sure you could tell from my Google Calendar screen) it’s been a life changer!
Podcasts
I can’t say it enough, there are so many good podcasts for any stage of life. A few of my favorites include “The Porch” and “Gals on the Go.” As a college student, I am still struggling with what is happening around me. “The Porch” has more than helped me keep my focus on what really matters to me: close friendships, my family, and doing what He has planned for me. Messages from Jonathan Pokluda have been some of my favorites (which you can also find and watch on theporch.live).
“Gals on the Go” has put my daily routine into a more relatable perspective. Youtubers Danielle Carolan and Brooke Miccio speak on their college experience as they’re trying to navigate through it themselves. They also answer questions that many of their viewers have come up with! Each episode has its own theme, and my favorites have revolved around managing stress, faking it until you make it, and dating. Both podcasts have severely given me a sense of direction, especially when it comes to handling navigating the dating scene. You won’t be disappointed!
Venmo
Venmo has really changed the way my friends and I interact when it comes to money. It is similar to Cashapp because of its features. You can connect your credit/debit card and bank account in order to pay someone back, and if someone pays you back, that money can directly go to your bank account! It’s so much easier than trying to track down an ATM or make a trip to the bank. You can send your your friend the exact amount they are needing and you don’t have to worry! The app also has insanely good privacy settings. I use FaceID to access my account to make it extra secure! I’m literally the only one with access to it and it’s amazing.
I will talk about LinkedIn until I’m blue in the face, but I’ll try to keep it short for you guys. LinkedIn is so, so important and you may not even realize it. This is a resume and highlight reel wrapped into one! Future employers will be able to get to know you through this app. You can apply for jobs, still follow your favorite companies and organizations just like you would on normal social media, and you can interact with others you may know! It’s so important to keep this updated so employers will know your truest, authentic self. I’ve even connected with professors right on the spot in class because I had it pulled up on my phone when asking them. Moral of the story: it’s great!
Your University App
This may seem a little silly, but I promise this app is used multiple times daily for me. Missouri State’s app in particular makes college life so much smoother. We are able to see the shuttle routes and parking lots on a live map, access our MyMissouriState portal and so much more. We can complete registration from our phones, rate instructors, and view events! What I think was really cool while living on campus, we could view which washer and dryers were in use and how much time was left on them all from the app! I’m sure most university apps have a very similar setup with similar features, so don’t be afraid to utilize it!
Grammarly
I always seem to have a time where it feels like my brain has flipped around backwards. Words just seem too hard and English almost seems like it’s your third or fourth language. In my experience, this always happens when I’m writing a really important paper or email. With Grammarly, just write away! It will act like an editor on your paper or email! Grammarly will underline words that are misspelled or even show you when your grammar is way off. It will seriously be the biggest help when you’re in a rush! This can be both downloaded on your phone or our laptop and will help you be your best self!
Apartment Finder
For those of you that may be living in a dorm, this could be extremely helpful. This app is how I found the apartment I’m currently living at! You can search for living spaces by location, or you can draw out an area that you’d like to live in! Using the list view on the app, you can filter out different things you’re looking for to narrow down your search. You can filter by the amount of rooms and bathrooms, the price, the type of property (student housing, etc), whether it’s pet friendly, and so much more! You can also see ratings, what the fees may look like, and can contact the leasing office straight from the app! Where I am currently living has so many apartments to choose from. This is a great way to make sure you don’t spend more time than you need to looking for your perfect home away from home!
Poshmark
Missouri State is lucky enough to have a buy/sell group on Facebook for girls. Many girls use it specifically to sell things they are no longer wearing! If your school does not have something like that, Poshmark would be a great app for you! It allows you to post and sell things that you no longer want! You can also search other people’s closets as well. This could be a great way to purge your closet and get some money out of it as well!
Mathway
I’m convinced that this app was sent to students by the gods themselves. I’ve always been horrible at math and just about everyone that knows me well could tell you that. This was essential for me as I was taking college algebra. All you have to do is punch in the equation you’re having trouble with and it will show you the steps! It won’t show you the answer unless you have a subscription (which can be expensive) but it will at least help you get on the right track!
Spotify/Apple Music
Just like many other college students, I basically can’t function without music. It doesn’t matter what I’m doing or where I’m going, I always have my earbuds in. I personally have used both Spotify and Apple Music but have gravitated more towards Spotify. I like that it makes playlists for me based on what I’ve been listening to! For those of you in college, Spotify Student is half the price and includes other services such as Hulu! Apple Music also cuts the price in half for students and includes Apple TV Plus for free. It’s a great way to get the things you’re already looking at doing for a cheaper rate!
Life360
As long as I’ve had roommates, this has been used! With our schedules constantly changing, it’s nice to know that someone is where they say they’ll be. It’s important to keep tabs on the safety of your roommates, and you would want them to keep track of you as well! It offers a lot of features, such as drivers safety, and allows you to add different places. For example, my roommate and I have added our workplaces and our apartment so we don’t have to look super close to see where each other is at. It’s really crucial to safety, and if you’re not already using it, you need to!
Yelp
This seems kind of silly, but you’re more than likely in an area that you don’t know very well. Yelp is how I’ve found a lot of my favorite places around Missouri State! I check ratings on Yelp all the time. When my family is down and we want to go somewhere different, I check and see what the top rated places are. This is how I’ve found many of my favorite restaurants, my nail salon, and generally where I look when I want to know what to expect. Yelp could really help you get to know your city and I’m really encouraging you to test it out!
Is there any other app that you use that I missed? Let me know in the comments below!
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