1. Your College/University Sponsored App
Most colleges today have some form of an app that acts as a central information hub for most students with smartphones. These apps tend to contain virtual maps, bus/transportation information, staff directories, dining options, emergency numbers, athletic information, course catalogs, and personal schedule information, etc. These apps are made to ease student transition into university life and provide any resources needed instantly.
2. Uber
Whether you are going to parties, walking late at night, lost off campus, etc, Uber provides a simple, easy, and safe way to get back to your dorm. If you are with a few friends, splitting the cost of an Uber is a much safer bet than trying to get home on your own at 2 AM. All Uber drivers are background checked and must have a clean driving record.
3. Google Drive/Mail/Docs/Etc.
Especially helpful if you take online notes or are working on a group project, Google Drive and other accompanying apps facilitate emailing as well as sharing notes and PowerPoints. Many clubs and organizations also use Google Drive to share information and communicate. Utilizing any Google Apps means you can readily access your documents and work from any device connected to the internet, which makes college a breeze if you left your laptop/flash drive in your dorm and don’t want to walk the twenty minutes from the library to your building.
4. Yelp!
Typically, living on a college campus means moving away from home, to an area with completely new restaurants, entertainment, and facilities. Yelp! offers reviews and ratings from everyday, regular people who have previously visited an establishment and usually offer a pretty good idea of what kind of experience you are going to have when you go out. This is very helpful when you are living in a college town and aren’t sure whether or not you and your roomie should try that questionable looking Indian restaurant down the street or stick to your trusted Panera Bread. But Yelp! definitely takes some of the pain out of branching out of your comfort zone and trying something new.
5. Blackboard (or other grade/assignment portal)
Most universities are affiliated with Blackboard or other similar websites/apps that allow you to check your grades, assignments, and announcements from professors. These apps facilitate communication between student and professor, which is especially helpful when you’re enrolled in large, lecture style classes, typical of freshmen year introductory courses. Blackboard makes it easy and simple to keep track of your course load and manage your time.
6. Tapingo
Used by many colleges and universities, Tapingo offers many features such as ordering delivery/takeout, checking wait times at local restaurants, providing business hours, and includes a payment feature. All of this simplifies getting food at school by taking out a lot of the middle steps and concentrating every aspect of restaurant-eating into one app. Not needing to worry about a wallet or reservations or how far of a walk it is to that great wings’ place just off campus might, however, be a little dangerous when it comes to the infamous Freshmen Fifteen.
7. Dunkin' Donuts/Starbucks App
Time is of the essence in college, and while many larger university campuses are home to multiple chain coffee restaurants, waiting in line for a half an hour and fumbling for quarters to pay is an unnecessary hassle. Coffee apps often include on-the-go ordering, meaning your coffee is already paid for and ready to go by the time you get there, letting you skip that long line between classes. Paying with these apps and not having to worry about keeping track of gift cards/cash minimizes stress in every busy college student’s life, letting you get that caffeine fix whenever you need it.
