Phones have come a long way in the past decade. Despite being fun (and sometimes distracting), your smartphone can actually be a predominant tool for your ability to excel in college. After all, technology was created to improve the well being in life, not to pose as a gateway to watch cat videos on YouTube all day. Here are ten efficient ones to help you stay up to date with your studies, saneness, and safety.
1. GroupMe
Groups assigned in classes may cause for needed communication outside of class, but the unwanted desire of giving your number out to everyone. In GroupMe, one person can obtain everyone's number and add them to the group. This allows for privacy, yet efficient communication. Other GroupMe features are personal avatars (to be able to match your peers' name with their faces), an ability to create polls (easy way to gather data for everyone's opinion), and mute the group chat (when you're not in the mood to deal with insert class here).
2. Outlook, or some other university email server
The university you're attending and their professors love to send out frequent emails, and being notified without having to check your computer is a godsent technological use. Reminders, class canceling, or other important information can help inform you right away with the email server of your university downloaded as an app.
3. Google Docs
An easy and free way to be able to write papers is through Google Docs. Not only is your document saved every few seconds in case of internet or computer failure, but there's also a plethora of other features that regular computer notepads lack. Some features include: autocorrect, powerpoint/spreadsheet layouts, and the ability to share with other people (great for group projects)!
4. Blackboard
As a freshman only a month into school, I am on this app at least ten times a day. This allows you to see course information, schedule changes, and grades. This makes it imperative to stay on track of things, without having to check your computer 24/7.
5. Top Hat
This is like the college equivalence of Kahoot; except it counts as a grade, glitches a lot more, and is much less fun. It's an easy way for professors to give quick quizzes out without having to pass out the actual paper.
6. Uber/Lyft
Transportation is an issue for college students, especially on weekend nights. Many students don't have cars, and if they do there are external factors (parking, wanting to drink) that make driving yourself the least efficient option. With Uber or Lyft, you're able to get safely from point A to B for low cost.
7. Tinder
There's an ample amount of fish in the sea, but you'll only come into contact with a few of them. Tinder, a popular app among college students, can help you expand your sociability and find new friends.
8. Spotify
Walking to class alone can be arbitrary and tiring, having a music app (such as the famed Spotify) can help wake you up and start your day off on a good note (no pun intended). You can even get student discounts!
9. Netflix
I'm not saying having Netflix on your phone isn't a risky option, but it is an option. Waiting outside of a lecture hall for the previous class to let out is enough time to catch up on your current show, but not long enough to end up in a binge. It's also an alternative on weekends when you're too tired to do homework or go out.
10. Twitter
So many clubs, organizations and even professors utilize Twitter to expand their platform. It's an easy way to stay up to date with personal or professional items.
There are obviously so many more apps you can utilize to exceed in your life as a student. These were just some starters that can definitely be beneficial.
