- Google Calendar
Anyone who does not already have a calendar app downloaded should download one immediately if they wish to succeed in college. Whether a person has a busy or more relaxed schedule, it is critical to stay organized in daily life. I put every single activity, meeting, event, etc. into my calendar. It is the only thing keeping me from double-booking myself or forgetting to set aside time to study. I especially like Google Calendar, since lots of clubs, sports and programs on campus use it to keep track of events and meetings.
- Spotify (or Amazon Music, for cool people)
No one can just enjoy life without some good music. It helps make everyone’s days better, passes time or even just creates a distraction on hard days. Personally, I use Amazon Music for all my music listening needs, but most college students use Spotify. I love listening to music while I walk between classes, work out, eat or even study. It can help drown out background noise and allow for better focus on one thing at a time. I also love it for its mood-boosting capabilities!
- Quizlet
This is a must-have for content-heavy majors. Students can download the app on their phones and study for exams or quizzes virtually anywhere. It’s extremely easy to make personalized Quizlet flashcards, or students can search through endless topics and see if someone else has already made ones for their specific needs. This has saved me so much time figuring out how to study, and it even has fun games to play while learning!
- Gemini
People are commonly opposed to using AI tools, especially for school-related things, but Gemini can actually provide lots of assistance without just completing assignments. I have Gemini create Quizlet files for all of my chapter notes. Users can input pictures, typed notes or concepts and ask Gemini to create downloadable Quizlet files. They can even upload these to Quizlet and get right to studying! I also have it create study guides and practice exams from my notes. This is such an underrated tool for studying purposes, and everyone needs to give it a try.
Almost all clubs, sports and other groups on campus have an Instagram page. They use it to post events, meetings and general information about the group. This is so important for students to learn how to get engaged with their community. It can also help students find new clubs they’re interested in joining or specific events they want to attend. Being able to find people to meet and things to do on campus is such an integral part of managing the stress of being in college. Instagram is a great way to find these people and events and overall improve the sense of community on a college campus.
