The exam is in one week. You are bombarded with material you never understood in the first place, and your busy schedule makes it hard to set aside studying time. It’s time to break out your iPhones and iPads. While they may be ruining our social skills, these technological gems possess secret studying powers that will let you learn on the go!
iStudiez Pro ($2.99, Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars)
One of the most difficult things about school is learning how to keep all of daily your activities straight. The iStudiez Pro app allows you to enter all of your classes, discussions/labs, assignments, and exams. It also uses information from your Calendar app to remind you of non-school activities like work, sports and clubs. Whether you need two hours notice or five minute warning, you can set push-notifications on the app to remind you of your class/activity. The “lite” version allows you to input up to three classes – give it a try and see if you like it!
Quizlet (Free, Rated 4 out of 5 stars)
Trash your index cards and let Quizlet make your life easier. This app lets you explore a database of over 21 million flashcards, including any you have made with your own Quizlet account. Besides the normal flashcard system, the app also includes matching games and calculates statistics on material you can improve on. Whether you’re on the bus or waiting in line for coffee, your flashcards will always be with you.
iTunes U (Free, Rated 4 out of 5 stars)
If you’re looking for knowledge about, well, anything, iTunes U has you covered. While search engines like Google and Bing are useful, they are not always the most reliable. iTunes U allows you to take courses from leading universities, peruse through lectures, books, audio, video and more – for free. This top research tool fits in your pocket and can help you find clarity on almost every subject!
Outliner ($4.99, Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars)
Sometimes the Notes app doesn’t supply sufficient organization for all of the scattered ideas floating around in our brains. The Outliner app gives you the ability to arrange your ideas; whether you’re making a shopping list or creating a complex project, you can keep the facts straight on your iPhone. When studying, you can use Outliner to map out the different topics you need to cover, and a pie chart will show you the percentage of subtasks you have completed.
Study (Free, Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars)
If your exam is on Friday when everyone on your floor is celebrating Thirsty Thursday, don’t curl up in a ball crying just yet. Plug in your headphones and let Study take over. The Study app provides a “scientifically designed productivity-boosting sound” that will drown out surrounding noises. The sound is said to enhance cognition and maintain focus. Make sure to keep the volume at a level that blocks background noise and doesn’t distract.
With mid-terms approaching quickly, you might want to download these apps sooner rather than later. Good luck studying, collegiettes!