Back to School App Review
Wed, 15 Aug 2012 - 4:36 PM CST
From the slow and sauntering stroll of summer, the quick and brisk pace of the school year seems horribly daunting. The hard truth for most of us is that we're not feeling school-ready yet. I'm not sure I even want to think about it. Still it's coming, rolling over the summer hills like a dark storm cloud filled with numerous deadlines, syllabi, monumental assignments and impossible finals.
Here are a few app tools that will help you prepare for the school year and survive campus life.
Academic Life (some of these apps might be helpful to middle school, high school and college students)
1) Evernote (free)
If organizing isn't your strong suit, this app is a must. Evernote helps you synchronize notes and memos from mobile device to the web. It consolidates those hundreds of lists and post-its into one, easily accessible application. You can also share notes and info with fellow students.
2) gFlashPro ($3.99)
If you study with flashcards, check this out. gFlashPro allows you to make scores of flashcards based on an Excel or Google spreadsheet. You can incorporate videos and images and share flashcards with friends.
3) CourseSmart (free)
This app gives you access to more than 7,000 textbooks on your Smartphone. Each textbook costs about half as much as their print versions, though you can't sell or keep them after the subscription period. This is sure to be a money-saver for those gen-ed classes.
4) Chegg (free)
Chegg serves as a catalog, making renting textbooks convenient. Easily search for books either by title or number or by scanning the barcode of the book.
5) EZ Read (free)
Are you a big SparkNotes user? Now the website's content is made available on the go. I don't recommend cutting corners on homework, but with this app, you can read book summaries, refresh on plot details and take quizzes all while you walk to class.
6) Graphing Calculator ($1.99)
Need something a little more advanced than the Smartphone calculator but not as genius as those Texas Instrument gadgets? This app can graph multiple equations and email results to fellow students.
College Life
1) Wi-Fi Finder (free)
You can waste a lot of time searching for a place to study. This app locates those Wi-Fi hotspots by location and provides contact information and directions.
2) MapMyRUN (free)
MapMyRUN is a fitness app that allows you to track and log your workouts, runs and rides. It measures your pace, distance and takes into account elevation, nutrition and other variables. A setting option enables a voice prompt to announce your progress. And of course, you can share your rave workouts with friends on Facebook.
3) Grocery IQ (free)
College students don't usually think of coupons as helpful or accessible with our lifestyle, but now they are. Grocery IQ helps you keep track of grocery lists, organize favorite items and coupons and track what you've bought. And of course, you can search and use coupons, uploading them to a store loyalty card--even for those late night study snacks.
Editor's Note: If you are reading this as a middle school or high school student, some of these apps might be helpful to you. However, please remember to observe and follow the rules of your school regarding mobile device use on campus during school hours.
ESTEE WELLS is the award-winning author of Dimensions, a fantasy story for ages 8-13. Besides being an accomplished writer, she is also an award-winning artist and is a photographer and musician.
