8 Best Back to School Apps

By Christina Oehler on August 18, 2014

School is starting back up and there is one thing that is just as important to us as all of our text books and pencils: our cell phones. We take them everywhere we go, and because of this, they should have everything we need to help us succeed this semester. While we still can’t use them on tests, there are a handful of applications to download that can help us with the start of this school year.

CU Transit

One of the most necessary apps you will need this semester at UIUC is the UC Transit app. This app shows all the stops and routes of the MTD busses as well as the schedules they each run on. It’s incredibly helpful if you are late for class on a cold day or when you need to get to downtown Champaign without a car.

8tracks

Much like Pandora, 8tracks is a great resource for finding new music. 8tracks allows users to create playlists based on moods or activities. Need a good study playlist for an all-nighter? Simply type in “study” and “instrumental” and you’ll be motivated to spend a few extra hours reading that boring business textbook.

SignEasy

This extremely convenient app is great for anyone who is a part of multiple organizations or tends to have paperwork often. SignEasy allows users to electronically sign any document with just the touch of a button. Trace your signature or initials onto the screen once, and the app saves it for any time you need a quick signature for a contract.

Lumosity 

Although you will likely be tired of any sort of mentally strenuous activity by the end of your first week back at school, Lumosity is a great app to keep your mind sharp. It provides a series of games and short quizzes to help your mental agility and stamina as you tackle challenging courses this semester.

EasyBib

EasyBib is any paper writer’s dream. This app allows you to take a picture of the barcode on the back of any book, then automatically creates a bibliography in APA or MLA format. Because college students write dozens of papers each semester, this is one of the most helpful apps when you procrastinate and need to finish a bibliography quickly.

Beer Pong Flick

Freshmen: need practice looking cool at your first college party? This app really doesn’t make you any more talented at beer pong, but it will certainly get you excited to be a college kid.

Khan Academy

Perhaps you have heard of Khan Academy before or have even watched some of their videos on Youtube, but now you can easily download the Khan Academy app and have access to their videos and resources at the touch of a screen. Khan Academy is great for any tricky math or science subjects that require extra help to understand.

iTunes U

This service that iTunes provides is one of the most underrated Apple services. iTunes U gives free access to hundreds of online textbooks on any subject. Don’t like your textbook’s explanation of aggregate supply and demand? iTunes U may have a more helpful resource for all of your studying needs.

The best part about all of these apps? They are all free to download! Take advantage of these handy resources as first semester picks up and throws new obstacles your way.

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