Phones are no longer just for phone calls. They can be computers, maps, tour guides, game centers, cameras, search engines and much more. With the right apps, they can even become a tool for college.
We researched many of the educational apps out there and picked the 17 most useful apps for the average college applicant and student. These 17 apps can help you with your college search, college preparation, college applications, academics once you’re in college, and the college lifestyle in general.
Pretty useful, right?
While these 17 apps shouldn’t be your only providers of information, they’re certainly a convenient and fun way to take on a small part of the college admissions process.
So browse and enjoy the download!
1. Peterson College Guide
- What it does: Allows you to search for information on thousands of institutions, including statistics such as selectivity, financial aid, and majors offered.
- Best Used For: Quick research or browsing to get ideas about different schools. For thorough research, rely on information from the admissions office and the school’s website. It is also very useful for campus visits.
- Favorite feature: “Shake for a college suggestion” feature. Just shake your phone and browse the random colleges that pop up.
2. College Confidential Mobile App
- What it does: Provides college admissions articles and allows participants to discuss various parts of the admissions process. You can participate in discussions on the go, check out college application blogs, and interact with other users.
- Best used for: background research and assessing what other college applicants are talking about.
- Favorite feature: “Campus Vibe” section, which allows iPhone users to browse through hundreds of reports from students who have attended colleges at a specific school.
3. Future U SAT
- What it does: Lets you play SAT prep games on the go. The games are based on a Kaplan syllabus and are accompanied by test-taking tips.
- Best used for: preparation for supplementary exams.
- Favorite feature: The portable nature of the app allows you to study anytime or anywhere, which is great for consistent test prep.
4. SAT Vocab Challenge vol. 1 by Princeton Review
- What it does: Quizzes you on 250 vocabulary words often found on the SAT. You can test yourself on definitions, synonyms, antonyms, and positive and negative connotations.
- Best used for: studying vocabulary on the go.
- Favorite Feature: Some challenges are timed to simulate the real environment of taking the SAT.
5.SAT connection
- What it does: Provides SAT study on the go with 800 test questions, 7 diagnostic tests, study guides, and flashcards. It provides feedback on your scores and times and tracks your progress.
- Best used for: diagnosing SAT problem areas for yourself and zeroing in on practice questions within those areas.
- Favorite Feature: Gives you detailed explanations of the answers to any questions you may have missed, helping you avoid making the same mistake twice.
6. Common mobile app
- What it does: Allows you to complete your application via your mobile phone, but is not recommended.
- Best used to: check the status of your application and ensure that various stages of your application have been processed.
- Favorite feature: The ability to check the status of your application on the go, you no longer have to be nervous in front of a computer.
7.Dropbox
- What it does: Keeps documents in one easy-to-access location, which is great for the variety of essays and other documents you accumulate during the college application process. It allows you to sync files from multiple locations.
- Best used for: Storing essay drafts, recommendations, and resumes in a safe place.
- Favorite feature: The app uses an online storage mechanism, which means your documents are safe from untimely computer crashes.
8. iStudy Pro
- What it does: Tracks homework and deadlines for all of your classes. You can also color code and label various extracurricular activities and place them next to your class schedule.
- Best used for: Keeping track of the many obligations that come with being a college student. Having all of your schedule information in one place will make it easier to plan your work schedule and obligations.
- Favorite feature: The “Today” view reflects all of your academic and extracurricular obligations for a particular day.
9. my homework
- What it does: Provides a digital calendar for your tasks. You can sort your homework into different class lists or view it as a calendar.
- Best used for: planning your semester when you receive the syllabus for your classes. Knowing when all homework is due will help you plan your workload and avoid procrastination.
- Favorite feature: You can set reminder alarms to alert you of upcoming due dates.
10. Verse
- What it does: Lets you download thousands of texts to your phone so they’re available to you in a more portable format. You can choose from a variety of free jobs or purchase other jobs from the app’s partner stores.
- Best used for: smaller reads for your classes. For most classes, it’s best to have the actual book. However, for shorter reads, Stanza can save you from a very heavy backpack.
- Favorite feature: You can transfer books from your e-reader or computer by simply dragging them onto the Stanza icon.
11. Mind Case
- What it does: Lets you create flashcards using text, images, or audio, or download existing flashcards online. After creating the flashcards, you can take a self-assessment right from your phone.
- Best used for: Reduces the time you spend writing cards and gives you more time to self-assess.
- Favorite feature: Being able to make flashcards with high-quality pictures is especially helpful for classes where you need to know diagrams and graphs.
12.Instagram
- What it does: Saves web pages so you can access them later, even when you don’t have Internet access. Saves most web pages as text-only files, making them easy to read even on your phone.
- Best used for: Bookmarking articles or pages that you need for class, or are just interested in. Being able to access them even without wireless coverage gives you more freedom to read and study wherever you want.
- Favorite Feature: If you’re looking for something new to read, you can check out what other friends are reading or choose from the editor’s pick list.
13.Evernote
- What it does: Lets you create random text, audio, or visual notes on just about anything. You can record notes, ideas, or snapshots in a searchable database for easy access later.
- Best used for: Remembering all the random facts and ideas you’ll absorb both in and out of the classroom.
- Favorite Feature: Converts the text in any instant image into text that can be read and searched on your phone.
14. bulk
- What it does: Lets you exchange phone numbers and other contact information when you “match” your phone with your friend’s.
- Best Used For: Presentation frenzy you’ll encounter during your first few weeks of college. You will meet a lot of people and Bump provides a quick and easy way to get their contact information.
- Favorite Feature: It almost goes without saying that being able to exchange phone numbers just by touching phones is great…
15. Pocket money
- What it does: Tracks your finances with data from any checking, savings, or credit card account you enter.
- Best used for: Making sure you don’t go over your financial limits in college. It’s easy to forget how much money is in your checking account, but this app makes that information readily available even when you’re on the go.
- Favorite Feature: Charts and other analytics help you see where you’re overspending and how to reduce it.
16. Wi-Fi Finder
- What it does: Shows you the various Wi-Fi hotspots in your geographic area and how to get there.
- Best used for: Finding places to study in your local community. The app is also useful if you’re studying abroad, where it can sometimes be difficult to just stumble across a wi-fi hotspot.
- Favorite Feature: Clear directions to the nearest Wi-Fi location
17. Urban Spoon
- What it does: Helps you find nearby restaurants and view ratings and reviews for each establishment.
- Best Used For: Finding a restaurant in your new college town. College is all about exploring new things, so challenge yourself to discover the unique local restaurants your area has to offer.
- Favorite Feature: “Slot Machine” gives you a random choice of restaurant when you shake your phone. It’s great for when you’re feeling particularly spontaneous.
College Specific Applications
Most colleges offer smartphone apps with calendars, upcoming events, college news, and important logistical information like dining menus or bus schedules.
Once you have decided which school you can attend, you should check their website or iTunes for available applications.
