The Iglu Guide | Blog
The best apps for students
Forget the piles of paperwork and mislaid sticky notes, let technology do all the heavy lifting for you. Whether it’s keeping track of lectures, taking notes, or prepping for exams, studying has never been so much fun – or so easy!
Not sure which apps will work best for you? Here are our top picks for all facets of student life.
Keep it organised
Fact: organisation is key to any success. But for students that are new to the study game, keeping on top of timetables, lectures and tutorials – as well as a social life – can be quite the task. So an organisational or planning app is, without doubt, every student’s must-have accessory.
There are a range of options available that will send you reminders of approaching deadlines, track your study diary and basically make sure your student life is firmly on track.
My Study Life will sync data across all your devices as well as remaining accessible offline. Integrating all aspects of your academic needs, this is an app you really cannot do without.
Similarly, the popular Timetable (Android) or Class Timetable (IOS) keeps track of all your events and homework requirements with an easy interface and useable features.
If you’re struggling to keep on top of exam dates, Exam Countdown is your next download. Store all your important dates in one place and colour code your subjects for at-a-glance viewing. There really are no excuses now.
Revision made easy
For many, studying for exams can be an unwelcome chore. Not only do you have to learn all the information – but also spend time thinking up interesting ways to test yourself out. Not anymore!
Say Hello to over 400 million flashcards, thanks to StudyBlue. Use your course info to create your own, or benefit from the work of 15 million other student users.
Try BenchPrep to track your progress and connect with other test takers, social-media style.
GoConqr will create you an entire revision plan and timetable that takes full control of your exam period, giving you complete peace of mind. Gold.
A new way of note taking
Lectures can be a stressful experience. What if you miss something important while you’re busy taking notes? Well, worry no more. Soundnote will not only record your audio, but track what you type at the same time.
Transform your note taking with Notes Plus. Designed to simplify your activity and cleverly anticipate your notational needs, all your notes can be easily formatted, customised and converted to text – and then saved to files for further action.
Want to quickly copy something down? Try Office Lens, the handy portable scanner that lives in your pocket. Use it to photograph a whiteboard, convert documents to PDF, Word or PowerPoint as well as store data. Crop, edit or resize, the options are endless.
Hassle-free referencing
Don’t spend valuable time pouring over references and citations, carefully matching the format of each one. Technology has come a long way in this area.
EasyBib will not only check your work for plagiarism, but will also correctly format all your academic references whether it’s APA, MLA, Harvard or beyond.
Or take a quick snap on your phone and let Cite This For Me handle the rest.
Similarly EndNote allows you to create your bibliography as you go, as well as synchronising across all your devices.
Staying safe
If you find yourself out alone at night – perhaps getting home from a winter tutorial, or simply heading back after an evening with friends, it’s important to feel safe and secure in your environment.
Circle of Six gives you exactly that. Simply select 6 of your closest friends to form a contact group, and whether you are after a rescue phone call, a pick-up, or a chat they can all be alerted simultaneously at the touch of a button.
Bsafe is another great option that allows you to feel completely secure when out and about. With GPS location sharing and an SOS alarm activation, it even finds friends for you to travel home with.
Students unsure of a new area will find Safetipin useful. This clever app uses current information and available data to safety score different areas – and alert you when entering an unsafe zone. It will also offer up alternate routes to guide you home.
Healthy living
Getting the best out of uni life is not just about working hard. It’s also important to keep well-rested, well-fed and healthy-minded. All of this will translate back into your academic output. Heavy workloads and study schedules can cause stress and worry that then affect all aspects of your life, particularly your sleep.
If you think you’re not getting enough quality hours, try Sleep Cycle, the app that analyses your sleep patterns and wakes you up at the perfect time for you. We are all governed by our individual circadian rhythms, this app works out when you are entering a light sleep phase – and gently rouses you over a period of time. So now you never have to wake bolt upright to that horrific alarm tone again! You’ll feel way more rested and ready for the day ahead.
If you struggle to fit exercise into your day, download Nudge for a gentle push in the right direction. It sends old-school SMS messages loaded with top local recommendations – from a place to go hiking, to a spot for brunch. The focus is firmly on having a holistic experience, with exercise forming just one part of that. Perfect for all those fitness procrastinators.
For the more eager beavers out there, the Nike Training Club will help you reach your fitness goals whether you’re on the move, at home or in the gym. Access free workouts and enjoy the results. Combine your exercise with a nutritious eating plan and you’re well on track.
Stay mindful with Smiling Mind meditation exercises, and if financial budgeting is stressing you out, check out our recent blog post for better management techniques.
Download for your lifestyle
Whilst there’s literally an app for every occasion, choose the ones that suit you best and discard the rest. Focus on the important aspects that need addressing first.
If you struggle to stay off your phone while you are studying, you will benefit from Forest. The more time you spend offline and focusing on your work, the more trees will grow. Use your earned credits to plant more trees around the world! Who knew?
Photo by You X Ventures on Unsplash
