If you want to know how to use apps to succeed in college, just ask Stacey Neathawk.
Neathawk has big goals — both academically and professionally — and she’s well-versed in the tools she needs to achieve them. A junior at the University of South Florida, Neathawk is a biomedical sciences major in the pre-pharmacy track. She hopes to work as a pharmacist around the world.
“I’ve grown up as a military child. I’ve never lived in one place for three years,” Neathawk said, explaining her wanderlust. “My dream is to live abroad, (especially) in Dubai. I am also planning to look into working at a military hospital overseas in Italy or Germany if I am able to.”
A career in pharmacy would allow her to do what she loves, “which is helping people,” Neathawk said, but to gain admission to a pharmacy program, she must maintain high grades in challenging courses like anatomy. Along with taking notes in class, studying with friends in the library, and using USF’s Academic Success Center, Neathawk employs a variety of educational apps. These apps have helped her grasp difficult concepts and feel confident when it comes to exam day. “(M)y GPA is very good to get into … any pharmacy school that I’d want to right now,” she said.
Whatever your college goals are, you can help make them a reality with these 9 Apps College Students Actually Use.
As a Peer Advisor Leader (PAL) in USF’s New Student Connections, Neathawk finds that new students sometimes have trouble “knowing how to study for classes.” She recommends the following apps — although she is quick to point out that everyone’s experience is unique, and success in college means finding the right tools for you.
Neathawk credits Slader for helping her survive her calculus course. “When I didn’t understand how a question was done, I would go to Slader and watch them do it step by step,” she explained.
Neathawk said the app is controversial because some students use it “specifically to gain answers for homework,” rather than doing the work themselves. She benefited from the app because she used it “as a learning tool” that helped her understand how to solve the problems — not as a way to skip ahead to the answers. If you download Slader, make sure you follow Neathawk’s example and use it with academic integrity.
Study tip: Because information on Slader is uploaded by fellow students, it can be inaccurate. If you’re unsure about an answer, double-check it with your textbook’s solutions manual, Neathawk suggested.
Neathawk said that “Quizlet is phenomenal,” especially for “topics that require memorization.”
Neathawk uses GroupMe to communicate with classmates, lab groups, fellow members of New Student Connections, her Pre-Pharmacy Society, and other student organizations. “It’s very easy to use and inclusive,” she said. The app is also visually appealing: “Whenever I’m texting somebody within a group chat, you can see who is texting because it shows … their picture as well as their name.”
“Khan Academy has basically been like my savior,” Neathawk said. She uses the app to master challenging subjects like chemistry, biology, organic chemistry, and anatomy. It’s not just college students who benefit from the app: Neathawk’s dad told her that he used Khan Academy to learn precalculus two years ago. “It works for everybody,” she said.
If Neathawk had to use only one app on this list, she’d choose YouTube because of its wealth of information. She said she especially enjoys Hank Green’s anatomy and physiology lessons, which are animated with engaging illustrations that bring science to life.
Neathawk uses some campus-specific apps to help her make the most of her USF experience.
One of the coolest features on MyUSF is that it can help you get around campus: “If you don’t know where one of your classes is, it will locate you based off of your current location and (show you) how to … walk to that class on campus,” Neathawk said. She added that the app is more effective than Google Maps, because it’s “familiar with the buildings at USF Tampa.”
Neathawk describes Go Bulls Guides as fast, efficient, and “the least confusing app” she’s ever used. “I want to become more involved within my community this year — that’s one of my goals — and I will use this app to … help ensure that I do that,” she said.
Reward yourself for a productive study session with these apps. Some of Neathawk’s favorite entertainment and life apps include:
“On Spotify I usually study to an artist named Milky Chance because of their mellow and chill vibe,” Neathawk said. She’s also used playlists such as Instrumental Study, All-Nighter, Intense Studying, and Just Focus.
On Amazon Prime, Neathawk purchased decorations and bedding to transform her college living space into a “new home away from home.” She also recommends Amazon for renting or purchasing textbooks, because they are “usually cheaper when purchased through Amazon versus some other providers.”
We’ve added our own favorite apps for college students to Neathawk’s lineup of suggestions. Our choices are designed to help students tackle issues unique to the 2020 school year. They include apps for studying as well as apps for overall wellness.
We could all use some stress relief right now. Headspace doesn’t replace counseling or mental health services (which we recommend for everyone during this stressful year), but it can help you add a little self-care to your day. If you prefer alternatives to Headspace, you can view this list of wellness apps compiled by our counseling center.
Time management is a crucial skill for all college students to learn. If you’re attending online courses, as many students will do in fall 2020, it’s even more important to know how long projects take and budget your time effectively.
Between Zoom hangouts and online courses, we’re all spending more time hunched over our computers this year. That means we need to be intentional about weaving movement into the day. With Google Docs, you can dictate your thoughts while walking around your room or backyard – an ideal way to get work done and get some exercise. Plus, its collaborative features make it easier to do group projects remotely.
Social distancing means you may not be spending as much time in-person at a library. Ask a Librarian helps you stay connected with research librarians, who are arguably one of the most useful resources when you’re writing a paper or looking for sources.
We hope you enjoyed our list of college student apps! Do you want to learn more about study tools, recommended apps, or the college experience? Reach out to USF’s New Student Connections. You can also contact the USF Office of Admissions online.