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For those of you who dread all-nighters but keep pulling them anyway (AKA almost all of you), why put off until tomorrow what you could do today? Studying for a few minutes every day can mean less time cooped up in the library at the end of the semester or before an exam. Plus, technology is on your side. As long as you have a smartphone, you have access to countless apps that make it easy to study on the go, for a few minutes or a few hours. There’s an app that can wake you up, one to keep you up, one to keep you off Facebook, and even one to give you round-the-clock access to all of your notes. So, put an end to the all-nighter and download at least one study app that you can use throughout the semester:
- Alarmy (Sleep If U Can): If you’re like me and turn your alarms off in your sleep (I’m not alone in that, am I?), this is your best bet for waking up early. This is the kind of app that will get you out of bed in the morning—literally. The alarm won’t turn off until you physically go to your bathroom sink and take a picture of it.
- Flashcards+: Why purchase and handwrite a ton of flashcards when you can create a deck on your phone for free? The Flashcards+ app, developed by Chegg, allows you to search collections created by other students as well as make your own flashcard decks. The app supports study in 22 languages.
- Quizlet: With endless flashcard decks created by students and for students, Quizlet is a mecca for self-quizzing. You can create your own decks and add images or audios to the cards. It’s also supported by other flashcard apps like the one mentioned above in case you decide you would like to switch but want to take your collections with you.
- Focus Booster: Studying hard without exhausting the brain is the idea behind Focus Booster. It can help enhance your productivity by scheduling breaks during your study time. I like this app because I can adjust the amount of time I spend working and relaxing, meaning that each individual user can determine which schedule best serves their needs.
- SelfControl: Has your productivity suffered because of distractions? Protect your focus with this app for Macs that will block you from your favorite sites, like Netflix and Facebook. After you download the app on your Mac OS X, set the program up for the time period you expect to work for. You can create a list of sites, mail services, and anything else on the internet that may distract you. For that period of time, there is absolutely no way for you to access any of the blocked materials, even if you delete the app and restart your computer.
- The Oxford Dictionary: This is a necessity. Whether you’re reading a textbook or typing up an essay, use this on-the-go dictionary to get the meaning of over 350,000 words and phrases.
- iStudiez Lite: Keep your assignments in one place with iStudiez Lite. This color-coded virtual planner will keep track of all of your homework and deadlines. For those of you trying to stay on top of your grades, you can also enter them and keep an eye on your GPA.
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- Exam Vocabulary Builder: If English is your second language or you are simply trying to expand your vocabulary, you’ll want this app. Use one of its modes (Search, Study, Quiz, or Flashcards) to increase your knowledge.
- Google Drive: This cloud-based app will keep the notes from your computer in a mobile storage system. Take your spreadsheets, essays, and other documents with you wherever you go! Study when you’re waiting for an oil change or review the final draft of an essay on the train. If you have a Gmail account, you automatically have Google Drive and can just enter your email and password when you download the app. If you don’t, you can still sign up for free with your current email address.
What’s your favorite study app?
