Cool Apps and Websites for Students (and Non-Students)

Using apps can help you focus better and stay organized.

You know all about social media apps like Facebook, Snap, Twitter and YouTube, but there are dozens of free or low-cost apps and websites to help you survive high school, college, and beyond. Here are a few of our favorites:

Studying and Organization

• Evernote – Evernote is perfect if you take a lot of notes while surfing the web. You can download web clippers, desktop shortcuts, and other handy tools, and you can also sync notes on different computers and smart phones. While it hasn’t completely taken the place of Post-Its in my life, it is a very handy way of saving info online.
• Goodreads – Is a favored app to track and share your reading list with friends and followers as well as set a yearly reading goal. You can rate, write reviews, and even enter to win free early copy of books delivered right to your doorstep. The app is easy to use, too.

Some apps can help students save money on books.

Websites to Help You Avoid the Bookstore

• Bartleby.com – A free online collection of books in the public domain (including Shakespeare’s works and Gray’s Anatomy)
• BookScouter – According to BookScouter.com, the website was originally created to buy and sell textbooks. There is a mobile app which will allow you to scan the ISBN on your text book or used book and then see the over 30+ vetted vendors who might be interested. They also have $500 quarterly book scholarship.

Not Tempting Fate: Websites That Can Help Prevent Computer Heartache

• Google Docs – Remember that Google Docs gives you a free means of backing up documents.When your computer unexpectedly crashes the night before your research paper is due, at least you will have a backup to help get you through the night.
• IDrive – Another online backup site that allows you to back up all your computers, laptops and devices to one account.

Websites to Help You Keep Up With News & the World

• Academic Earth – In case you are interested in getting a taste of what a college lecture is really like, Academic Earth has video lectures on a variety of topics. The lecturers are from schools like Yale and Stanford, and some of the videos take you through an entire semester’s worth of lectures, right up to the exam review.
• MentalFloss.com – Fun and surprisingly informative, Mental Floss offers an entertaining but still educational distraction when you need a break from academia.
• Slate.com – A rare web magazine that looks at issues (ranging from politics to popular culture to world news) from a variety of perspectives. Whether you love it or hate it, Slate is always provocative and informative.