With the advent of the smartphone and tablet, studying is now an activity that you can more easily do on the go. Apps make it easier than ever to study for that final or midterm, and they utilize instructional methods that speak to just about every learning style. So whether you like to learn by moving and touching (swiping, tapping, and clicking), by seeing what you’re learning (pictures, graphs), or listening (instructional videos, recordings), there is an app that will make it much more pleasant to study. Here are some apps from CollegeChoice.net and ExamTime.com.

Quizlet

Quizlet is one of the most versatile studying apps available. Create a set of flash cards with Quizlet on any topic. Arrange your study cards by subject. Add pictures. Add text and definitions in different languages. Play games to learn how to spell the words on your flash cards faster and more accurately. You can also play games to match the front and back sides of the cards. Add your voice or add words in 18 languages (helpful for studying foreign languages) to the cards if you want an audio component.

Recording App

Speaking of voices, use the voice memo app on your phone to record your voice or your professor’s lectures (if she allows it). When you review your notes, making an audio recording of you paraphrasing the notes in your own words forces you to state what you learned out loud. Later on, listen to the recording to review faster than re-reading the textbook. Listening to lectures again can help you clarify concepts you don’t understand.

iTunes University and Khan Academy

Check out the course material from colleges and universities on iTunes U (only available for iOS). You can watch video and read text on subjects that you’re studying. You may find a resource that explains something you didn’t quite catch in class in a different way. Download the Khan Academy app to watch videos on a variety of topics to enhance your in-class learning and to help you study for tests.

MyScript Smart Note

If you like to write down notes with a pen and paper in class and not type, then MyScript Smart Note might be a great app for you. There are lots of apps that let you handwrite with a finger or stylus, but they can’t really keep up with the speed with which you have to take notes during a lecture. This app isn’t any better about getting your  notes down faster, but it is good for taking notes if you’re taking notes from a book and are studying at home or at the library. One positive aspect of MyScript is that it can recognize handwriting in more than one language, and it can understand even the worst handwriting. This app is available for iOS and Android. The app enables you to change what you wrote with certain hand gestures. You can also draw and add media like images, sound, or PDF files from cloud storage. For a couple of dollars, you can add more pages, the ability to export, and back-ups as well. 

XMind

Xmind is only for desktops and laptops, but it is a versatile mind mapping tool. It isn’t mobile, and there is no Web app for it, but it can be a great planning tool for studying. Mind maps help you categorize and organize your thinking around a central topic and are usually helpful for visual learners. XMind has a free version, but you can pay extra for cloud storage and business-level perks if you want. 

ExamTime

This app lets you create mind maps, flash cards, notes, and quizzes. You can use all of these tools to help you prepare for exams. Organize your notes, and create flashcards and practice tests of your own. Share them with your friends to help them study, and they can share their materials with you to help you improve your grades. Your notes are all stored in one location, making them easier to find and study from. You can also study in groups, private message other users, use the online calendar, and plan your studying. This is a Web app, so you can use it from any device with a browser.

SelfControl

If you’re like most students, your mind wanders easily when you study. Use SelfControl to block a list of websites for an amount of time you choose when you study. You can better concentrate on studying and stay off of the Internet. 

onetimeinband:

onetimeinband:

Would you guys want me to make a band kid discord? Lmk in notes if you’d wanna join! Open to all kinds of band kids from anywhere!

I’m in the process of setting it up, so shoot me a DM if you want a link! Fingers crossed I can get it done today!

Discord is up! The link expires in 24 hours so rather than posting it here, I’ll just have you DM me. If you join please feel free to reblog and invite your own band friends to join as well!

onetimeinband:

Would you guys want me to make a band kid discord? Lmk in notes if you’d wanna join! Open to all kinds of band kids from anywhere!

I’m in the process of setting it up, so shoot me a DM if you want a link! Fingers crossed I can get it done today!

Would you guys want me to make a band kid discord? Lmk in notes if you’d wanna join! Open to all kinds of band kids from anywhere!

Welcome to my clarinet section. Here we have:

- the late bloomer emo section leader that brings random produce to potlucks (me)

- the gay pothead that doesn’t want to be here but was in band for 8 years and cried at senior night

- the other section leader that can be mistaken for a freshman and joined the day of kickoff night as a freshman despite never playing an instrument

- the tall dude with broken hips who manages to be louder than everyone

- the antisocial kid who may or may not have had a hit list in middle school but he’s gotten better and is not homophobic, just closeted

- the trans guy who gaslit everyone into thinking he was always male and is also allergic to everything but eats the thing she shouldn’t have anyways

- the clone of an alumni that I forget is younger than me

- the twin who I thought was just in two sections and never mentioned it who is apparently very loud but I’ve never heard him speak

- salad boy who materializes next to people randomly and has almost been killed by me by accident on a few times due to his peanut allergy

- sheltered girl who’s the embodiment of 2014 tumblr but in an innocent way

- tall awkward guy with the same exact first and last name as a senior

Honorable mentions:

- the flamboyant ginger closeted MCR fan who is now drum major and brought lettuce to 2 games this year

- my ex girlfriend who joined colorguard and has definitely forgotten how to play clarinet by now

- the girl who never showed up, quit, and posted about how much she missed band on Snapchat

- the 4’10 girl that was supposed to be our section leader and then disappeared

First year of college tips! part 1- academics

Hey y’all! So I know I’ve been terrible about posting this year (adjusting to college + miss rona = struggle), but I’ve honestly missed this blog and would like to start posting more often! Since I have officially finished my first year of college as a Sustainability Studies and Business Management double major, I wanted to share some tips on surviving your first year of college! This first part of the series will focus on academics!

-don’t go crazy with the course load: seriously, don’t be that kid who takes like 18 credits in their first semester. No matter what, adjusting to college life is weird, so give yourself enough time to explore, adjust, meet new people, and practice self-care!

-if you are not a morning person, do not sign up for morning classes (unless you have to!): Since I live off-campus, I have to wake up at 7:30 for my 9:30 classes and it is my personal hell (an 8:30 just might kill me). The early risers will try to convince you it’s not that bad, but schedule your classes at times when you will be the most present and engaged. 

-try out some interesting classes! This is the time when you will have some freedom to explore different areas of study, so don’t hesitate to try something new or take a weird class! Who knows, you might accidentally find something you love.

-it is absolutely ok to change your major! No matter how put together some people may seem, no one has their life completely figured out in their first year of college. You may find that the major you have excitedly been waiting to take classes for is absolute ass and that is ok! Talk to advisors and people in your classes to see what is right for you. I actually found my second major (sustainability studies) through a conversation with a random girl in one of my classes. 

-sit at the front of your class! if you are easily distracted, like me, it is the only way to stay focused. 

-show up to office hours prepared. no matter how confused you are, the second you walk into office hours you are going to forget every single question you had, so make sure to write them down and come with the materials you need so you don’t waste your time and your professor’s time.

-all-nighters are overhyped. I used to hear so many people boast about the all-nighters they pulled to study but I genuinely think it is a waste of time and energy. Unlike a high school schedule, your college schedule is going to leave you with so much free time. Try to finish all of your work in the time between classes so you don’t have to cram it all into one night. I did this, and honestly spent so much time sleeping during the fall semester (oops)

-join Facebook groups/group chats for your classes. this gives you a way to ask questions and get materials when you miss class.

-don’t study in the same place for hours. I’ve found that moving to a new location every now and gave me time to reset and helped me retain more information. The longer I stay in one place, the more distracted I get. 

-if you have the means invest in an iPad/tablet! I pooled all of my graduation money to buy an iPad and apple pencil and I am so happy with that decision. I got the good notes app and write notes and download readings (so I can highlight them) on there. Also, whenever I have to read novels for class I get them on the kindle app (which is often cheaper than buying a physical copy). This has helped me save a lot of paper and makes my backpack so much lighter.

lmk if I should do more of these / what you would like to see next! (thinking of doing a post on how to cope with remote learning and online classes next)