With finals week quickly approaching, smartphones may seem like more of a distraction than a study aid, but students can use these seven apps to give themselves a head start on preparing for final projects, papers and exams and stay organized with their scheduled study group. (REUTERS)
Countdown Calendar
Whether students are counting down the days until graduation or when their group is scheduled to give their presentation, this app for iPhone and Android users keeps track of the big day with hyperlinks, notes and notifications of when countdowns go into their “alert” period. The app allows for multiple events and users can mail countdown events to other app users. Price: $1.99
Recordoid Dictaphone Lite
When it comes to taking notes in class or creating a study guide ahead of an exam, Android users can take voice notes straight from their phone in class and email themselves the file for later or share with another study buddy. Students can add notes to saved recordings and save and view the recording location on the map in case they forget which recording goes with what lecture hall. Price: Free
Cram Fighter
Students who always find themselves cramming at the last minute can use this app to set up a study schedule that doesn’t have them pulling an all-nighter. Students can use their iPhones to input when they will start studying, the exam date, question banks and flashcards they are using to generate a schedule to stay productive and on task every day leading up to finals week. Users can rearrange their schedule if something changes and can also program their vacation days to adjust accordingly. Price: Free weeklong trial, $7.99/month
Mental Case
For a class that requires a lot of memorization of people, dates and events can get a little help from Mental Case to keep it all straight. This iPhone app is a study aid that takes information and creates brief notes from text, images, audio and even short videos to help students get information committed to memory and retain it. Price: $4.99
Keep Focus
Android users with short attention spans can use this app to prevent themselves from wasting time when it’s time to hit the books. Not only does it block websites, apps and calls to and from selected contacts, Keep Focus can open another productivity app such as a to-do list or calendar when users try to access a blocked app. When students are in need of a study break, they can set a “grace period” where they can access blocked content for a set time. Price: Free
SugarSynch
Forgot to transfer a file to a zip drive from the laptop back in the dorm? Have a hard drive crash or a badly damaged smartphone? This app for iPhone, Android and Blackberry users can remotely access files and folders and securely back them up to the user’s Cloud. Since the backup is instant and automatic, the most up to date versions of all documents can be easily reached from any device. Price: Free
GPA & Final Exam Calculator
Nervous about final grade results? With this app for Androids, students can calculate what score is necessary in order to receive a certain grade in a course and take the guesswork out of what their GPA will look like post-finals. Price: Free