homework for college students

Never forget a class or assignment again.

Unlock your potential and manage your classes, tasks and exams with mystudylife- the world's #1 student planner and school organizer app..

School planner and organizer

The MyStudyLife planner app supports rotation schedules, as well as traditional weekly schedules. MSL allows you to enter your school subjects, organize your workload, and enter information about your classes – all so you can effortlessly keep on track of your school calendar.

Homework planner and task tracker

Become a master of task management by tracking every single task with our online planner – no matter how big or small.

Stay on top of your workload by receiving notifications of upcoming classes, assignments or exams, as well as incomplete tasks, on all your devices.

“Featuring a clean interface, MyStudyLife offers a comprehensive palette of schedules, timetables and personalized notifications that sync across multiple devices.”

” My Study Life is a calendar app designed specifically for students. As well as showing you your weekly timetable– with support for rotations – you can add exams, essay deadlines and reminders, and keep a list of all the tasks you need to complete. It also works on the web, so you can log in and check your schedule from any device.”

“MyStudyLife is a great study planner app that makes it simple for students to add assignments, classes, and tests to a standard weekly schedule.”

“I cannot recommend this platform enough. My Study Life is the perfect online planner to keep track of your classes and assignments. I like to use both the website and the mobile app so I can use it on my phone and computer! I do not go a single day without using this platform–go check it out!!”

“Staying organized is a critical part of being a disciplined student, and the MyStudyLife app is an excellent organizer.”

The ultimate study app

The MyStudyLife student planner helps you keep track of all your classes, tasks, assignments and exams – anywhere, on any device.

Whether you’re in middle school, high school or college MyStudyLife’s online school agenda will organize your school life for you for less stress, more productivity, and ultimately, better grades.  

Take control of your day with MyStudyLife

Stay on top of your studies. Organize tasks, set reminders, and get better grades, one day at a time.

We get it- student life can be busy. Start each day with the confidence that nothing important will be forgotten, so that you can stay focused and get more done.

Track your class schedule on your phone or computer, online or offline, so that you always know where you’re meant to be.

Shift your focus back to your goals, knowing that MyStudyLife has your back with timely reminders that make success the main event of your day

Say goodbye to last minute stress with MyStudyLife’s homework planner to make procrastination a thing of the past.

Coming soon!

MyStudyLife has lots of exciting changes and features in the works. Stay tuned!

Stay on track on all of your devices.

All your tasks are automatically synced across all your devices, instantly.

Trusted by millions of students around the world.

School can be hard. MyStudyLife makes it easier.

Our easy-to-use online study planner app is available on the App Store, the Google Play Store and can be used on desktop. This means that you can use MyStudyLife anywhere and on any device.

Discover more on the MyStudyLife blog

See how MyStudyLife can help organize your life.

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50 Best Free Study Apps for College Students: Ultimate List

How many times have you become frustrated when you had to pay for your favorite study app or when access to your most relied-upon website became paid-only?

Once? Twice? Dozens of times?

It’s time to say no to such frustrations. Because here at IvyPanda, we’ve gathered the best study services and apps for college students that are entirely free.

Keep reading!

• The Best Time Management Apps for Students
• The Best Online Collaboration Tools for Students
• Critical Thinking Tools
• Homework Apps and Websites
• Digital Storytelling Tools and Websites
• Citation Tools
• Note Taking & Word Editors
• The Best Apps For Students

Bonus: 11 Scholarship and Internship Websites

Use your time wisely: the best time management apps for students.

First and foremost, every student should learn how to manage their time efficiently . You take a lot of classes and have tons of homework and perhaps even a full-time or part-time job, which together may take up all of your time.

You may ask…

How can you possibly keep a study-life and work-life balance?

It is not as hard as it may seem because there are plenty of helpful time management apps for college students:

• Google Calendar

This is probably one of the most popular time management products. Google Calendar has a traditional interface and may very well be a must-have app for every student. It is available on both Android and iOS platforms as well as online. Make your class schedule, plan your meetings, and share upcoming events with your friends.

Even better:

You can add descriptions, attach pictures or files to events, and set reminders.

Available on: iOS, Android, web

• My Study Life

My Study Life is another cross-platform student planner that will help you organize your college schedule. The app supports both a traditional timetable and day/week rotation.

By the way…

Did we mention that it’s free?

Available on: iOS, Android, Windows Phone, Windows 8, web

• Focus Booster

Have you ever procrastinated when doing your homework? If so, you should try the Pomodoro Technique for your studies. All you have to do is break your task into short time blocks (around 20 – 25 minutes each) and focus on your work. The Focus Booster app will help you keep your attention on the assignment, track the time, and create useful reports.

There is no Stop button!

The free version of the app allows for 20 sessions/month, including time tracking, the Pomodoro timer, and reporting.

Available on: iOS, Android, Windows, Mac, web

How much time do you spend surfing distracting websites instead of doing your writing assignment? RescueTime may become an indispensable app for you. Use its free version to better understand how you spend your time:

• Keep an eye on the websites and applications you use while doing homework
• Get a weekly report of your activity

There is also a premium pricing plan available for only $9/month, which will block distracting sites, keep a log of your accomplishments, and allow for the creation of detailed filters and reports.

Available on: Android, Windows, Mac, Linux

Keep an eye on all your tasks with this simple cross-platform tool. Todoist is a free online planner for students and anyone else who wants to stay organized. Use this tool to set up, track, and review your daily and weekly tasks.

Available on: Android, Windows, Mac, iOS, web

Collaborate With Your Classmates: The Best Online Collaboration Tools for Students

Teamwork and the ability to communicate with others are some of the most essential skills for your future.

You may be wondering: why are they so important?

And here is the deal…

Being able to work in a group gives you these benefits:

• Improving your communication skills. To work on any problem, you have to communicate. You must be able to hear others’ opinions. This collaborative learning will become the perfect foundation for your future job, especially for teamwork with people of different backgrounds, religious beliefs, ethnicities, etc.
• Learning how to trust others. When working on a group project, you have to collaborate with others. Of course, you may work without trusting your classmates. But if you want to finish your task quickly and efficiently, you have to learn how to trust your colleagues.
• Immersing yourself in learning. Being heard in a small group gives you a feeling of value and prominence. Because your study experience will become more pleasant, you’ll be more eager to get more information on the topic at hand. Another way of acheving this benefit would be through visiting a database of college essay examples . Try it some time to get an extra source of inspiration.
• Learning something new from your classmates. Two heads are better than one, so when working together, you will see different points of view on the raised question.
• Becoming more confident. While working on a group project, you will get team support and be able to express yourself.

Why don’t you try one of these free tools for students for your next group project?

This tool allows you to create boards when working on group projects. On these boards, you can add comments, links, photos, audio files, and videos. And don’t forget to share them with your friends and classmates!

Available on: Chrome, iOS, Android, Kindle, web

Imagine that you have your own online library. You can create bookmarks and tag saved websites, and you can add text, notes, and reminders directly to any web page. And, of course, you can share it all with your mates!

Slack will take your group projects to the next level. Communicate with others, upload images and documents, and search through an archive of your team’s decisions, conversations, and work. 5 GB of file storage is included in the free version.

Available on: Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, Windows Phone

It does not matter how big your project may be. Now you can forget about tons of sticky notes, dozens of emails, and the dreaded lost flash drive (the one with your completed group assignment). Trello is among the best study apps because it allows you to create a board, invite your friends, and add comments and attachments to Trello cards. This cross-platform tool is also great for brainstorming.

Available on: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Windows Phone, web

WeTransfer allows you to share your files with others. All you have to do is upload a document, video, audio file, etc., and then send the link to your friends. The free version allows you to upload files up to 2 GB, with a link that expires in a week.

Available on: Mac, iOS, Android, web

Think Out of the Box: Critical Thinking Tools

Nowadays you have to deal with lots of information. Therefore, you should not be just a passive recipient of facts and news but rather an active learner.

In essence, you must be able to observe, analyze, evaluate, and solve problems using a systematic approach, not just your instinct or intuition.

Critical thinking involves a lot of skills: attention, analysis, evaluation, reflection, assumption, decision making, and problem-solving.

Check out these critical thinking apps:

Xmind is one of the best mind mapping apps. You can use it when working on any assignment to create a diagram and build out the logic of the project. The free plan allows you to create all kinds of charts. You can also get access to extended features with the Pro version for only $129.

Available on: Windows, Mac, Linux

Coggle is another great mental map app that allows you to create diagrams, take notes, analyze gathered information, and brainstorm your ideas. The free plan allows you to create unlimited public charts and image uploads, download your project as a PDF or image file, and share it with your classmates.

Available on: web

One of the elements of critical thinking according to the Bloom’s Taxonomy matrix is evaluation. When writing an assignment, you have to review a lot of sources. SciCheck will help you avoid misleading scientific facts. And all you need to use this tool is a browser!

Elevate is an Android app that will help you increase your brain’s processing speed, improve your speaking and math skills, and boost your memory and attention. You will find 40+ games for your brain along with a performance tracker, workout calendar, and more!

Available on: Android

Ace Your Assignments: Homework Apps and Websites

If you’re like almost every other student, there will be a moment in your life when you ask yourself:

“How on earth will I be able to complete all these assignments?”

Studying in college involves a lot of homework. That’s why there are plenty of helpful apps for students to deal with all those assignments.

You may want to try some of these tools:

Forget about struggling with your homework. Try Photomath, one of the coolest math apps for college students. Merely scan math problems with your smartphone and get an immediate answer.

Available on: iOS, Android

Socratic is a digital tutoring app for your smartphone. Get homework help from teachers and other students. Just ask your question, and you will get an answer!

Supported subjects:

• Anatomy & Physiology
• Astrophysics
• Earth Science
• English Grammar
• Environmental Science
• Organic Chemistry
• Pre-Algebra
• Pre-Calculus
• Trigonometry
• U.S. History
• World History

Ace your studies by creating diagrams and flashcards or by exploring those made by other users. You can master your knowledge on any subject using the tool’s online version or download it to your phone.

• Office Lens

Time to digitize all your notes! Use Office Lens from Microsoft and convert your notes, recipes, and even blackboard scribbles to Word, PowerPoint, or PDF.

Available on: Windows, Windows Mobile, Windows Phone, iOS, Android

• Merriam-Webster Dictionary

An extended vocabulary is essential for every student, no matter whether you are studying Humanities or Sciences. Learn new words, search for synonyms, and master your vocabulary using your smartphone or the dictionary’s browser version.

By the way:

If you are struggling with your assignments, do not hesitate to message IvyPanda ! You will get excellent homework help from an experienced Academic Expert.

Tell Your Story: Digital Storytelling Tools and Websites

Every day we tell stories to our relatives, acquaintances, and friends. Even essay writing for a class means storytelling.

So let’s take a closer look at digital storytelling and see what skills it will help you develop.

First of all, storytelling is about leadership. By participating in a digital storytelling project, you will learn how to engage, motivate, and convince your audience.

It also develops your technical competency. Creating presentations and making videos requires a decent understanding of various interfaces and tools.

When working on a digital project, you will develop your critical thinking skills as you make a lot of decisions. You will have to think about your audience, how to persuade them in a limited amount of time, and so on.

You may want to try out one of these digital storytelling tools for students:

• Storyboarder

This online storyboard generator from the Australian Center of Moving Images allows you to create your own video and share it with your friends. You can also check out the organization’s video library and download a free video for your project.

You can even learn from professionals! Watch video advice from Australia’s best screen professionals.

• Make Beliefs Comix

Why not try to tell your story as a comic strip? Who says that digital storytelling has to be dull?

You can create your own story in a fun way. Also, you can find tons of ideas for your strips, writing prompts, and even some free ebooks. Make Beliefs Comix should definitely be listed among the most useful apps for students!

• Adobe Spark

Are you searching for an outstanding tool to visualize your story? Try Adobe Spark. This app allows you to develop gorgeous web pages, custom graphics, and videos. All your projects will sync across your desktop, iPad, and iPhone.

Available on: iOS, web

WeVideo is another simple but powerful digital storytelling tool for creating your videos. The app is available in both free and paid versions. The free version allows you create 5-minute videos with 480p resolution and 1 GB of file storage.

Available on: Chromebook, iOS, Android, web

With ShowMe, you can now create your own whiteboard, record a video, and share it with your friends. Moreover, you may want to check out their tutorial videos on the following subjects:

• Art History
• Contemporary Art
• Music Theory
• Musical Notes
• Renaissance Art

Available on: Chromebook, iOS, Android

Don’t Steal, Cite: Citation Tools

Nobody wants to be accused of plagiarism. To avoid this, you should always cite your sources.

You may argue…

There are a lot of citation styles. How can I even remember them all?

Fortunately, you don’t have to! Use one of the citation builder apps or websites below:

• Cite This For Me

Cite This For Me is a former RefMe app that allows you to create a citation in Harvard, APA, MLA, and several other styles simply by using your phone’s camera. All you have to do is scan a book’s barcode.

• Mendeley Reference Manager

Mendeley is another completely free reference generator that is available on all platforms. Imagine having a whole library in your pocket. You can create citations in various styles with just a few clicks. Mendeley also offers a citation plugin that is compatible with Microsoft Word and LibreOffice. And you can access Mendeley from any web browser or mobile device.

Available on: Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, web

Zotero is among the must-have education apps for students. Like Mendeley, it has a plugin compatible with Word and LibreOffice.

Zotero supports over 8,000 citation styles!

Available on: Windows, Mac, Linux, web

OttoBib is a clear and straightforward citation generator. Enter a book’s ISBN and get a citation. This app only supports the following citation styles: APA, MLA, Chicago, Wikipedia, and BibTeX.

• Citation Machine

Citation Machine is a powerful yet easy-to-use online app. It supports various citation styles. Choose the necessary style, adjust your search results, edit the information, and make a proper reference for your assignment.

Jazz Up Your Writing: Note Taking & Word Editors

A good note-taking app or word processor is a must-have for every student. It will help you concentrate on your studies instead of searching for a pen or piece of paper to write your ideas down.

And, of course, there is a plethora of digital tools for writing, both free and paid.

Choose from the best note taking apps and word processors:

GoogleDocs is a simple but powerful word editor for all your needs. As you work on your text, all changes will be saved automatically. If your Internet connection is suddenly lost, you can still find the file in your Google Drive account.

Available on: web, iOS, Android

• LibreOffice

LibreOffice is a free alternative to the Microsoft Office Suite. Create documents, spreadsheets, presentations, diagrams, and charts on your computer or mobile device. LibreOffice is compatible with most popular document formats.

Available on: Linux, Windows, Mac, iOS, Android

If you are seeking the best apps for college students, you should try Evernote. You can use this tool to keep all your notes in one place or to serve as your handy assignment tracker―it syncs with your Google Calendar. You can also search among previous records and share them with your friends.

Available on: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, web

What do you need to start writing?

Only your ideas and a text editor. ZenPen is one of the most minimalistic online text editors. No distractions—just you and your writing. By the way, you can also set a target word count to keep yourself on track.

TalkTyper is another online text editor. You don’t even need to type! Just plug in your mic and start dictating. TalkTyper allows you to edit, print, share, email, and translate text. The app supports 37 languages.

Store Your Files Safely: The Best Apps For Students

How many times have you lost your flash drive or had your hard drive suddenly crash? Now is the time to take care of your files like you always meant to. You should try these apps and tools for file storage:

• Google Drive

Start uploading your files to Google Drive with 15 GB of free storage. Among this tool’s many features, it is worth noting the integration with Google Docs, Gmail, and Google+, which makes it one of the most useful apps for college students. Also, you may backup files from your computer or mobile device.

Over 100 million users have chosen Dropbox as their primary cloud storage provider. Dropbox integrates into your computer’s operating system and creates a folder with the same name. When you place any file in this folder, it is automatically uploaded to the cloud server.

In fact, you do not even need a web interface! 2 GB of free online storage is provided.

You can create public links that are available to everyone, whether they are Dropbox users or not.

iCloud is an exclusive cloud storage service for Apple users, whether they use the iPad, iPhone, iPod touch, or Mac.

The service saves your content and provides access to photos, calendars, contacts, and files on any device. Each new user gets 5 GB of disk space upon registering.

Available on: Mac, iOS, web

OneDrive is not just cloud storage. It supports a vast number of formats, and the service is integrated into a lot of applications. Needless to mention Office Online, which is one of the best online office packages.

5 GB of free storage space is available. You can also purchase additional space.

When you purchase certain devices or pay for a subscription to Microsoft Office 365, you’ll also get up to 5 TB of cloud space for free.

IDrive is another file storage service. Get 5 GB of free file storage under the free basic pricing plan. You can access your files from any device and share your docs to email, social networks, and SMS.

No student would refuse additional funding or financial aid, right? Billions of dollars in grants and scholarships are available to future and current students.

You don’t even have to be an outstanding scientist or sports star to apply. All you need is to spend some time on research.

Take a closer look at one of these websites to get started:

• Scholars4dev

If you have ever dreamed about pursuing your education abroad, you should check out this website. Here you will find a lot of available scholarships and grants from both governments and institutions all over the world. No registration required.

Only a few steps separate you from 1.5 million scholarships. Every year, colleges throughout the United States offer thousands of scholarships for students that may cover all or part of your tuition and fees.

Register to get access to financial aid worth over $3.4 billion. Be prepared to get a lot of emails with scholarships you qualify for.

Use Niche to explore thousands of available scholarships. You may apply filters for states, majors, minorities, and more to narrow your search.

More than $10 billion in scholarships is waiting for your application. A lot of universities, colleges, foundations, and private companies are ready to pay for your education. All you have to do is fill out your profile on Cappex and find the scholarship that matches you best.

• Scholarships.com

Paying for college can put you in serious debt. Don’t spend your own money—search for an award instead. Whether you’re only finishing up high school or are a current college student seeking a grant or financial aid, just complete a profile on Scholarships.com and apply for your perfect match.

Searching among millions of student-specific, merit-based, career-based, and other types of grants and scholarships has never been easier. You may browse a full list of awards or use the scholarship search available on Unigo.

Have you found your next summer internship? Or are you perhaps searching for one of your first student jobs ?

Then why don’t you check out these sites?

• Internships.com

This website offers thousands of student internships. Filter the search results by a particular field, city, company, etc. and apply to your preferred firm.

Indeed is a great search engine where you can find your first work experience, internship, or even full-time job. All you need to do to start is fill in two fields. Moreover, you may upload your CV so that interested employers can contact you directly.

This is another cool website to explore internship and job opportunities in startups around the world. You can browse positions by state or role.

Start your career with The Muse, where hundreds of employers are waiting for you. You can filter the search results by role, location, job level, and company size.

• Go Overseas

If you’re looking for a summer internship abroad, you should check this website first. Here you can find tons of internships, guides, information about international studies, and more. Furthermore, if you have questions about a particular program, you may ask travelers who have already participated in it.

What are your favorite apps for students? Tell us in the comments below!

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Take Control of Homework

Find the right college for you, don't let it control you..

Although very few students love homework, it does serve a purpose. Homework helps you:

• Reinforce what you've learned during the day.
• Build study habits that are essential in college.
• Prepare for your classes.
• Get a sense of progress.

College life involves a lot of adjustments for students. Will you have homework in college? Yes. And it can be one of the most daunting tasks you face there. Out-of-the-classroom learning is part of the college experience and essential for academic success. The good news is that learning some homework tips now will make it easier to do college homework later.

Set the Mood.

Create a good study area with everything you need (e.g., a calculator). If you don't have a quiet place at home, try your local library.

Know Where to Begin.

Make a list of everything you need to do. Note all deadlines. Do the more challenging assignments first so you don't have to face them at the end.

Study at the Same Time Every Day.

Even if you don't have homework every night, use the time to review notes. If sitting down to work is part of your everyday routine, you'll approach it with less dread. Also, you'll become a pro at using time productively.

Keep Things in Perspective.

Know how much weight each assignment or test carries. Use your time accordingly.

Get More Involved.

Keep your mind from wandering by taking notes, underlining sections, discussing topics with others, or relating your homework to something you're studying in another class.

Organize the Information.

People process information in different ways. Some people like to draw pictures or charts to digest information, while others prefer to read aloud or make detailed outlines. Try to find the methods that work best for you. Ask your teacher for recommendations if you're having trouble.

Take Advantage of Any Free Time.

If you have a study period or a long bus ride, use the time to review notes, prepare for an upcoming class, or start your homework.

Study with a Friend.

Get together with friends and classmates to quiz each other, compare notes, and predict test questions. Consider joining a study group.

Communicate.

If you have concerns about the amount or type of homework, talk to your family, teachers, or counselor. They can help you understand how much time you need to allot for homework and how to manage your tasks.

Celebrate Your Achievements.

Reward yourself for hitting milestones or doing something unusually well.

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The 5 Best Homework Help Apps You Can Use

General Education

We know that homework can be a real drag. It’s time-consuming, and can be difficult to complete all on your own. So, what can you do if you’re struggling?

You might try looking online or in the app store! If you’ve already looked around you probably know that there are tons of homework sites for students and homework apps out there that all say they can help you improve your grades and pass your classes. But, can you trust them? And what are the best apps for homework help?

Below, we answer these questions and more about homework help apps–free and paid . We’ll go over: 

• The basics of homework help apps
• The cost of homework help apps
• The five best apps for homework help
• The pros and cons of using apps that help you with homework 
• The line between “learning” and “cheating” when using apps that help you with homework
• Tips for getting the most out of homework sites for students 

So let’s jump in!

The Basics About Apps that Help You With Homework–Free and Paid

The bottom line is, homework sites and homework apps are intended to help you complete your take-home assignments successfully. They provide assistance that ranges from answering questions you submit through a portal all the way to one-on-one tutoring, depending on the help you need! 

The big plus for both homework help apps and websites is that they usually offer help on-demand. So if you can’t make it to after school tutoring, or if you're studying late into the night (it happens!), you can still access the help you need! 

If you’re specifically looking for an answer to the question: “what is the best homework help website ?,” you can check out our article on those here! [LINK COMING SOON]

What’s the Difference Between a Homework Help Website and an App?

So if they’re both designed to give you a little boost with your take-home assignments, what makes homework apps and websites different from one another? First off, homework help websites are optimized to be used on a desktop, while apps are designed to be run natively on mobile devices. So depending on which devices you have access to, you may decide to use a website instead of an app…or vice versa! 

The other big difference between homework help apps and websites is that they sometimes offer different features. For instance, with the Photomath app, you’ll be able to submit photos of math problems instead of having to type everything out, which is easier to do by using an app on your phone. 

If you’re trying to decide whether to go with a website or app, the good news is that you may not have to. Some homework help websites also have companion apps, so you can have the best of both worlds!

What Makes a Homework Help App Worth Using

Apps that help you with homework should ideally help you actually learn the material you’re struggling with, and/or help you turn in your work on time. Most of the best apps for homework help allow you to ask questions and provide answers and explanations almost immediately. And like we mentioned earlier, many of these apps let you send a picture of a question or problem instead of writing it all out.

But homework help apps offer more than just quick answers and explanations for your assignment questions. They also offer things like educational videos, lectures, tutorials, practice tests and quizzes, math solving tools, proofreading services, and even Q&A with experts.

And the best part is, most offer these services 24/7! 

What You Should Look Out For

When it comes to homework help, there are lots–and we mean lots –of apps willing to prey on desperate students. Before you download any apps (and especially before you pay to sign up for any services), read reviews of the app to ensure you’re working with a legitimate company. 

Keep in mind: the more a company advertises help that seems like cheating, the more likely it is to be a scam. Actual subject matter experts aren’t likely to work with those companies. Remember, the best apps for homework help are going to help you learn the concepts needed to successfully complete your homework on your own. 

If you’re not sure if an app is legitimate, you can also check to see if the app has an honor code about using their services ethically , like this one from Brainly. (We’ll go over the difference between “homework help” and “cheating” in more detail a little later!) 

How Expensive Are Apps That Help You With Homework?

A word to the wise: just because a homework help app costs money doesn’t mean it’s a good service. And, just because a homework help app is free doesn’t mean the help isn’t high quality. To find the best apps, you have to take a close look at the quality and types of information they provide! 

Most of the apps out there allow you to download them for free, and provide at least some free services–such as a couple of free questions and answers. Additional services or subscriptions are then charged as in-app purchases. When it comes to in-app purchases and subscriptions for homework help, the prices vary depending on the amount of services you want to subscribe to. Subscriptions can cost anywhere from $2 to around $60 dollars per month, with the most expensive app subscriptions including some tutoring (which is usually only available through homework help websites.)

The 5 Best Apps for Homework Help

Okay, now that you’re up to speed on what these apps are and how they can help you, we’ll run you through the best five apps you can use. 

Keep in mind that even though we recommend all of these apps, they tend to excel at different things. We’ve broken these apps into categories so that you can pick the best one for your needs! 

Best Free Homework Help App: Khan Academy

• Price: Free!
• Best for: Practicing tough material 

While there are lots of free homework help apps out there, this is our favorite because it actually supports learning, rather than just providing answers. The Khan Academy app works like the website, and offers the same services. It’s full of information and can be personalized to suit your educational needs. 

After you download the app, you choose which courses you need to study, and Khan Academy sets up a personal dashboard of instructional videos, practice exercises, and quizzes –with both correct and incorrect answer explanations–so you can learn at your own pace. 

As an added bonus, it covers more course topics than many other homework help apps, including several AP classes.

Best Paid Homework Help App: Brainly

• Price: $18 for a 6 month subscription, $24 for a year 
• Best for: 24/7 homework assistance 

Brainly is free to download and allows you to type in questions (or snap a pic) and get answers and explanations from both fellow students and teachers. Plus, subject matter experts and moderators verify answers daily, so you know you’re getting quality solutions! The downside is that you’re limited to two free answers per question and have to watch ads for more if you don’t pay for a subscription. 

That said, their subscription fees average around only $2 per month, making this a particularly affordable option if you’re looking for homework help on a budget. Brainly subscriptions not only cover unlimited answers and explanations on a wide variety of school subjects (including Art and World Languages which aren’t always included in other apps), they also provide tutoring in Math and Physics!

Best App for Math Homework Help: Photomath

• Price: Free (or up to $59.99 per year for premium services) 
• Best for: Explaining solutions to math problems

This app allows you to take a picture of a math problem, and instantly pulls up a step-by-step solution, as well as a detailed explanation of the concept. Photomath subscription services also include animated videos that break down mathematical concepts–all the way up to advanced Calculus!--to help you better understand and remember them. 

The basic textbook solution service is free, but for an additional fee you can get extra study tools, access to one-on-one tutoring, and additional strategies for solving common math problems.

Best App for STEM and English Homework Help: Studypool

• Price: Varies; you’ll pay for each question you submit
• Best for: Science and English homework help in one app

When it comes to apps for science and English homework help, there aren’t lots of great resources out there, much less out there all in one place. While Grammarly is a good service for proofreading, SparkNotes has some decent summaries, and Khan Academy covers science, the best of the bunch if you need help with both subjects Studypool. Instead of using lots of different apps for STEM and English help, they’re combined together here! But while Studypool has great reviews, there are some downsides as well. 

The Studypool Q&A model is a little different than other homework help apps. After you create a free account, you ask questions, and tutors submit bids to answer them. You’ll be able to select the tutor–and price point–that works for you, then you’ll pay to have your homework question answered. You can also pay a small fee to access thousands of notes, lectures, and other documents that top tutors have uploaded.  

The downside to Studypool is that the pricing is not transparent . There’s no way to plan for how much your homework help will cost, especially if you have lots of questions! It’s also not clear how they choose their tutors, so you’ll need to be careful when you decide who you’d like to answer your homework questions. That said, if you only need a few questions answered per month, this could be cheaper than other monthly subscription services.

Best Homework Scheduling App: MyStudyLife

• Best for: Keeping track of your schedule and deadlines

If the reason you’re looking for homework help is less about finding answers to questions and more about needing assistance with organization and time-management , MyStudyLife is a great option. This is a cross-platform planner that allows you to store your class schedule, upcoming tests, and homework assignments in the cloud so you can access it all wherever you are, and on any device. 

One of the unique things about it is that it easily works for daily or weekly rotating class schedules that can get confusing, helping you keep track of when you need to finish your homework based on your changing schedule. You can get reminders for upcoming classes and assignments as well as past-due homework and any revisions you may need to do. It can even let you know when you need to start studying for a big test!

Best of all, you can actually schedule assignments and study sessions for multiple nights, and specify how much of the task you got done each night. That way you’ll know how much additional time you’ll need to spend! 

While homework apps might seem like magic, it's important to weigh the pros and cons before you commit to one. 

What Are the Pros and Cons of Using Homework Help Apps?

Homework help apps can be useful tools if you’re struggling in any of your classes. But there are a few problems you might run into if you don’t use them ethically and responsibly. 

Below we’ll cover some of the good and the not-so-good parts of using homework help apps to complete your take-home assignments.

3 Pros of Using Homework Help Apps

Let’s start with the pros of using apps for homework help.

Pro 1: All-Around Better Grades

This is undeniably the main pro and the reason apps that help you with homework are so popular with students. Not only can you potentially get better grades on individual assignments, because they help you learn tricky concepts, you can also earn better grades overall .

Just keep in mind that if you want better grades you have to actually learn the material you’re studying, not just find easy answers. So be sure to use apps that provide good explanations . That way you’ll have the mental tools you need to succeed on your class exams and on standardized tests for college. 

Pro 2: Flexibility

It’s hard to beat homework help that you can access anywhere you are from your mobile device. You can also get assistance whenever you need it since the best apps offer their services 24/7. This is especially useful for students who need to study during hours when their free school resources aren’t available because of extracurriculars, jobs, or family obligations. 

If you need convenient and flexible homework help or tutoring services to fit your schedule, apps can be your go-to resource. 

Pro 3: Individualized Learning

Sometimes the kind of learner you are doesn’t match your teacher’s style of teaching. Or maybe the pace of a class is a little too fast or too slow for your tastes. Homework apps can help by allowing you to learn at your own speed and in ways that support your own learning style. 

You can use their features, such as educational videos, 24/7 conversations with experts and peers, and tutorials to review concepts you may have forgotten. These apps can also let you dive deeper into topics or subjects you enjoy! With homework help apps, you get to choose what you need to learn and how you learn it.

3 Cons of Using Homework Help Apps

Next, let’s look at the cons of homework help apps. 

Con 1: Questionable Info 

Unfortunately there are lots of less-than-reliable homework help apps out there. They might not hire actual experts in their fields to provide answers and create study tools, or they rely on user-submitted answers that they don’t verify. In those cases, you might not be getting the accurate, thorough, and up-to-date answers you need to really learn.

In addition to the possibility of running into plain-old wrong answers, even the best apps sometimes just won’t have a specific answer you need. This could be because you’re enrolled in an advanced class the app doesn’t really cover or because of the algorithm or chatbot a particular app uses. 

If that’s the case , your best bet will likely be to talk to your teacher or a free tutor (if your school provides them) to get help answering your question.

Con 2: Information Overload

While having tons of information at your fingertips can be helpful, the sheer amount and variety of videos, tutorials, expert answers, and resources a homework app provides can be overwhelming . It’s also easy to get sucked into a research rabbit-hole where you learn new things but don’t actually get your work done. This is especially true for students who tend to be easily distracted.

Additionally, you may be learning to do things differently than you’ve learned them in class , which could cause problems. For example, if your math teacher asks you to solve a problem one way, but you learned to do it differently through an app, you could get confused come test time! 

Con 3: Cutting Corners

There are a lot of apps out there that bill themselves as “the best app for cheating.” They allow users to type in a question or take a picture, then instantly provide an answer without any explanation of the material. Many of these are scams or provide unreliable answers, but not all. Some apps are legitimate and provide quick and easy answers that could allow you to do your whole homework assignment in minutes. 

The problem is that even though taking shortcuts on homework to save time is tempting, it can keep you from really learning. The point of practicing concepts and skills is so you develop them and can access them whenever you need to. This is especially true if skills build on one another, like in a math or English class. 

Sometimes s truggling with an assignment or question, trying, failing, then trying again until you succeed can help you learn difficult material. If you don’t let yourself really try, and instead take too many shortcuts, you may end up behind.

When Does “Help” Become “Cheating”?

When it comes to using homework help apps, sometimes the difference between “help” and “cheating” is really clear. For example, if you’re using an app to get answers while you’re taking a test, that’s definitely cheating . But what if you’re struggling with a math problem and need to know the correct answer so you can work backwards to learn the process? Is that “cheating” or is it “help?” 

The truth is, not everyone agrees on when “help” crosses the line into “cheating .” If you’re not sure, you can always check with your teacher to see what they think about a particular type of help you want to get. That said, a general rule of thumb to keep in mind is to make sure that the assignment you turn in for credit is authentically yours . It needs to demonstrate your own thoughts and your own current abilities. Remember: the point of every homework assignment is to 1) help you learn something, and 2) show what you’ve learned. 

So if you’re relying on an app to do all of the work for you, there’s a good chance using it might constitute cheating. 

Think of it this way: say you’re studying for an upcoming math test, and are stumped by a few of the questions on the study guide. Even though you’ve tried and tried, you can’t seem to get the right answer because you can’t remember the steps to take. Using an app to explain the steps as you’re studying is “help.” Using the app to get answers so you can make a good homework grade is “cheating.” 

The same is true for other subjects: brainstorming essay ideas with others or looking online for inspiration is “help” as long as you write the essay yourself. Having someone read it and give you feedback about what you need to change is also “help,” provided you’re the one that makes the changes later. 

But copying all or part of an essay you find online or having someone write (or rewrite) the whole thing for you would be “cheating.” Ultimately, if you’re not generating your own work or learning to produce your own answers, it’s probably cheating. 

5 Tips for Finding the Best Homework Help App for You

If you’re serious about using a homework help app, our expert tips can help you pick one that’s right for you and your budget!

#1: Decide What Tools You Need to Succeed 

While most apps offer Q&A services, the best apps provide study tools to help you learn the material you need to learn . 

For instance, if you’re a visual learner, you might need an app that provides lots of videos. If you learn best by reading, an app that provides lots of in-depth written resources might be better for you. Or, if you learn best by actually doing things, look for an app that provides practice tests and quizzes, along with explanations for correct and incorrect answers.

Before committing to an app, take a quick survey of the tools they offer users to make sure they meet your unique learning needs. 

#2: Decide Which Subjects You Need to Study

Not all homework apps are created equal. One might provide tutoring in math and science, but no proofreading services to help you with writing. Another might be perfect for American History, but what you really need help with is your Spanish class. So, before you can decide which app is best for you, make sure to create a list of the subjects you need the most help in.

#3: Do Your Research

As we’ve said before, there are tons of homework apps in the app store to choose from, and the most important thing you can do is research what they offer students. Services, prices for those services, and subjects that the apps cover all vary, so it’s important that you look into your options. We’ve compiled our all-around favorite (and reliable) apps here, but it’s still a good idea to do your own research to find out what might meet your individual needs best.

#4: Learn Why People Like and Dislike the App

Maybe you’ve heard the phrase “buyer beware?” It means that the person buying something should check for quality before actually handing over their money. This applies to both free and paid homework apps, but especially those that actually cost money.

Before you download anything, be sure to read the user reviews . While all apps will have both positive and negative reviews, you want to look for one that has more positive than negative. And if you’re considering paying for a service, be sure that users think it’s worth the price overall!

#5: Budget Yourself

If you find a paid app that provides the learning tools you need, covers the subjects you need to study, and that has good reviews overall, set a budget to pay for it before you hit that “install” button. The costs for paid homework apps vary, and especially if you’re using one that requires you to pay for individual questions or services, the prices can add up quickly. So make sure there’s money for it in your budget before you commit!

What’s Next?

If you’re not quite sure why you’re struggling with homework, or want to know how you can do your homework as quickly as possible , check out this list of 15 expert homework tips and tricks to make your life a little bit easier!

Effective studying requires the right balance of concentration, understanding, retention and rest. So if you need help striking that balance, read these 16 tips for better study habits in both the short and long-term.

Getting good grades is about more than just answering questions correctly on your assignments. It also requires planning ahead and participation. In this article we cover the academic survival strategies that can help you throughout high school .

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Ashley Sufflé Robinson has a Ph.D. in 19th Century English Literature. As a content writer for PrepScholar, Ashley is passionate about giving college-bound students the in-depth information they need to get into the school of their dreams.

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How to Get Your Homework Done in College

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• M.Ed., Higher Education Administration, Harvard University
• B.A., English and Comparative Literary Studies, Occidental College

In contrast to the academic requirements of high school, college courses present a much heavier, more consistent workload. And with everything else that college students have to manage -- jobs, personal life, relationships, physical health, cocurricular obligations -- it can sometimes seem like getting your homework done is an impossible feat. At the same time, however,  not  getting your work done is a recipe for disaster. So, what tips and tricks can you use to get your homework done in college?

Tips for Successfully Doing College Homework

Use these tips to create a process that works for you and your personal study style.

Use a Time Management System

Put all major assignments and their due dates in your time management system . A key part of staying on top of your homework is knowing what's coming; no one, after all, wants to realize on Tuesday that they have a major midterm on Thursday. To avoid surprising yourself, make sure all of your major homework assignments and their due dates are documented in your calendar. That way, you won't inadvertently sabotage your own success simply because you've mismanaged your time.

Schedule Homework Time

Schedule times to do homework each week, and keep those appointments. Without designated time for addressing your to-dos, you're more likely to cram at the last minute, which adds to your anxiety levels.

By putting homework on your calendar, you'll have the time allocated in your already-too-busy schedule, you'll reduce your stress by knowing when, exactly, your homework will be done, and you'll be better able to enjoy whatever else you have planned since you'll know your homework is already taken care of.

Sneak in Your Homework

Use small increments of time whenever possible. You know that 20-minute bus ride you have to and from campus every day? Well, that's 40 minutes a day, 5 days a week which means that if you did some reading during the ride, you'd get more than 3 hours of homework done during your commute.

Those little increments can add up: 30 minutes between classes here, 10 minutes waiting for a friend there. Be smart about sneaking in small bits of homework so that you can conquer the bigger assignments piece by piece.

You Can't Always Get It All Done

Understand that you can't always get all your homework done. One of the biggest skills to learn in college is how to gauge what you  can't  get done. Because sometimes, there really is only so many hours in a day, and the basic laws of physics mean you can't accomplish everything on your to-do list.

If you just can't get all your homework done, make some smart decisions about how to choose what to do and what to leave behind. Are you doing great in one of your classes, and skipping the reading one week shouldn't hurt too much? Are you failing another and definitely need to focus your efforts there?

Hit the Reset Button

Don't get caught up in the get-caught-up trap. If you fall behind on your homework , it's easy to think -- and hope -- that you'll be able to catch up. So you'll set a plan to catch up, but the more you try to catch up, the more you fall behind. If you're falling behind on your reading and are feeling overwhelmed, give yourself permission to start anew.

Figure out what you need to get done for your next assignment or class, and get it done. It's easier to cover the material you missed when you're studying for an exam in the future than it is to fall further and further behind right now.

Use Your Resources

Use class and other resources to help make doing your homework more productive and efficient. You might, for example, think that you don't need to go to class because the professor only covers what's already been addressed in the reading. Not true.

You should always go to class -- for a variety of reasons -- and doing so can make your homework load lighter. You'll better understand the material, be better able to absorb the work you do out of class, be better prepared for upcoming exams (thereby saving you studying time and improving your academic performance), and overall just have a better mastery of the material. Additionally, use your professor's office hours or time in an academic support center to reinforce what you've learned through your homework assignments. Doing homework shouldn't just be a to-do item on your list; it should be an essential part of your college academic experience.

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9 Best Homework Help Websites

July 22, 2023

When I was in high school, resources for extra homework help weren’t exactly abundant. If you were struggling with a Shakespeare sonnet, you could always run to the bookstore and pick up a CliffNotes guide. SparkNotes was also gaining in popularity. But these early homework help resources had limited catalogs and were focused primarily on literature. Today, I imagine students suffer from the opposite problem—having too many choices when it comes to homework help websites. When the options are seemingly endless, knowing what to look out for takes on an added importance. Below, I’ll go through a list of 9 stand-out homework help websites and briefly discuss what makes them worth a visit.

Homework Help Websites – The Basics

The best homework help websites do more than just spit out an answer to that tricky math problem. They actually help students learn the material. Common features of homework help websites are educational videos and lectures, practice tests and quizzes, study tools like flashcards, and Q&As with experts. Many sites offer features that allow students to ask specific questions and get real-time feedback. There are also a number of services that offer one-on-one tutoring. Some homework help sites are free, while others require a paid subscription.

1) Khan Academy

Khan Academy is an amazing resource for students of all ages. It’s free, and it really is an academy—it offers full courses in a wide array of subjects, from pre-K math to high school physics. The courses consist of readings, video lectures, practice exercises, and quizzes. The breadth of material is impressive. In math alone, I see course listings for Algebra 1 and 2, Geometry, Trigonometry, Precalculus, Statistics, Multivariable calculus—you get the idea. Khan Academy also offers a wide variety of AP courses, state-specific curricula, test-prep programs, and life skill courses, like personal finance.

It’s important to note that Khan Academy isn’t a one-on-one tutoring platform. But because of their extensive library of material, the search function is especially powerful. Try it out. I did a search for argumentative essay help, and found a comprehensive guide to writing argumentative essays that was a part of a larger writing course.

Chegg is a paid homework help service. Unlike Khan Academy, Chegg isn’t built around specific courses. Rather, it offers a variety of homework-support resources. Among those resources are plagiarism and grammar checkers, a proofreading service, and a “math solver”, which allows students to enter a problem and get back both a solution and a detailed step-by-step explanation of how the problem was solved. Perhaps the most powerful tool Chegg offers is its “Expert Q&A” feature. This service allows students to take a picture of their homework problem, upload it to the site, and get a detailed response in return. Chegg’s emphasis on process and explanation make it a valuable educational resource for students—not just a way to get a quick answer.

Best Homework Help Websites (Continued)

Quizlet is a well-known and worthwhile study resource. It offers a variety of courses, and it also has an expert-response feature. But Quizlet’s best feature, in my option, is the flashcards tool. Students can create their own digital decks of cards and practice them on Quizlet—just like an old fashion set of index cards. I had a ton of success using Quizlet’s flash card feature to help me memorize words for my foreign language requirement in college. It’s a simple but powerful tool. Although often maligned as a learning method, rote rehearsal and spaced repetition are effective ways to encode information . Quizlet’s flashcard feature is a great way to put those techniques into practice.

4) Socratic

is an AI-powered homework support app that allows students to type or take pictures of questions and receive solutions right away. Since it works with AI, it relies on the web’s vast stores of accumulated knowledge—you’re not interacting with a human tutor. Nonetheless, I found it to be an extremely helpful tool. I tried it out first using a specific math problem. In just a few seconds I was provided with the solution and an explainer with relevant formulas, plus a graphic to help visualize the underlying logic. There were also suggested links to additional resources. For example, when I asked Socratic to explain how the German genitive case works, it suggested a YouTube video and a number of articles from blogs and other language-learning sites.

Since Socratic doesn’t feature courses or one-on-one tutoring support, I wouldn’t lean on it if I were really struggling in a particular class. But as a tool to check your work, make sure you’re on the right track, and become aware of additional resources, it’s worth a download.

5) Photomath

Photomath is, as you might have guessed, a site for math homework help. Like other homework help websites, Photomath allows students to take a picture of a problem and receive an instant, step-by-step solution. Included along with the solution is an explanation of relevant concepts and formulas, plus videos covering mathematical concepts. Photomath does offer a few basic courses, too. So if in addition to homework-specific help you want to brush up on the basics, they’ve got you covered in arithmetic, algebra, and calculus crash courses.

6) Studypool

Studypool is a paid homework support service that provides solutions to specific questions. Studypool offers support in all the major subjects, with a particular emphasis on science. Students can ask questions on everything from anatomy to physics. Like other services, students upload their exact questions or problems directly to the site. But Studypool’s payment model is a bit different: instead of paying for tutoring time or a monthly subscription, students pay for solutions to each question they submit. When a student submits a question, tutors submit bids to answer them. The student then can select which tutor/price option works best. After students select the price and tutor they want, they’re connected with the tutor and given the solution and explanation via messenger.

The draw of Studypool is that it gives students access to real (i.e., human) tutors who are experts in their field. The downside is that pricing isn’t transparent, and students pay per question.

7) College Info Geek

College Info Geek is the study-support website that I wish I knew about when I was in high school and college (they didn’t pay me to write that, I swear). The site focuses not on specific courses or questions, but on how to become a more effective learner. Here it’s all about “learning how to learn”—study tips, memorization and note-taking techniques, and much more. The articles are well-researched, clearly-communicated, practical, and comprehensive. For example, the article on how to improve your memory includes a breakdown of the different types of memory processes, memorization techniques, and even a discussion of how nutrition affects memory. College Info Geek is a great resource for everyone, not just high school and college students.

8) SparkNotes

Yes, Sparknotes made the list! The site offers lessons in a whole bunch of subjects—biology, chemistry, computer science, history, philosophy, math—but its specialty is literature. SparkNotes provides summaries and analyses of novels, short stories, poetry, and non-fiction, from The Canterbury Tales to Toni Morrison, Saul Bellow, and Junot Diaz. SparkNotes breaks down books into sub-sections and provides synopses and analyses for each section. There are also separate pages for character breakdowns, discussions of themes and motifs, and explanations of important quotes. I’d caution against using SparkNotes if you’re trying to “hack” a novel or poem and get simple answers about what it “means.” But as a way to supplement your own understanding and interpretation, it’s a great resource. Shmoop is also worth checking out for extra support in literature, poetry, mythology, and the history of literary movements.

9) Grammarly

I’m not sure if Grammarly is an obvious or unexpected choice to round out the list. Either way, it deserves a mention here. Grammarly is a writing tool. It checks and suggests corrections for incorrectly spelled words and misused punctuation. But Grammarly also scans and corrects for things like clarity and vocab usage. It flags sentences that are vague, or overly wordy, and alerts you if you’re using that flashy vocab word incorrectly. It even gives suggestions if it thinks your writing is a bit bland. I don’t see Grammarly as a crutch, but rather as a tool. It can help you master those pesky recurring grammar and usage issues. Always mix up effect and affect? Grammarly will continue to course correct until you’ve got it down yourself.

Homework Help Websites – Final Thoughts

None of the above homework help websites should be seen as a panacea. Each has benefits and drawbacks, strengths and weak points. The list is far from exhaustive. And the sites don’t have to be used in isolation. Try a few out, mix and match. College Info Geek is an excellent supplement to any study regimen. Socratic can be used as a tool to check answers for math homework, and at the same time you can use Grammarly to describe your problem to a tutor on Chegg. At their best, these sites are more than quick fixes to stubborn homework problems—they’re aids to genuine learning.

Additional Resources

You should also check out College Transitions’ “ High School Success ” blogs for help with a number of common high school assignments, including:

• Lord of the Flies Summary & Analysis 
• The Great Gatsby and The American Dream
• Analysis of Hamlet’s “To be or not to be” Speech
• Robert Frost’s Road Not Taken Analysis 
• High School Success

Dane Gebauer

Dane Gebauer is a writer and teacher living in Miami, FL. He received his MFA in fiction from Columbia University, and his writing has appeared in Complex Magazine and Sinking City Review .

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25 Best Apps for College Students: Productivity, Studying, Learning & More

Looking for the best apps for college students to boost productivity, organize busy schedules, practice mindfulness, learn new topics, or anything else we’ve got just the mobile app you're looking for.

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Here’s our list of the best apps for college students:

Best Apps for University Productivity

Todoist is my favorite everyday tool, and I’m not alone: over 10 million people use this to-do checklist app for staying on top of things and keeping up their productivity. It’s a to-do list, sure, but it’s so much more than that. You can create different projects, add tags, due dates, reminders, and teammates, get daily and weekly progress reports, and integrate it with multiple apps you probably already have, such as Dropbox and Amazon Alexa.

Find this app on these app stores : iOS • Android • Chrome (ext.) • Windows 10 • macOS

2. Evernote

Evernote, at its very heart, is a note-taking app. But it’s a note-taking app on steroids, to be honest. With the ability to create multiple notebooks for different college classes, sync across devices, share and collaborate with classmates, save images, take voice notes, and much more, it’s really a perfect app for university students to stay organized and productive.

Find this app on these app stores : iOS • Android • Windows 10

Related Read : 15+ Free Online Learning Platforms & Tools to Use to Study From Home

Trello can be used by anyone for anything, and that includes college students for college-y tasks, as well! I’ve used it myself to organize my writing tasks in an easy-to-comprehend kanban layout. People also use it to renovate their homes, organize upcoming travel itineraries, and even to plan their weddings! You can use Trello to create as many boards as you want, populate each board with different lists and individual tasks, collaborate with your classmates, and even integrate it with other apps, including Google Calendar and Slack.

Find this app on these app stores : iOS • Android

I’ve seen a lot of people use this simple app, and it makes sense. If you’re looking to stay focused but need some gamification to follow through, Forest is the best app for you. The gist is this: when you’re ready to focus, you plant a tree seed. Then as you work, your tree begins to grow. If you can work all the way until it grows into a big, strong tree, hurray! If you check your phone to see Facebook or Instagram, your tree dies. It’s a great way to help you undo the constant phone-checking habit we’ve all succumbed to.

Related Read : 18 Types of Scholarships to Explore for Your College Needs

5. Google Drive

We all already have the Google Office Suite with our Gmail addresses for free, which already give it an advantage. But, with its super-powerful and seamless collaboration features on Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides apps, it’s easier than ever to work on group assignments with classmates. When you’re done for the day, save it to a shared folder on Google Drive where everyone and your professor can access it.

Top Classroom Organization & Study Apps

6. mystudylife.

MyStudyLife is one of the best apps for college students looking to take control of their lectures, classes, homework assignments, exams, and more. With a gorgeously designed mobile and web interface, you can plan your weekly schedules, get important reminders, create to-do lists, and keep everything synced across multiple devices.

Related Read : 10+ Tips on How to Stay Healthy Studying From Home

7. iStudiez Pro

iStudiez Pro is a favorite app among college students for its wide variety of features. There are live tiles and alarms to keep you on top of upcoming assignments, a classroom and college planner, university grade tracker, and a digest to get all your information as an overview at one glance. On top of those features, it has one of the best homework planners available on the market, with the ability to set priority levels, due dates, and even how much weight it carries towards your overall grade!

Find this app on these app stores : iOS • Android • Windows 10 • macOS

8. Cheatography

Not an app to help you cheat! Cheatography is all about cheat sheets, and with more than 3,500 of them available in a variety of subjects, they’re sure to have one for you. Whether you’re studying computer science, business and marketing, or sociology, Cheatography has plenty of cheat sheets to make your study sesh a breeze. And, if you can’t find one you’re looking for, help the next student by creating a cheat sheet and submitting it to the site!

Find this app on these app stores : Web Only

Related Read : Scholarships 101: Everything Students Need to Know About Getting a Scholarship

9. Habitica

Are you struggling under the weight of your various college tasks and responsibilities? Habitica makes it easy to manage your daily college to-do list, life goals, and your everyday habits with a gamified experience for fun. Use it to prepare for university reports, group assignments, and other college tasks and keep track of them effectively as you progress towards the finish line.

10. Adobe Scan

As a college student these days, you’re probably used to everything digital and accessible from your smartphone or university laptop . Unfortunately, perhaps your university isn’t so up to date with their learning material and documents. Adobe Scan lets you easily capture documents as a handheld scanner, fixes them up, and lets you save them as digitized files. If there’s a large whiteboard equation you want to save for later, you can take multiple pictures, stitch them together, and save them all as a single, seamless PDF. On top of that, its powerful OCR engine recognizes text in images, making searching a breeze.

Related Read : 25+ Studying From Home Tips for Productivity and Success

Best Mindfulness, Meditation & Mind Mapping Apps for College Students

XMind is a full-featured app for creating mind maps that are easy on the eyes. The Outliner feature helps you organize various facts, ideas, and thoughts floating around your mind, while the theme editor lets you view everything in a way that’s personalized just for you. Also, if you’re not sure how to get started with mapping your mind, there is an entire mind map gallery with templates you can download for free!

12. Headspace

Headspace is the top mindfulness app for college students, with plenty of guided exercises, meditations for relaxation and calming, helpful videos, breathing exercises, and much more. For college students, it’s perfect for any time of day, with wake-up sessions, stress release and motivation boosters throughout the day, and sleeping aids to help you get a great night’s rest before your next busy day at university.

Related Read : 15 Books to Read Before College

13. SimpleMind

More than 8 million people around the world use SimpleMind, one of the best cross-platform mind mapping apps for college students and young professionals.With SimpleMind, you can create multiple mind maps on one page, page size is unlimited, and you can even add images, video, and voice memos to take things to the next level.

14. Stop, Breathe & Think

Stop, Breathe & Think is one of the best meditation and mindfulness apps for university students. It’s got a fun design and powerful features, such as emotional check-ins, personalized recommendations, breathing timers, and more. Keep track of your emotional progress in the app and explore dozens of other activities to help you grow, broaden your perspective, and find peace during your stressful college life.

Related Read : 25+ Books for College Students to Read

15. Spotify

Everyone’s familiar with Spotify, and you likely are already a subscriber. However, it’s more than just music and recommendations. From study playlists to help you get in the zone to nature sounds to lull you to sleep, Spotify has it all. With their growing podcast library, you can even follow educational programs to give you that edge at school or in your professional life.

Top Learning Apps for University Students

16. quizlet.

Quizlet takes old-school flashcards, modernized them, and digitized them to make for one of the best learning apps for university students. There are flashcards to help you study, learn new languages, practice for tests alone or with your classmates, and even games to test your level of comprehension.

Related Read : How to Use Goodwall’s Web Profile to Score a Scholarship & Get Into Uni

17. Wolfram Alpha

Wolfram Alpha knows everything about almost anything. Powered by a powerful computational engine with expert data points in its database and tweaked algorithms, it can give you comprehensive answers to your questions. If you want 3D molecular models, domain-specific measurements (e.g., shipping container dimensions, tracheal tube size), biographical data on past government leaders, or advanced mathematical formulas, this is the tool for you.

18. Brainly

Brainly is a complete online community for students to help each other with tasks, learning, and studying. Whether it’s mathematics, history, chemistry, or another school subject, college students can use this app to get the answers and support they’re looking for, a crowdsourced information portal, so to speak.

19. Duolingo

Duolingo is one of the best language learning apps available, and you can use it completely free to practice 35+ languages. Whether you want to brush up on your Spanish, challenge yourself with Hungarian Magyar, or learn Klingon before the San Diego Comic-Con, Duolingo has it. With fun gamification, intermittent quizzes, and motivational tools, it’ll have you speaking a second or third language in no time. 

20. Dictionary.com

I love Dictionary.com and its sister site, Thesaurus.com, and their app is just as awesome. I subscribe to their word of the day, keep up with their blogs on grammar, slang, and writing, and save words for later use in my articles. 

Other Great Apps for College Students

Are you looking for an app that lets you budget and track your expenses while in college? Mint is the right app for you. Put out by Intuit, makers of the popular TurboTax software, Mint has features to help you with every aspect of budgeting for college life. Link your various bank accounts to get a single dashboard of everything in one place, set limits and alerts to help you stay on track, and get expert tips on how to best manage your spending habits.

Related Read : 15+ Easy Ways on How to Save Money in College

22. Brain.fm

I only recently discovered Brain.fm, but it’s been so helpful that I’ve purchased a subscription, so I definitely recommend it as one of the best apps for college students, young professionals, and anyone else looking for soothing sounds for work, sleep, or mindfulness. Brain.fm is all about functional music, using science-backed methods and proven approaches to produce sounds that enhance your ability to sleep, relax, meditate, and focus. There are various environments for each mood, from beach sounds to the pitter-patter of raindrops, all interlaced with melodic tunes to create soundscapes that work.

23. Circle of 6

Circle of 6 is a great safety app for college students, perfect if you’re walking home from the school library late at night or walking through an unknown neighborhood after a night out with friends. The app connects you with six nearby friends, and keeps them just a tap away for any situation you’re in. If you need an interruption from someone harassing you at the bar or you are feeling depressed, you can hit the appropriate button and get your friends to provide the assistance you need. There are even special hotlines to call for every need, including Spanish-language assistance, LGBTQ guidance, and more.

Find this app on these app stores : iOS • Android (Update: app seems to be removed from app stores at the moment!)

24. Sworkit

During your college years, you’re busy cramming for exams and trying to make it through lectures without falling asleep. For many of you, the only real exercise you might get is by running from one class to another. Sworkit is a great way to stay on top of your fitness routine, whether you are looking to lose weight, build muscle, increase your endurance, improve your flexibility, or just stay fit overall. There are a variety of workout plans to choose from with 400+ unique workouts and 800+ different exercises.

25. Goodwall

Last but not least, it’s us!

Goodwall is the perfect app for college students because it’s an app built specifically for students, young professionals, and entrepreneurs. Join over 1.4 million people from 150+ countries around the world to give and receive support, ask and answer questions, build meaningful relationships, find inspiration, gain recognition, showcase your achievements, and so much more.

Also, on the Goodwall Blog , you’ll find tons of helpful tips and guides to help you through your university years and advice for starting your first jobs once you’re out!

Well, that’s all for now on our list of best apps for college students, and we hope you’ve found several that will help you! Got any questions, feedback, or other great college apps to add to our list? Let us know below in the comments section, and thanks for reading!

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Hello Christian, This is certainly a great list of productivity tools for University students. I’m currently studying for my master’s degree and finding a tool that helps me in note-taking was extremely important. I have never been an Evernote fan, but rather searched for apps with features like Zettelkasten or second brain. I recommend to try out Hypernotes, one of the recent knowledge management note-taking apps on the market, as an alternative.

Regards, Jess

When I was a student, I used kanbantool.com to manage my projects. It helped me a lot, especially that I studied two faculties at once, so there was quite a lot of tasks to deal with. In fact, I still use the app, to manage my work… that’s how good it is!

Hey Sasha, thanks for writing in! Yeah, I love kanban systems, just checked out the kanban tool you mentioned, it seems a bit like Trello, is that right? I love Trello and Asana for organizing projects, definitely a must-have app for college students, job seekers (you can organize your job hunt), and everyone else!

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College Homework: What You Need to Know

• April 1, 2020

Samantha "Sam" Sparks

• Future of Education

Despite what Hollywood shows us, most of college life actually involves studying, burying yourself in mountains of books, writing mountains of reports, and, of course, doing a whole lot of homework.

Wait, homework? That’s right, homework doesn’t end just because high school did: part of parcel of any college course will be homework. So if you thought college is harder than high school , then you’re right, because in between hours and hours of lectures and term papers and exams, you’re still going to have to take home a lot of schoolwork to do in the comfort of your dorm.

College life is demanding, it’s difficult, but at the end of the day, it’s fulfilling. You might have had this idealized version of what your college life is going to be like, but we’re here to tell you: it’s not all parties and cardigans.

How Many Hours Does College Homework Require?

Here’s the thing about college homework: it’s vastly different from the type of takehome school activities you might have had in high school.

See, high school students are given homework to augment what they’ve learned in the classroom. For high school students, a majority of their learning happens in school, with their teachers guiding them along the way.

In college, however, your professors will encourage you to learn on your own. Yes, you will be attending hours and hours of lectures and seminars, but most of your learning is going to take place in the library, with your professors taking a more backseat approach to your learning process. This independent learning structure teaches prospective students to hone their critical thinking skills, perfect their research abilities, and encourage them to come up with original thoughts and ideas.

Sure, your professors will still step in every now and then to help with anything you’re struggling with and to correct certain mistakes, but by and large, the learning process in college is entirely up to how you develop your skills.

This is the reason why college homework is voluminous: it’s designed to teach you how to basically learn on your own. While there is no set standard on how much time you should spend doing homework in college, a good rule-of-thumb practiced by model students is 3 hours a week per college credit . It doesn’t seem like a lot, until you factor in that the average college student takes on about 15 units per semester. With that in mind, it’s safe to assume that a single, 3-unit college class would usually require 9 hours of homework per week.

But don’t worry, college homework is also different from high school homework in how it’s structured. High school homework usually involves a take-home activity of some kind, where students answer certain questions posed to them. College homework, on the other hand, is more on reading texts that you’ll discuss in your next lecture, studying for exams, and, of course, take-home activities.

Take these averages with a grain of salt, however, as the average number of hours required to do college homework will also depend on your professor, the type of class you’re attending, what you’re majoring in, and whether or not you have other activities (like laboratory work or field work) that would compensate for homework.

Do Students Do College Homework On the Weekends?

Again, based on the average number we provided above, and again, depending on numerous other factors, it’s safe to say that, yes, you would have to complete a lot of college homework on the weekends.

Using the average given above, let’s say that a student does 9 hours of homework per week per class. A typical semester would involve 5 different classes (each with 3 units), which means that a student would be doing an average of 45 hours of homework per week. That would equal to around 6 hours of homework a day, including weekends.

That might seem overwhelming, but again: college homework is different from high school homework in that it doesn’t always involve take-home activities. In fact, most of your college homework (but again, depending on your professor, your major, and other mitigating factors) will probably involve doing readings and writing essays. Some types of college homework might not even feel like homework, as some professors encourage inter-personal learning by requiring their students to form groups and discuss certain topics instead of doing take-home activities or writing papers. Again, lab work and field work (depending on your major) might also make up for homework.

Remember: this is all relative. Some people read fast and will find that 3 hours per unit per week is much too much time considering they can finish a reading in under an hour.The faster you learn how to read, the less amount of time you’ll need to devote to homework.

College homework is difficult, but it’s also manageable. This is why you see a lot of study groups in college, where your peers will establish a way for everyone to learn on a collective basis, as this would help lighten the mental load you might face during your college life. There are also different strategies you can develop to master your time management skills, all of which will help you become a more holistic person once you leave college.

So, yes, your weekends will probably be chock-full of schoolwork, but you’ll need to learn how to manage your time in such a way that you’ll be able to do your homework and socialize, but also have time to develop your other skills and/or talk to family and friends.

College Homework Isn’t All That Bad, Though

Sure, you’ll probably have time for parties and joining a fraternity/sorority, even attend those mythical college keggers (something that the person who invented college probably didn’t have in mind). But I hate to break it to you: those are going to be few and far in between. But here’s a consolation, however: you’re going to be studying something you’re actually interested in.

All of those hours spent in the library, writing down papers, doing college homework? It’s going to feel like a minute because you’re doing something you actually love doing. And if you fear that you’ll be missing out, don’t worry: all those people that you think are attending those parties aren’t actually there because they, too, will be busy studying!

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Studying 101: Study Smarter Not Harder

Do you ever feel like your study habits simply aren’t cutting it? Do you wonder what you could be doing to perform better in class and on exams? Many students realize that their high school study habits aren’t very effective in college. This is understandable, as college is quite different from high school. The professors are less personally involved, classes are bigger, exams are worth more, reading is more intense, and classes are much more rigorous. That doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with you; it just means you need to learn some more effective study skills. Fortunately, there are many active, effective study strategies that are shown to be effective in college classes.

This handout offers several tips on effective studying. Implementing these tips into your regular study routine will help you to efficiently and effectively learn course material. Experiment with them and find some that work for you.

Reading is not studying

Simply reading and re-reading texts or notes is not actively engaging in the material. It is simply re-reading your notes. Only ‘doing’ the readings for class is not studying. It is simply doing the reading for class. Re-reading leads to quick forgetting.

Think of reading as an important part of pre-studying, but learning information requires actively engaging in the material (Edwards, 2014). Active engagement is the process of constructing meaning from text that involves making connections to lectures, forming examples, and regulating your own learning (Davis, 2007). Active studying does not mean highlighting or underlining text, re-reading, or rote memorization. Though these activities may help to keep you engaged in the task, they are not considered active studying techniques and are weakly related to improved learning (Mackenzie, 1994).

Ideas for active studying include:

• Create a study guide by topic. Formulate questions and problems and write complete answers. Create your own quiz.
• Become a teacher. Say the information aloud in your own words as if you are the instructor and teaching the concepts to a class.
• Derive examples that relate to your own experiences.
• Create concept maps or diagrams that explain the material.
• Develop symbols that represent concepts.
• For non-technical classes (e.g., English, History, Psychology), figure out the big ideas so you can explain, contrast, and re-evaluate them.
• For technical classes, work the problems and explain the steps and why they work.
• Study in terms of question, evidence, and conclusion: What is the question posed by the instructor/author? What is the evidence that they present? What is the conclusion?

Organization and planning will help you to actively study for your courses. When studying for a test, organize your materials first and then begin your active reviewing by topic (Newport, 2007). Often professors provide subtopics on the syllabi. Use them as a guide to help organize your materials. For example, gather all of the materials for one topic (e.g., PowerPoint notes, text book notes, articles, homework, etc.) and put them together in a pile. Label each pile with the topic and study by topics.

For more information on the principle behind active studying, check out our tipsheet on metacognition .

Understand the Study Cycle

The Study Cycle , developed by Frank Christ, breaks down the different parts of studying: previewing, attending class, reviewing, studying, and checking your understanding. Although each step may seem obvious at a glance, all too often students try to take shortcuts and miss opportunities for good learning. For example, you may skip a reading before class because the professor covers the same material in class; doing so misses a key opportunity to learn in different modes (reading and listening) and to benefit from the repetition and distributed practice (see #3 below) that you’ll get from both reading ahead and attending class. Understanding the importance of all stages of this cycle will help make sure you don’t miss opportunities to learn effectively.

Spacing out is good

One of the most impactful learning strategies is “distributed practice”—spacing out your studying over several short periods of time over several days and weeks (Newport, 2007). The most effective practice is to work a short time on each class every day. The total amount of time spent studying will be the same (or less) than one or two marathon library sessions, but you will learn the information more deeply and retain much more for the long term—which will help get you an A on the final. The important thing is how you use your study time, not how long you study. Long study sessions lead to a lack of concentration and thus a lack of learning and retention.

In order to spread out studying over short periods of time across several days and weeks, you need control over your schedule . Keeping a list of tasks to complete on a daily basis will help you to include regular active studying sessions for each class. Try to do something for each class each day. Be specific and realistic regarding how long you plan to spend on each task—you should not have more tasks on your list than you can reasonably complete during the day.

For example, you may do a few problems per day in math rather than all of them the hour before class. In history, you can spend 15-20 minutes each day actively studying your class notes. Thus, your studying time may still be the same length, but rather than only preparing for one class, you will be preparing for all of your classes in short stretches. This will help focus, stay on top of your work, and retain information.

In addition to learning the material more deeply, spacing out your work helps stave off procrastination. Rather than having to face the dreaded project for four hours on Monday, you can face the dreaded project for 30 minutes each day. The shorter, more consistent time to work on a dreaded project is likely to be more acceptable and less likely to be delayed to the last minute. Finally, if you have to memorize material for class (names, dates, formulas), it is best to make flashcards for this material and review periodically throughout the day rather than one long, memorization session (Wissman and Rawson, 2012). See our handout on memorization strategies to learn more.

It’s good to be intense

Not all studying is equal. You will accomplish more if you study intensively. Intensive study sessions are short and will allow you to get work done with minimal wasted effort. Shorter, intensive study times are more effective than drawn out studying.

In fact, one of the most impactful study strategies is distributing studying over multiple sessions (Newport, 2007). Intensive study sessions can last 30 or 45-minute sessions and include active studying strategies. For example, self-testing is an active study strategy that improves the intensity of studying and efficiency of learning. However, planning to spend hours on end self-testing is likely to cause you to become distracted and lose your attention.

On the other hand, if you plan to quiz yourself on the course material for 45 minutes and then take a break, you are much more likely to maintain your attention and retain the information. Furthermore, the shorter, more intense sessions will likely put the pressure on that is needed to prevent procrastination.

Silence isn’t golden

Know where you study best. The silence of a library may not be the best place for you. It’s important to consider what noise environment works best for you. You might find that you concentrate better with some background noise. Some people find that listening to classical music while studying helps them concentrate, while others find this highly distracting. The point is that the silence of the library may be just as distracting (or more) than the noise of a gymnasium. Thus, if silence is distracting, but you prefer to study in the library, try the first or second floors where there is more background ‘buzz.’

Keep in mind that active studying is rarely silent as it often requires saying the material aloud.

Problems are your friend

Working and re-working problems is important for technical courses (e.g., math, economics). Be able to explain the steps of the problems and why they work.

In technical courses, it is usually more important to work problems than read the text (Newport, 2007). In class, write down in detail the practice problems demonstrated by the professor. Annotate each step and ask questions if you are confused. At the very least, record the question and the answer (even if you miss the steps).

When preparing for tests, put together a large list of problems from the course materials and lectures. Work the problems and explain the steps and why they work (Carrier, 2003).

Reconsider multitasking

A significant amount of research indicates that multi-tasking does not improve efficiency and actually negatively affects results (Junco, 2012).

In order to study smarter, not harder, you will need to eliminate distractions during your study sessions. Social media, web browsing, game playing, texting, etc. will severely affect the intensity of your study sessions if you allow them! Research is clear that multi-tasking (e.g., responding to texts, while studying), increases the amount of time needed to learn material and decreases the quality of the learning (Junco, 2012).

Eliminating the distractions will allow you to fully engage during your study sessions. If you don’t need your computer for homework, then don’t use it. Use apps to help you set limits on the amount of time you can spend at certain sites during the day. Turn your phone off. Reward intensive studying with a social-media break (but make sure you time your break!) See our handout on managing technology for more tips and strategies.

Switch up your setting

Find several places to study in and around campus and change up your space if you find that it is no longer a working space for you.

Know when and where you study best. It may be that your focus at 10:00 PM. is not as sharp as at 10:00 AM. Perhaps you are more productive at a coffee shop with background noise, or in the study lounge in your residence hall. Perhaps when you study on your bed, you fall asleep.

Have a variety of places in and around campus that are good study environments for you. That way wherever you are, you can find your perfect study spot. After a while, you might find that your spot is too comfortable and no longer is a good place to study, so it’s time to hop to a new spot!

Become a teacher

Try to explain the material in your own words, as if you are the teacher. You can do this in a study group, with a study partner, or on your own. Saying the material aloud will point out where you are confused and need more information and will help you retain the information. As you are explaining the material, use examples and make connections between concepts (just as a teacher does). It is okay (even encouraged) to do this with your notes in your hands. At first you may need to rely on your notes to explain the material, but eventually you’ll be able to teach it without your notes.

Creating a quiz for yourself will help you to think like your professor. What does your professor want you to know? Quizzing yourself is a highly effective study technique. Make a study guide and carry it with you so you can review the questions and answers periodically throughout the day and across several days. Identify the questions that you don’t know and quiz yourself on only those questions. Say your answers aloud. This will help you to retain the information and make corrections where they are needed. For technical courses, do the sample problems and explain how you got from the question to the answer. Re-do the problems that give you trouble. Learning the material in this way actively engages your brain and will significantly improve your memory (Craik, 1975).

Take control of your calendar

Controlling your schedule and your distractions will help you to accomplish your goals.

If you are in control of your calendar, you will be able to complete your assignments and stay on top of your coursework. The following are steps to getting control of your calendar:

• On the same day each week, (perhaps Sunday nights or Saturday mornings) plan out your schedule for the week.
• Go through each class and write down what you’d like to get completed for each class that week.
• Look at your calendar and determine how many hours you have to complete your work.
• Determine whether your list can be completed in the amount of time that you have available. (You may want to put the amount of time expected to complete each assignment.) Make adjustments as needed. For example, if you find that it will take more hours to complete your work than you have available, you will likely need to triage your readings. Completing all of the readings is a luxury. You will need to make decisions about your readings based on what is covered in class. You should read and take notes on all of the assignments from the favored class source (the one that is used a lot in the class). This may be the textbook or a reading that directly addresses the topic for the day. You can likely skim supplemental readings.
• Pencil into your calendar when you plan to get assignments completed.
• Before going to bed each night, make your plan for the next day. Waking up with a plan will make you more productive.

See our handout on calendars and college for more tips on using calendars as time management.

Use downtime to your advantage

Beware of ‘easy’ weeks. This is the calm before the storm. Lighter work weeks are a great time to get ahead on work or to start long projects. Use the extra hours to get ahead on assignments or start big projects or papers. You should plan to work on every class every week even if you don’t have anything due. In fact, it is preferable to do some work for each of your classes every day. Spending 30 minutes per class each day will add up to three hours per week, but spreading this time out over six days is more effective than cramming it all in during one long three-hour session. If you have completed all of the work for a particular class, then use the 30 minutes to get ahead or start a longer project.

Use all your resources

Remember that you can make an appointment with an academic coach to work on implementing any of the strategies suggested in this handout.

Works consulted

Carrier, L. M. (2003). College students’ choices of study strategies. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 96 (1), 54-56.

Craik, F. I., & Tulving, E. (1975). Depth of processing and the retention of words in episodic memory. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 104 (3), 268.

Davis, S. G., & Gray, E. S. (2007). Going beyond test-taking strategies: Building self-regulated students and teachers. Journal of Curriculum and Instruction, 1 (1), 31-47.

Edwards, A. J., Weinstein, C. E., Goetz, E. T., & Alexander, P. A. (2014). Learning and study strategies: Issues in assessment, instruction, and evaluation. Elsevier.

Junco, R., & Cotten, S. R. (2012). No A 4 U: The relationship between multitasking and academic performance. Computers & Education, 59 (2), 505-514.

Mackenzie, A. M. (1994). Examination preparation, anxiety and examination performance in a group of adult students. International Journal of Lifelong Education, 13 (5), 373-388.

McGuire, S.Y. & McGuire, S. (2016). Teach Students How to Learn: Strategies You Can Incorporate in Any Course to Improve Student Metacognition, Study Skills, and Motivation. Stylus Publishing, LLC.

Newport, C. (2006). How to become a straight-a student: the unconventional strategies real college students use to score high while studying less. Three Rivers Press.

Paul, K. (1996). Study smarter, not harder. Self Counsel Press.

Robinson, A. (1993). What smart students know: maximum grades, optimum learning, minimum time. Crown trade paperbacks.

Wissman, K. T., Rawson, K. A., & Pyc, M. A. (2012). How and when do students use flashcards? Memory, 20, 568-579.

If you enjoy using our handouts, we appreciate contributions of acknowledgement.

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15 Surprising Benefits of Homework for Students

• The importance of homework for students
• 3 Helpful tips to do your homework effectively
• 15 benefits of homework

Homework is an important component of the learning and growing process. It is a common practice for students to develop their skills and learn new information.

Homework is simply a general term that we use to describe work that you have to do at home. Typically, it’s assigned by the teacher during school hours and meant to be completed after school in the evenings or weekends.

Homework is loved and hated by many, but it is an integral part of education. It is not just a boring part of the learning process. It has a lot to offer!

The Importance of Homework for Students

So, why should students have homework? According to research conducted by Duke University psychology professor Harris Cooper , there was a positive relation between homework and student achievement. He found out that homework can help students perform better in school.

This shows the importance of homework in a student’s life. Homework is not always popular with students because it takes away their free time at home.

However, there are many benefits associated with homework.  Homework helps students understand the material in greater depth. Moreover, it allows teachers to assess how much the student has learned.

Tips for Doing Your Homework Faster

It is important to have a homework routine. A routine will help you know what to expect at the end of the day, and it will give you time to digest what you learned.

In addition, a routine will help you to be stress-free because you won’t be worrying about when to start your homework or whether you’re going to finish it on time.

So, here are some tips on how to set up a good homework routine:

• Find a place in the house where you can study without interruption.
• Set a timer for how long each assignment should take.
• Make sure your table is neat and that you have all of your materials ready before starting.

These tips will surely make your student life easier and put you on the right track towards higher grades!

The Benefits of Homework for Students

There are numerous reasons why homework is given in schools and colleges. Students can reap the benefits even in their professional lives.

But what exactly are the benefits of homework and how can it help students? Let us take a look at some of them:

1. Students Learn the Importance of Time Management

They will learn to balance play and work. Students will also learn to complete assignments within deadlines by learning to prioritize their time.

It helps them understand the importance of time management skills . When they are assigned a project or a test, they will know when it is due, how much time they have to complete it, and what they need to do.

This also helps them in their future careers. Employees must be able to manage their time efficiently in order to be successful.

If a project is due soon, employees should take effective steps to get it done on time. Homeworks in the schooling years teaches this practice of time management.

2. Promotes Self-Learning

Students get more time to review the content and this promotes self-learning . This is a big advantage of homework.

It also promotes continuous learning as students can revise their syllabus on their own. Homework gives them an opportunity to develop their critical thinking skills and problem-solving abilities.

3. Helps Teachers Assess a Student’s Learning

Homeworks help teachers track how well the students are grasping the content . They can modify their teaching methods based on the responses they receive from their students.

4. Teaches Students to Be Responsible

Students learn to become independent learners as they do their homework without any help from the teacher.

Studying at home also motivates students to study harder in order to achieve better results. This encourages them to take up more responsibilities at home too.

5. Boosts Memory Retention

Homework provides practice time to recall concepts discussed in class, thereby enabling students to memorize facts and figures taught at school.

One of the advantages of homework is that it sharpens memory power and concentration.

6. Enables Parents to Track a Student’s Performance

Parents can assess how well their children are doing with regard to academic performance by checking their homework assignments.

This gives parents a chance to discuss with teachers about improving their child’s performance at school .

7. Allows Students to Revise Content

Revising together with other students can also help with understanding  information because it gives you another perspective, as well as an opportunity to ask questions and engage with others.

8. Practice Makes Perfect

Doing homework has numerous benefits for students. One of them is that it helps students learn the concepts in depth.

Homework teaches them how to apply the concepts to solve a problem. It gives them experience on how to solve problems using different techniques.

9. Develops Persistence

When students do their homework, they have to work hard to find all the possible solutions to a problem.

They have to try out different methods until they reach a solution that works. This teaches them perseverance and helps them develop their determination and grit to keep working hard.

10. Helps Them to Learn New Skills

Homework is important because it helps students to learn new and advanced skills. It promotes self-study, research and time management skills within students.

It also builds their confidence in tackling problems independently without constant help from teachers and parents.

11. Helps in Building a Positive Attitude Towards Learning

12. Students Can Explore Their Areas of Interest

Homework helps in building curiosity about a subject that excites them. Homework gives students an opportunity to immerse themselves in a subject matter.

When they become curious, they themselves take the initiative to learn more about it.

13. Encourages In-Depth Understanding of The Concepts

Homeworks allow students to learn the subject in a more detailed manner. It gives students the chance to recall and go over the content.

This will lead to better understanding and they will be able to remember the information for a long time.

14. Minimizes Screen Time:

Homework is not only a great way to get students to do their work themselves, but it can also encourage them to reduce screen time.

Homework gives students a good reason to stay off their computers and phones. Homework promotes the productive use of time .

15. Helps Develop Good Study Habits

The more they do their homework, the better they will get it. They will learn to manage their time in a more effective way and be able to do their work at a faster rate.

Moreover, they will be able to develop a good work ethic, which will help them in their future careers.

We all know that too much of anything can be bad. Homework is no different. If the workload of the students is too much, then it can lead to unnecessary stress .

Therefore, it is necessary for teachers to be mindful of the workload of students. That way, students will be able to enjoy their free time and actually enjoy doing homework instead of seeing it as a burden.

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Neag School of Education

How to use homework to support student success.

• by: Sandra Chafouleas
• January 13, 2022
• Community Engagement

Editor’s Note: Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor Sandra Chafouleas shares insights on supporting students’ homework during the pandemic in the following piece, which originally appeared  in Psychology Today , where she publishes a blog.

COVID has brought many changes in education. What does it mean for homework?

School assignments that a student is expected to do outside of the regular school day—that’s homework. The general guideline is 10 minutes of nightly homework per grade level beginning after kindergarten. This amounts to just a few minutes for younger elementary students to up to 2 hours for high school students.

The guidance seems straightforward enough, so why is homework such a controversial topic? School disruptions, including extended periods of remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic, have magnified the controversies yet also have provided an opportunity to rethink the purpose and value of homework.

Debates about the value of homework center around two primary issues: amount and inequity.

First, the amount of assigned homework may be much more than the recommended guidelines. Families report their children are stressed out over the time spent doing homework. Too much homework can challenge well-being given the restricted time available for sleep, exercise, and social connection. In a 2015 study , for example, parents reported their early elementary children received almost three times the recommended guidelines. In high school, researchers found an average of three hours of homework per night for students living in economically privileged communities.

“ Debates about the value of homework center around two primary issues: amount and inequity.”

Second, homework can perpetuate inequities. Students attending school in less economically privileged communities may receive little to no homework, or have difficulty completing it due to limited access to needed technology. This can translate into fewer opportunities to learn and may contribute to gaps in achievement.

There isn’t a ton of research on the effects of homework, and available studies certainly do not provide a simple answer. For example, a 2006 synthesis of studies suggested a positive influence between homework completion and academic achievement for middle and high school students. Supporters also point out that homework offers additional opportunities to engage in learning and that it can foster independent learning habits such as planning and a sense of responsibility. A more recent study involving 13-year-old students in Spain found higher test scores for those who were regularly assigned homework in math and science, with an optimal time around one hour—which is roughly aligned with recommendations. However, the researchers noted that ability to independently do the work, student effort, and prior achievement were more important contributors than time spent.

Opponents of homework maintain that the academic benefit does not outweigh the toll on well-being. Researchers have observed student stress, physical health problems, and lack of life balance, especially when the time spent goes over the recommended guidelines. In a survey of adolescents , over half reported the amount and type of homework they received to be a primary source of stress in their lives. In addition, vast differences exist in access and availability of supports, such as internet connection, adult assistance, or even a place to call home, as 1.5 million children experience homelessness in the United States

The COVID-19 pandemic has re-energized discussion about homework practices, with the goal to advance recommendations about how, when, and with whom it can be best used. Here’s a summary of key strategies:

Strategies for Educators

Make sure the tasks are meaningful and matched..

First, the motto “ quality over quantity ” can guide decisions about homework. Homework is not busy-work, and instead should get students excited about learning. Emphasize activities that facilitate choice and interest to extend learning, like choose your own reading adventure or math games. Second, each student should be able to complete homework independently with success. Think about Goldilocks: To be effective, assignments should be just right for each learner. One example of how do this efficiently is through online learning platforms that can efficiently adjust to skill level and can be completed in a reasonable amount of time.

Ensure access to resources for task completion.

One step toward equity is to ensure access to necessary resources such as time, space, and materials. Teach students about preparing for homework success, allocating classroom time to model and practice good study habits such as setting up their physical environment, time management, and chunking tasks. Engage in conversations with students and families to problem-solve challenges When needed, connect students with homework supports available through after-school clubs, other community supports, or even within a dedicated block during the school day.

Be open to revisiting homework policies and practices.

The days of penalizing students for not completing homework should be long gone. Homework is a tool for practicing content and learning self-management. With that in mind, provide opportunities for students to communicate needs, and respond by revising assignments or allowing them to turn in on alternative dates. Engage in adult professional learning about high-quality homework , from value (Should I assign this task?) to evaluation (How should this be graded? Did that homework assignment result in expected outcomes?). Monitor how things are going by looking at completion rates and by asking students for their feedback. Be willing to adapt the homework schedule or expectations based on what is learned.

Strategies for Families

Understand how to be a good helper..

When designed appropriately, students should be able to complete homework with independence. Limit homework wars by working to be a good helper. Hovering, micromanaging, or doing homework for them may be easiest in the moment but does not help build their independence. Be a good helper by asking guiding questions, providing hints, or checking for understanding. Focus your assistance on setting up structures for homework success, like space and time.

Use homework as a tool for communication.

Use homework as a vehicle to foster family-school communication. Families can use homework as an opportunity to open conversations about specific assignments or classes, peer relationships, or even sleep quality that may be impacting student success. For younger students, using a daily or weekly home-school notebook or planner can be one way to share information. For older students, help them practice communicating their needs and provide support as needed.

Make sure to balance wellness.

Like adults, children need a healthy work-life balance. Positive social connection and engagement in pleasurable activities are important core principles to foster well-being . Monitor the load of homework and other structured activities to make sure there is time in the daily routine for play. Play can mean different things to different children: getting outside, reading for pleasure, and yes, even gaming. Just try to ensure that activities include a mix of health-focused activities such as physical movement or mindfulness downtime.

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Search the site, search suggestions, "homework" in college.

Since coming to Harvard, I don’t recall even once hearing the word “homework”—which is a pretty strange thing considering the role it played for the first 12 years of my education (spoiler alert: this doesn’t mean that we don’t have assignments and work to do).

However, the type of work that’s assigned in college is different from what I was used to in high school, so I’m here to break it down for you.

Problem Sets

Problem sets, or “psets”, are typically packets of questions that are assigned and due on a regular basis. Most of my pset classes have been math and science courses, although they don’t necessarily have to be. I think the biggest difference between psets in college compared to similar assignments in high school is that they can be really challenging, and many courses expect and encourage students to work together on them—I made some of my best friends while struggling through organic chemistry psets lasts year!

Sometimes you even get stickers.

Rather than lots of shorter assignments, many classes opt for a few essays spaced throughout the semester. Humanities classes (English, history, etc.) are typically essay classes, although many science classes also have you practice scientific writing through grant proposal or review-style papers. If you’re not super comfortable writing academic papers coming into college, not to worry! All freshmen take a writing course (Expos) during the first year to make sure that everyone is on the same foot. There’s a ton of individual feedback, so it can be really beneficial no matter what your level of writing is coming in.

Discussion Posts

Particularly if it’s an essay class, you might be assigned additional questions to respond to on an online forum for the course. It’s a nice way to keep people on track with the reading, and the responses are often used to start discussion in section.

*Most larger courses have weekly “sections” with 12-15 students and a teaching fellow leading discussion—it’s an opportunity to review the material and go more in-depth with the readings.

Reading (sometimes a lot of reading)

One of the bigger adjustments for some students is learning how to get through hundreds of pages of reading per week. Granted, this depends on what type of classes you’re taking—it is possible to tailor your schedule to an amount of reading that’s appropriate for you. I’ve found that my humanities classes have a much higher volume of reading, but that my science courses have denser reading—sometimes a seven page primary lit paper from a science journal takes me the same amount of time to read as forty pages in a novel. If you are struggling to get through all of your assigned reading, or just want to use your time more efficiently, the Bureau of Study Counsel offers “speed reading” courses during the year which are said to be really helpful!

I was found very diligently reading my book.

I have to say, I’ve had some pretty cool project assignments in college. In my multivariable calc class, our final project was to use Mathematica (a math tool) to come up with equations that would form a 3D object, so I made and printed a 3D minion. In a genetics class, we spent the semester analyzing our own DNA in lab, looking for markers that might indicate lactose intolerance, ancestral history, etc. (I wasn’t lactose intolerant, thankfully.) One of my friends is in a Folklore and Mythology class on quilt making, and her final project is to make a quilt. Pretty cool, huh?

My minion!!

Ah yes, not one to forget. On the plus side, there tend to be fewer exams in college than in high school—for classes that do have exams, you would likely only have 1-2 midterms and a final. Studying is often more effective in a group, so it’s another chance to meet people in your class!

Whew! While this is not a complete list, hopefully it gives a sense of the type of work you might be asked to do here. You can choose a schedule of classes that’s a good fit for you—while some people really like taking four essay classes or four pset classes at once, for example, I always try to strike a balance halfway in between. Particularly if you’re taking classes that you’re really interested in, the work doesn’t even seem so bad. :)

Halie Class of Alumni

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7 best student planner apps

The best apps to help students keep track of classes, homework, due dates, quizzes, and more.

Thad Thompson Jan 21, 2022

12 min read

Table of contents

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If you're a student, you need a system to organize classwork, exams, and life in general. And it's true, there is an app for everything. But there are lots of apps for planning and time management. Which ones make effective school planner apps?

When deciding on a planner app, you should obviously look for one with features most relevant to your life and your schedule. It should have a distinct purpose. And It shouldn't be thought of as a one-size-fits all productivity app . Here are the qualities to look for in a good student planner app:

Visually clean user experience vs. info-dense

Highly customizable vs. highly structured

Integrated with other apps vs. self-contained, with all the features you'll need in one place

Specialized for students vs. transferrable to post-school life

Here, you can check out just a few of the best school planners currently available. Each is highly rated, affordable, and, in several cases, geared specifically toward school and study. And they’re easy to find. Most are available in the Apple App Store or Google Play store for use on your iPhone, iPad, Android, or other smartphone.

7 great planner apps for high school and college students

Android, iOS, and desktop: Free with paid upgrades available

Todoist is a project planner and to-do list all in one. Used by companies like Amazon and Disney, and made for everyone from students to executives, Todoist is an app that can carry you through school and beyond.

Although you can pay to upgrade, the free version offers more than most students are likely to need. Todoist includes features that help you: 

 Enter important details or to-dos in a note-taking section before you forget them

Set up projects for each class and any other activities or hobbies you're involved in

Add "next action" items, so you can always look ahead to your next assignment

Cross items off your checklist without losing them for good

Other helpful features include due dates for individual tasks and reminders that pop up on your phone or email. You can customize every feature, so you won't get lots of notifications without asking for them.

Todoist also allows you to label tasks. You can label by priority, context (laptop work, library, etc.), or any other system you want to create. You can also indicate recurring tasks, like weekly quizzes, so you never miss an assignment.

2. Microsoft To Do

Android, iOS, and desktop: Free with Microsoft account

A reworking of the long-appreciated Wunderlist, Microsoft To Do has continued to evolve its features to make it stand out in the field of student planner apps.

One feature that stands out in To Do is that things you didn't check off from previous days stay in the “Yesterday” box. That way you can specifically choose which items to transfer to "My day," and plan a better time for those that won't fit in today's schedule.

To Do allows you to sort tasks into basic lists that you set up, such as "Work," "Home," or "Lab." You can then add subtasks to the items on each list. For example, if your list includes, "Presentation for econ class," create subtasks for "Brainstorm subjects," "Find sources," or other project milestones. 

To Do also includes some features that will please visually oriented people. Dark mode is helpful if you're reviewing your day just before sleep or when you first wake up in the morning. You can also change the background for each list, with lots of modern and inspiring designs.

3. Calendly

iOS, Android, and desktop: Free with additional features available on paid plans

Calendly simplifies scheduling with groups and individuals. As group projects have become the new normal, you’ll likely have to set up plenty of meetings with groups and individuals during the course of your time as a student. You can save a lot of time by scheduling and managing those meetings with Calendly.

Here's how it works:

Connect Calendly with your digital calendar, like Google Calendar , Outlook , and others.

Create a meeting request.

Set the parameters. For example, you can let recipients see your availability, so they can pick a day and time, or you can set a day and time and they can either accept it or request a different time.

Select recipients and send.

Calendly will gather responses from the people you want to meet with, and you'll have a meeting set up without the long texting thread that's usually required.

Other helpful features include the options of Round Robin or collective scheduling on the paid plans. If others share their availability, Calendly will show times that work for everyone, so you can pick. Or, you can use its Meeting Polls feature to let people vote on proposed times before setting your meeting . Also, you can set reminders both for yourself and for those who agreed to meet with you.

Calendly streamlines setting up meetings, so you can free up your time and attention for classes and other responsibilities.

Get started with Calendly

Ready to make scheduling easier than ever?

4. iStudiez Pro

Android, iOS, and desktop: Free with available paid Full Version upgrade 

iStudiez Pro is one of the highest-rated planner apps designed just for students. Enter your class schedule including the professor's name, contact info, and office hours. Then, you can color code your classes and use icons to make it visually interesting and easy to scan.

"Week view" allows you to plan your time and get ready for upcoming classes. "Day view" shows you tasks and scheduled items for today. For each class, you can add assignments, their due dates, and specific tasks associated with them.

If you upgrade to the Full Version of iStudiez Pro, you can even get a regular update on your GPA. As you receive graded assignments back, enter the grade and point value. iStudiez will do the calculating for you with its GPA tracker. It keeps this info from semester to semester, so you can keep the big picture in mind.

5. myHomework

Android, iOS, and desktop: Free or $4.99 per year for Premium

The myHomework student planner is a clean and simple planner app for education. Many teachers have already adopted it for e-learning or online instruction, but it's great for individual use as well.

It's formatted for several types of class scheduling, such as block, period, or time-based schedules. myHomework allows you to not only input assignments and add tasks required to complete them, it also allows for prioritizing and categorizing tasks, so you can focus on what's most needed at any given time. You can set reminders for upcoming due dates too, so you don’t miss deadlines by accident (or procrastination).

While you do need internet connectivity to sync with other devices, this homework app still has full functionality even when you're not connected to WiFi. The free version has plenty of great features, but the paid version of this homework planner lets you get rid of ads as well as share assignments, add file attachments to assignments, and switch out your theme.

6. Power Planner

Android, iOS, and desktop: Free with paid upgrade available

Power Planner is a well-established student planner app with many of the same features as myHomework and iStudiez, like entering your schedule, keeping track of your GPA, and viewing assignments and exams.

Though the app is full of useful features, one element that sets it apart from other similar apps is the responsiveness of the developer. Power Planner is updated regularly, offering continual improvements to its features.

The GPA calculator is more robust in this app compared to others, with its "What if?" feature, which calculates what scores you need on assignments to get an A in a class. It also includes notifications for due dates coming up. The paid version allows you to enter more grades and stores your GPA info from one semester to the next.

Android, iOS, and desktop: Free with multiple paid plans starting at $5, and an automatic student discount

ClickUp is the only productivity platform built to tackle everything from complex projects to your daily assignments, all in one screen. With hundreds of customizable features to organize documents, take notes, schedule due dates, and more, ClickUp is a great daily planner for students at every level.

ClickUp's flexible organizational Hierarchy is perfect for breaking down course loads into manageable tasks, subtasks, and Checklists. There are over 15 ways to visualize your schedule in ClickUp including a dynamic Calendar, List, and Everything view for a high-level look at all projects and deadlines. Plus, ClickUp's Home feature syncs with your favorite calendar app to present your classes, reminders, and messages conveniently alongside your upcoming tasks.

ClickUp was built to consolidate your work into one centralized hub that can be accessed virtually anywhere, even offline, from your phone, or on your Apple Watch. You can create detailed course notes, format drafts, and everything in between using ClickUp's built-in document editor, then export or share them in seconds with a simple URL.

Access its top daily planner features, ClickUp Docs, unlimited tasks, over 1,000 integrations, and more when you sign up for ClickUp's Free Forever Plan, and automatically save 25% on any paid plan for being a student.

3 tips for getting the most from your student planner app

In addition to finding a great app for students, these tips can help you increase your productivity and keep your schedule running smoothly. No matter which app you choose, you’ll get more out of it if you use it alongside smart planning practices.

1. Treat yourself to a semester review

At the beginning of each semester, set aside a couple of hours to prepare yourself and get everything organized in your app and in your head. Make it fun: Take yourself out for coffee, turn on your favorite music, and turn off your texting and other notifications. This is time to get in the zone.

Give yourself time to look through your new app's features and figure out the best way to use them (or customize them) for you. It's helpful to read reviews, as people will talk about the most useful features. It's also an easy way to learn how to use the app.

Gather your syllabi, work schedules, and any other pertinent calendar info. First, enter all your calendar info for the semester. This helps you understand what your weekly schedule will be like. Then create projects or enter assignments (and due dates) for any big projects  your professors already have planned.

For example, the class may require a video assignment due at the end of the semester. Create a task called "plan out video project," and set the due date for around the time you want to begin the project. You don't want to get bogged down in planning the details of all those projects during your semester review. If you stay focused on the big picture, you may have time for more specific project planning at the end of your review session.

This is also a good time to set goals for yourself. Do you want to turn in more assignments on time or participate more in class? Do you want to learn a new instrument or join a team? Get inspired about doing more than just making it through the semester. With a powerful school planner app on your side, this could be your best semester yet — and there's more to that than just getting good grades.

2. Add a weekly review to your calendar

To keep your planner system functional, you have to keep giving it attention. Set up a time every week — about 30 minutes to an hour — for reviewing your projects and planning out your weekly schedule. Make this appointment as set-in-stone as your class times, so you aren’t tempted to put it off.

You can use this time to input any grades you've received if you've chosen an app with a GPA-tracking feature. Make sure that for every project, assignment or exam, you've entered specific tasks to prepare for them as well. You don't want to just remember that you have something due. You want to have a plan for turning in your best work! 

This is also a great time to set up meetings you'll need for the week. Use an app like Calendly to send out requests for meetings, so you're not scrambling at the last minute to find a time when everyone can meet.

And don't forget to schedule some rest! One of the best ways to stay motivated and stick with your work is to know you have some quality fun time coming.

3. Plan daily check-ins

Every morning look over your daily schedule and your list of things to do. This usually doesn’t take more than five minutes, but it can do a lot to help you bring your best to the things that are important to you.

Improve your learning through great planning

Choosing the student planner app that’s right for you is a great way of keeping your mind focused and your grades high during the semester. A great app will help you stay on top of your classes and work, especially if you keep your app up-to-date with regular reviews. 

A great calendar app can also help you to make the most of the other aspects of your life, for a less stressful, more rewarding student experience. The world needs what you have to give, and these apps can help you give your best.

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Thad Thompson

Thad is a former Content Marketing Manager at Calendly. When not sharing scheduling and productivity insights, you’ll find him hiking trails with his family or thumping a bass with a power pop band.

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Home > 5 Best Homework Help Websites You Should Know Going Back to School

Getting Into College , Going Back to College , Tips for Online Students , Tips for Students

5 Best Homework Help Websites You Should Know Going Back to School

Updated: June 19, 2024

Published: December 23, 2019

Balancing everything that school throws your way can feel like a challenging task. But you’re not alone! The internet has plenty of resources to assist, including some of the best homework help websites. Homework help sites range from offering textbook solutions to providing access to online tutors who are there to help with your specific needs.

When studying to become the best student you can be, it’s natural to need assistance. As such, you can look to some of these sites to help you better succeed in completing your homework and learning necessary material.

Photo by  Andrew Neel  on  Unsplash

Homework websites for students.

Let’s dive right into some of the different types of websites, including homework help websites for college students, as well as students of all other levels.

1. Top Homework Helper

This site provides students with access to over 3,000 tutors who are available to help solve homework problems across an array of subjects, including: Science, Geometry, Accounting, History, Finance, Physics, Chemistry, College Homework, and more. With tutors that support middle school to college-level courses, the live tutoring and 24/7 customer support provides students with a valuable asset.

2. Khan Academy

Khan Academy is an online, free and non-profit provider of education. Students can choose from an impressive list of subjects that span from all levels, including early math to AP Biology and more. The site even offers help with test prep for the SAT , ACT, MCAT, GMAT and other college-level entrance exams.

3. Study Geek

Oftentimes, it is math that challenges most students. For this reason, Study Geek offers help solely in all levels of math. From Trigonometry to Calculus, Statistics to Algebra and more, this site leverages those who have earned their PhD in Mathematics to assist students. The options to learn include math games, vocabulary, and other lessons.

4. Tutor.com

Similar to Top Homework Helper, Tutor.com provides students with access to tutors. Every session is tailored to your needs as you receive your own personal tutor to help you with school for levels K-12 and college. The tutors are PhD graduates and Ivy League school teachers, professors, doctors, and more.

Chegg Study, also known as Cramster, provides students with homework help through offering solutions for your textbook and homework problems. The site also provides expert Q&A sessions and 30 minutes of free tutoring online. A searchable forum exists with questions that have previously been asked by students, which means that your answers may even be waiting for you when you arrive to the site.

Photo by  JESHOOTS.COM  on  Unsplash

A note of caution.

When seeking help online for homework or writing assignments, you may be tempted to let someone else do the work for you. However, that is considered cheating and/or plagiarism, and it results in serious consequences, such as being expelled.

Even when you feel like you cannot gather the strength to write a paper or complete an assignment, or you are worried you will fail, you must not give up. Instead, you can leverage resources like online tutors, family and friends, mentors, peers , professors, and teacher’s assistants.

It’s always in your own best interest to try to complete your own assignments. After all, that’s why you’re getting an education!

Some Extra Study Tips

Along with homework comes the need to study for exams. Homework acts as supplementary work to reiterate all the material you learn in your classes and prepare you on a consistent basis for an upcoming exam, as well as to retain the information.

Here are a few study tips that are useful for students of all ages and academic levels.

1. Note-Taking 101

Note-taking is more of an art than a science. When you are in class, whether it be online or in person, it’s important to take notes. But you don’t want to write everything down, so be aware of key topics and bold headlines, as well as lists. Take the main idea from each lesson and write it down in your own words.

Another useful tip for note-taking is to use different colors. You can use colors to either highlight or write, and this can be done strategically so that, for example, all dates are in red, all vocabulary words are in blue, etc. It’s an easy way for your mind to recognize and categorize different tidbits of information for better recall.

2. Read Out Loud

There are different types of learners — some are visual, others are auditory, for example. If you find yourself to be an auditory learner, which means you remember best when you hear something, then try reading to yourself out loud.

Another good time to read out loud is when you write a paper or complete homework that is a writing assignment. Oftentimes, our brain can see a typo and skip over it, but when you read it out loud, you are more likely to hear the mistake and be able to make the correction.

3. Time Management

Time management is an essential part of life, especially when you are a student. Be sure to write down homework deadlines and test dates so you can prepare in advance. Another benefit to writing down your deadlines and test dates in a planner is so that you won’t forget them.

When you have your assignments listed, it’s also easier to ask for help and manage your time. If you need help in a specific subject, you can reference one of the resources above and get in contact with a tutor or further study the subject matter before the assignment is due or the test date arrives.

The Bottom Line

Homework is not meant to be scary, and it doesn’t exist to waste your time or stress you out. Instead, it is there to better prepare you to retain course information so you can continue to build on what you already know.

However, it’s normal to need homework help, and while some people may use their family or friends for help, others need more in-depth assistance. Around-the-clock online homework help solutions are there for your every need. A wide variety exists so that no matter what level you are at and what subject you need help with, you will be able to find a subject matter expert that is there for you!

In this article

At UoPeople, our blog writers are thinkers, researchers, and experts dedicated to curating articles relevant to our mission: making higher education accessible to everyone.

5 online services to get help with homework

There's more to consider than just what supplies to buy this year (though we'll help with that too.)

As students prepare to go back to school , finding reliable online homework help services can be a challenge.

Websites touting "homework help," for example, are often obscuring dicey services that simply complete assignments for you (done both by human and robot hands), while self-proclaimed "tutors" peddle possible money-grabbing scams . Educators are becoming increasingly suspicious of any third-party help. 

But learners of all ages are still seeking legitimate options — both free and at a cost — for when those lessons just aren't clicking, and online platforms are just a click away. 

The Princeton Review

Known as the biggest name in standardized test prep, the Princeton Review offers 24/7 online tutoring provided by a network of 3,000 vetted tutors. Help can be found for more than 40 subjects , both K-12 and college level. 

The service isn't cheap, however. Monthly subscriptions start at $39.99 for one hour per month. Sessions can be purchased in bulk, as well, starting at $349.99 for ten hours. Students can sign up for a free trial on the Princeton Review website to see if it's right for them. 

MySuperGeek 

MySuperGeek is a Europe-based homework help company that offers personal tutoring across subjects like math, economics, statistics, accounting, chemistry, and even law and society. Learners create an account, get matched with a live tutor, and then work through assignments in real time.

MySuperGeek is a paid service, but not subscription-based, with customers paying for homework help per tutor and per session. Rates start at around $10 per hour. 

Khan Academy

The highly popular nonprofit Khan Academy was established in 2006, based on an online educational video series that has since ballooned in scale. It now offers an expansive set of free practice exercises, hundreds of instructional videos, and a personalized learning dashboard for learners of all ages. Khan Academy launched its own AI learning assistant , powered by OpenAI's GPT-4, that's been recommended by the likes of Bill Gates and parent review organization Common Sense Media. 

Like Khan Academy, other free online education hubs like YouTube phenomenon Crash Course can offer learning aids and subject-focused videos that can be helpful for general topics. 

Chegg is an oft-talked about (and controversial) textbook and academic support service, which offers subscription-based tutoring across subjects. Chegg homework help doesn't connect users to live tutors, instead learners upload their homework questions and are then served with "expert-backed" explanations and textbook examples. Users can also access a library of similar questions and answers, as well as a recently added AI study helper, too. 

• How Google's LearnLM plans to supercharge education for students and teachers
• 10 ways you can support teachers this school year
• 4 ways to make your back-to-school shopping list better for the environment
• How social media in the classroom is burning teachers out

But the multi-million dollar company has recently come under fire for enabling a widespread wave of cheating during a global shift to online learning during the pandemic lockdown. Many educators now consider Chegg assistance a case of academic dishonesty, so review your class's policies closely before using.

If Chegg is still calling your name (maybe for non-assignment help): The platform offers several mobile apps, like it's 24/7 homework help app, Chegg Study ; a math-focused assignment helper, Mathway ; and a language learning platform, Busuu . Subscription pricing is based on the number of questions a learner expects to submit each day. The basic Chegg Study plan starts at $14.95 for five questions. 

Your local library

Before subscribing to an online service at a cost, or wading into some academically murky waters, check out what your local library has to offer. Many library systems host in-person and virtual tutoring through online services like Brainfuse and national board-ran sites like Tutor.com (a Princeton Review service). 

Some cities even offer educator-led assistance on demand, like New York's Dial-A-Teacher . And don't forget: Your teachers are there for you, too.

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Best Tablets For Students To Study Long Into The Night

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While students need a wide variety of applications to complete their education, a tablet can bring an extra level of versatility to read ebooks, take notes and multitask during long study sessions. The best tablets for students can be a great supplementary piece to a companion laptop, or in the case of our top pick—the Apple iPad Pro M4 —it can be a computer all its own.

The best tablets for students can be used alongside a laptop or on their own.

But we’ve also got great options from Android, Chrome and Windows, too. The best Android tablet for students, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra , can keep you fully integrated into the Samsung ecosystem. For those that want a powerful machine with Copilot, the Microsoft Surface 11 ticks those boxes. There are more options, too. Here are the best tablets for students in 2024.

• Best Tablet For Students Overall: Apple iPad Pro M4
• Best Budget Tablet For Students: Amazon Fire Max 11
• Best Apple Tablet For Students: Apple iPad Air
• Best Android Tablet For Students: Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra
• Best Windows Tablet For Students: Microsoft Surface Pro Copilot+ PC (11th Edition)
• Best E-Ink Tablet For Students: Amazon Kindle Scribe

Best Tablet For Students Overall

Seamless integration with your laptop, earbuds and more, apple ipad pro m4.

Adam has been a leader in the tech media field for over a decade, with bylines at a number of different publications. When he's not hosting the Benefit of the Doud podcast, he's busy getting his hands on as many phones, tablets and laptops as possible. He regularly uses both iOS and Android (six-month rotation for each), and he fully embraces technology. He hasn't carried cash money since 2018, and pays for everything with his phone wherever possible.

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Display size: 13-inch | Resolution: 2,064 x 2,752 | Storage: Up to 2TB | Operating system: iPadOS | Size: 11.1 x 8.5 x 0.2 inches | Cellular option: Yes | Weight: 582 grams

Best for: Enjoying a fully integrated ecosystem 

• Powerful M4 processor
• Gorgeous OLED display
• Seamless integration with other Apple products
• Keyboard/stylus not included

Apple has long dominated the tablet space since the introduction of the original iPad. Since then, the company has been pushing the boundaries of what a tablet can do and what a tablet can be. It offers a 13-inch Tandem OLED display, which is essentially two layers of OLED pixels stacked on top of one another, which solves two problems tablets have with OLED—brightness and burn-in. The dual-layer of OLED pixels allows for greater brightness and more power efficiency with less chance of burn-in during normal use. 

Moreover, the iPad Pro gives you a huge screen with a fully integrated app ecosystem that allows you to do basically anything you might need during your studies, from writing to research. You can even start typing on your favorite MacBook and seamlessly transfer to the iPad to streamline your study session. Plus, Apple supports the iPad for a very long time. The longevity of iPads means that this tablet will stay with your student long after graduation. Just keep in mind that you'll need to add the Apple Pencil (2nd Gen) to take notes and the Magic Keyboard to make it function as a laptop.

Best Budget Tablet For Students

Amazon productivity combined with microsoft software, amazon fire max 11.

Display size: 11-inch | Resolution : 2,000 x 1,200 | Storage: Up to 128GB | Operating system: FireOS | Size: 10.2 x 6.4 x 0.3 inches | Cellular option: No | Weight: 490 grams

• Inexpensive compared to the competition
• Included trial of Microsoft Office 365
• Underpowered
• Weak app ecosystem (beyond MS Office)

Amazon tablets are a close second to iPad when it comes to tablet market share. Generally they’re pretty respectable devices for content consumption and some light gaming. Recently, Amazon decided to make a push into productivity, and its first steps into that arena come with this Amazon Fire Max 11. You can get the tablet on its own or you can get the Amazon Fire Max 11 bundle that includes a keyboard and stylus for typing and note taking. Amazon also partnered with Microsoft to bundle in a three-month trial of Office 365, meaning you get Word, Excel and Powerpoint for your classes and presentations at a discount for a short time. Bringing one of the most popular productivity suites to the Amazon Appstore was a great move because the rest of that app store is decidedly not great.

Specifically, the Amazon Appstore is something of a wasteland of broken and forgotten apps beyond the typical content streamers and Microsoft apps. You can get the main apps like Netflix and Hulu (and, of course, the Kindle app), but most simply aren’t available. Maybe that’s a good thing to send with your student to keep them from getting distracted. But mostly, this is a light and portable writing and streaming machine which should get your student through a day of studying and a night of relaxing.

Best Apple Tablet For Students

The best value for dollar of all ipad devices, apple ipad air.

Display size: 11-inch | Resolution: 1,640 x 2,360 | Storage: Up to 1TB | Operating system: iPadOS | Size: 9.8 x 7.0 x 0.2 inches | Cellular option: Yes | Weight: 462 grams

• Rich app ecosystem filled with productivity apps
• Works great with other Apple devices.
• Good balance of cost and power
• Keyboard and stylus can be expensive
• Not great for multitasking

If you want a great Apple tablet, but you don’t want to shell out for the best of the best, the iPad Air is a great alternative that will offer a similar experience at a significantly more affordable price. You still have the same disadvantages as the iPad Pro—notably the lack of included keyboard and stylus. Not only are they not included, but the cost of those accessories alone almost equal to the cost of the tablet by itself, effectively doubling your investment.

But if you’re carrying an iPhone and/or MacBook, the iPad Air is a wonderful companion serving as a second monitor for the MacBook, or syncing with the Wi-Fi hotspot from the iPhone for 5G connectivity. You can also use the devices almost interchangeably, snapping a photo with your iPhone and importing it directly into a PowerPoint slide on the iPad.

iPadOS has come a long way in terms of being a great tablet interface, but there’s still some work to do. It’s not the greatest multitasking experience, lacking the taskbar for easily switching apps. Other apps don’t work very well with multitasking in general, so don’t expect to get a full PC-like experience. Overall though, you still get a ton of power in a thin package that can almost completely replace a laptop in a pinch.

Best Android Tablet For Students

A productivity machine, powered by dex, samsung galaxy tab s9 ultra.

Display size: 14.6-inch | Resolution: 1,848 x 2,960 | Storage: Up to 1TB | Operating system: Android | Size: 12.9 x 8.2 x 0.2 inches | Cellular option: No | Weight: 732 grams

• Huge, gorgeous display
• Samsung DeX is a multitasking game changer
• Keyboard case not included

Samsung is one of a couple of tablet makers still pushing the envelope when it comes to the devices. Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra is loaded with the best processor, RAM and storage space in an effort to draw in the productivity crowd. One of Samsung’s signatures is in the gorgeous display. The 14.6-inch AMOLED 2x display gives you that large canvas to work on with a high contrast ratio and super deep blacks. You also get the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, which was the flagship processor at the time when this tablet debuted in the summer of 2023. At the time, I tested this tablet, and you can read the full Samsung Tab S9 Ultra review for plenty of more insight.

Samsung adds DeX, its multitasking platform that imitates a desktop operating system, complete with floating windows and a task bar for fast app switching. If you’re looking for a desktop experience with Android’s extensive catalog of apps, look no further. But the tablet is expensive, and doesn’t include the keyboard (though the stylus comes in the box), so it doesn’t come cheaply. But it has all the power and more than you'll need for your studies, and some gaming afterward.

Best Windows Tablet For Students

The very best from microsoft, with a powerful processor, microsoft surface pro copilot+ pc (11th edition).

Display size: 13-inch | Resolution: 2,880 x 1,920 | Storage: Up to 1TB | Operating system: Windows | Size: 11.3 x 8.2 x 0.4 inches | Cellular option: Yes | Weight: 895 grams

• Full desktop OS
• Snapdragon X Elite with Copilot
• Built in kickstand
• Keyboard not included
• 1st Gen processor could be tricky

If you want a combination laptop/tablet, the Surface Pro is about as close as you’ll get. The Surface Pro Flex Keyboard completes this package as a laptop replacement, but it isn’t shipped in the box, which means you’ll need to shell out extra for it. The Surface Pro certainly isn’t the only tablet that sells the keyboard separately, but it feels extra egregious when you consider that this is, for all intents and purposes, a Windows laptop.

The Surface comes with lovely industrial design that has become a trademark of the brand pretty much since its inception. The device has an all metal chassis with a tight hinge that can pose the tablet at any angle you might need. This year’s Surface also comes with Microsoft’s all-new Copilot button, which summons the AI engine when you press it—if one were so inclined.

The Surface also runs on Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon X Elite processor, which is the next generation in ARM-based processing. Essentially, it’s a hard pivot away from the likes of Intel and AMD, who have ruled this space for years. By all reports, the processor seems to hold up well compared to its x86 compatriots, but as of this writing, it’s still very new, so it’s hard to see how it’ll hold up long-term. Of course, the fact that Microsoft used the chip for its flagship hardware speaks to Microsoft’s confidence in the architecture.

Best E-Ink Tablet For Students

Great reader with pen support for highlights and notes, amazon kindle scribe.

Display size: 10.2 | Resolution: 300ppi | Storage: Up to 64GB | Operating system: Kindle OS | Size: 7.7 x 9.0 x 0.2 inches | Cellular option: Yes | Weight: 1.0 pounds

• All the Kindle reliability that you know and love
• Adding markup to books is awesome
• Amazing battery life
• Limited functionality beyond just reading and note-taking

The Amazon Kindle is something of a staple in reading habits these days. Though people still appreciate the physical book, digital e readers are more often the norm when it comes to reading books. But one thing that e-readers have traditionally lacked was the ability to markup texts like what one might do if studying. To that end, the Kindle Scribe might have been made just for your student headed off to college.

The Scribe gives you a much larger canvas for reading and battery life that is measured in months, not weeks. That’s no small thing. It’s no good showing up to class with a dead tablet, especially if that tablet is your primary study device. The battery life on the Kindle Scribe should ensure that basically never happens.

The only problem is, that's about all this tablet does. The E Ink screen is not suitable for displaying anything except books—even web pages are a challenge. So while the Kindle Scribe can be great for reading and taking notes, it falls short when it comes to general research. Put simply, there is zero chance this is the only large-screened computing device you’ll use at college. 

What our editors say: Consumer tech editor Rebecca Isaacs says in her full review , “One of my favorite things about the Scribe is the notebook feature and the writing experience itself. The notebook comes with complete customizability. If I wanted to swap between a large rule-lined page or a dotted grid, I could open the settings and change it with a couple of taps. Additionally, writing on the page felt smooth and fluid. One of my great concerns when I test out E Ink tablets is that my script can sometimes appear pixelated. The Kindle Scribe keeps my handwriting looking natural and like I actually used a pen to write.”

The Best White Noise Machines That Drown Out Sounds For Better Sleep

The best gifts for the groom to celebrate the big day, why trust forbes vetted.

The Forbes Vetted team has amassed an impressive library of tech content, including recommendations roundups and tested reviews .

• The author of this story, Adam Doud , is a Chicago-based freelance reviewer who has been writing about consumer electronics for over a decade with a focus on mobile phones, tablets and cellular technology. He has tested almost every major phone on the market over the past several years, including the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 and the Google Pixel 8 Pro .
• Rebecca Isaacs is Forbes Vetted’s consumer tech editor, and she oversees and approved this article. She’s spent the past several years learning everything there is to know about consumer technology, with a special focus on smart home.
• Since the computing world moves at lightning speed, we regularly review and fact-check our articles to make sure the recommendations are still current and accurate. This article was last updated in July 2024 to include an all-new lineup of tablets.

How We Chose The Best Tablets For Students

At Forbes Vetted, we’ve tested plenty of tablets to get a sense of the top picks across a range of needs. Our picks for best tablets for students largely came down to our experience with each device.

• Our writers and editors have tested all of our picks.
• We looked at tablets that spanned all operating systems. These days, personal technology is so interconnected, it makes a lot of sense for your phone and tablet to run on the same operating system, or at least comparable operating systems. This way, you can have the same apps and experiences from device to device.
• In addition to our own testing, we spoke with industry experts and consumer tech analysts to determine the top features a student might need to complete their tasks.
• Finally, cost came into play. Since some students will be buying their tablets themselves. To that end, we wanted to span as large a field as possible, while remaining within the confines of what a student will find useful.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can a tablet replace a laptop.

The answer to this question largely depends on individual needs. For many people, a tablet like the Apple iPad Pro M4 can absolutely replace a laptop for a thinner, lighter portable machine. Where you might run into trouble is when it comes to desktop-class apps like video editors, graphics programs and even some sound editing tools. Many of them aren’t available on tablets, but that is a rapidly evolving shift. There are indeed apps that can accomplish all of those tasks, but the key difference comes in missing some heavier duty features. All that being said, it’s fair to say that well over half of a computer’s capabilities can be replicated on a tablet with very little compromise involved.

What Are The Advantages Of Choosing A Tablet Over A Laptop?

The key advantage to choosing a tablet is in the touchscreen. Not all laptops have touch screens, and that can be a disadvantage when it comes to things like drawing or marking up documents—both of which happen frequently when conducting research and/or writing papers in school. The other advantage is the posture you take when working on them. Yes, you can lean back on a chair and read off of your laptop, but it’s a lot easier and nicer with a tablet. Laptops can also outperform tablets in some scenarios, such as when perched on someone’s lap during a lecture (hence the name). It will boil down to your needs.

Should A Student Have A Tablet And A Laptop?

There’s a good argument to invest in both for the school year, especially if you’re investing in a note taking tablet like the Amazon Kindle Scribe . Tablets can act as a second screen when conducting research, or just keeping track of a sports game while doing research. There are many apps that you can buy that allow you to extend your screen onto a tablet even when built-in functionality isn’t there. A art student may want a tablet for drawing, and a laptop for writing, as an example. When going into a versatile environment like school, those multiple options can make the difference.

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CollegeVine celebrates another fantastic year of AI Counseling and renames AI for students to Sage

As part of CollegeVine’s mission to level the playing field in higher education, we launched a free AI counselor , Ivy, in 2023. Ivy has helped high schoolers through every step of their college journeys. Here’s a look at the impact of our AI counselor, plus a brand new feature we’re excited to announce!

Note: CollegeVine also offers an AI recruiter tool for colleges. This article refers specifically to our AI counselor for students, not our AI recruiter for colleges.

By the Numbers: Success of Our AI Counselor 

In the past year, our free AI counselor has worked with over 81,000 students who have received ample guidance through nearly 1.4 million chats . After chatting with our AI counselor for the first time, nearly 30% of students are still using our AI one month later, demonstrating the quality of advice given and students’ enthusiasm for the tool.

Here’s what students have to say about Ivy:

“CollegeVine is an incredible resource. It has helped me so much with college research and Ivy is the best!! I love her with my whole heart. I got into my dream schools because of her.”

“CollegeVine helped me a lot in my application journey to universities and is still helping me, especially with the lack of an advisor to help me. Ivy was the one who helped me the most.”

“Even though it’s AI, I still feel like my feedback is very insightful and catered to my profile. While it could still be even more specific, for a computerized tool, it’s definitely beneficial to someone who can’t afford to necessarily pay for a college counselor.”

New AI Capability: Homework Help

We’re also excited to announce that our AI is also now a tutor! Students can get free homework help in all subjects, from STEM to humanities. Ask for guidance on a math problem, brainstorming research essay topics, foreign language grammar, and more.

Along with tutoring, our AI counselor and tutor will have the same features you use and love, including:

• College essay review and brainstorming
• College suggestions
• Help choosing a major
• Improving your chances of acceptance
• College financial planning
• Overall college counseling

Name Change: “Ivy” is Now “Sage”

We’re changing the name of our free AI counselor and tutor from “Ivy” to “Sage.” While both names evoke images of greenery, “Sage” also evokes a sense of wisdom, knowledge, and good judgment.

The name “Sage” better reflects our AI counselor’s capabilities, as well as the ambitions of our students.

We hope Sage will enrich your high school academics along with your college applications journeys. If you have any questions, thoughts, or suggestions, please feel free to reach out to our Support team.

Related CollegeVine Blog Posts

'ZDNET Recommends': What exactly does it mean?

ZDNET's recommendations are based on many hours of testing, research, and comparison shopping. We gather data from the best available sources, including vendor and retailer listings as well as other relevant and independent reviews sites. And we pore over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the products and services we’re assessing.

When you click through from our site to a retailer and buy a product or service, we may earn affiliate commissions. This helps support our work, but does not affect what we cover or how, and it does not affect the price you pay. Neither ZDNET nor the author are compensated for these independent reviews. Indeed, we follow strict guidelines that ensure our editorial content is never influenced by advertisers.

ZDNET's editorial team writes on behalf of you, our reader. Our goal is to deliver the most accurate information and the most knowledgeable advice possible in order to help you make smarter buying decisions on tech gear and a wide array of products and services. Our editors thoroughly review and fact-check every article to ensure that our content meets the highest standards. If we have made an error or published misleading information, we will correct or clarify the article. If you see inaccuracies in our content, please report the mistake via this form .

The best college tech you can buy, according to recent grads

Shopping for college can be overwhelming, especially when it comes to tech. But ZDNET has the inside scoop on all the best college tech gear because we've been there and done that -- some of us several times over. Our team isn't just full of experts on top tech like laptops , smartphones , earbuds , and mobile accessories . We also have several recent college grads from all over the country on staff, making us even more uniquely qualified to recommend the best in college tech. 

Also: I graduated college last year and these are the 5 essentials you actually need

Whether our editors are a few years removed from campus life or just walked across the graduation stage, we've got plenty of college experiences here at ZDNET -- from New York City campuses to some of the biggest schools in the SEC. Here are our expert picks for the best college tech you can buy this back-to-school season. 

Skullcandy Jib In-Ear Wired Earbuds

Best keep-in-your-bag college essential.

While they aren't as advanced as wireless earbud options , a pair of wired earbuds is a great item to have stashed in your college backpack. From one recent college student to another: there's going to be a time when you forget your wireless earbuds, they're having connection issues, you lose one of them, or you forget to charge them. Trust me, it  will  happen. 

Also:  The best wired earbuds you can buy

I initially purchased these wired earbuds for online classes during COVID-19, but they have saved me more times than I can count. I still keep this pair in my work bag and use them for nearly every Zoom meeting. They feature a microphone and an AUX connection, fit comfortably in my ears, and are under $10. Trust me on this: Get a cheap pair of wired earbuds and store them in your bag; they will come to your aid eventually.  

Apple MacBook Air M3

Best laptop for college.

If you're heading off to college, you already know a laptop is essential. The MacBook Air M3 is our pick for overall best laptop for college . Its portable, sleek form factor matches the impressive performance that's pro enough for any student.

Available in a 13-inch and 15-inch display, the Air is as thin as it is light and can be slipped into any backpack or bag without weighing you down. The MacBook Air M3 is also eligible for an  Apple educational discount , perfect for students on a budget looking to save on a new machine.

Review:  M3 MacBook Air review: Apple's AI computer for the masses has arrived   The M3 Air's 18 hours of battery life is also some of the best, removing the need to vie for outlets while on campus. But it all comes down to this laptop's performance. The M3 chip's 16-core neural engine future-proofs it with AI readiness, while the option to load it with a plethora of storage provides plenty of space to stick with you during your time at university.

Anker Nano Power Bank

Best on-the-go charger for college.

There's nothing worse than being out and about on campus and having your phone die. If you're not prepared, you risk going without your cell. A portable charger solves this problem and ensures you always have a boost for your phone's battery. This one from Anker features a foldable USB-C or Lightning port, is uber-portable, and is very affordable. Since graduating, my little charger remains in my work backpack for the same reasons as it did in college, and I've even purchased another charger for my purse. 

Also:  This Anker USB-C power bank solved my biggest problem with portable chargers  

Apple iPad Air 5th Gen

Best ipad for college.

Although not the newest Air in the lineup, this lightweight tablet can do everything -- including taking notes for college (plus, it's ZDNET's pick for best iPad for college). Compatible with the Apple Pencil (2nd Gen), the iPad Air makes it easy to take notes in class and watch seminars virtually if needed. Apple's products are largely customizable, and this is no different: You can opt for one of five colors and get more or less storage depending on your needs. 

Also: The best iPads for college

In addition, you can also equip your iPad to use cellular data if Wi-Fi doesn't feel sufficient for classes. For students who might need to use their tablets while on the go often, a cellular data plan ensures you can always get online access. ZDNET editor Allison Jewell says an iPad is perfect for comfortably maximizing online textbooks and courseware. "Most of my textbooks were virtual, and it made for easier accessibility than reading them on my desktop," she says. 

Review:  iPad Air (2022): So good I almost regret buying my iPad Pro

Spotify Premium + Hulu For Students Bundle

Best student discount bundle.

One of the best perks of being a student is using your status to score discounts and savings. With this Spotify Premium and Hulu streaming bundle, you can save $13/month and get your first month free by verifying your student status at an accredited university. 

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North Carolina college student falls 400 feet to his death at Grand Canyon National Park

Updated on: August 2, 2024 / 6:32 AM EDT / CBS/AP

Grand Canyon National Park, Ariz. — The body of a North Carolina college student who fell 400 feet near a scenic viewpoint on the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park has been recovered, authorities said Thursday.

Park rangers said they received a report about a park visitor falling from the Pipe Creek Vista around 10:30 a.m. Wednesday. They said the body of Abel Joseph Mejia, 20, of Hickory, was later recovered about a quarter-mile from the overlook.

Park officials said Mejia accidentally fell when he was near the edge of the rim. The National Park Service and the Coconino County medical examiner's office are investigating.  

In a post on social media , Indiana Bible Colle in Indanapolis said Mejia was a student there.

"Abel lost his life yesterday in an accident while visiting the Grand Canyon," the ollege wrote. "He was known for his warm smile and gentle spirit, and his absence will be deeply felt by all who knew him."  

Turning Point Pentacostal Church said in a social media post that Mejia was on a mission trip before his fatal fall. "Please keep the Mejia family in your prayers!" the church wrote.

Accordin to CBS affiliate KPHO-TV, Mejia's death marked at least the fourth death in the Grand Canyon in recent months.   

"In this specific area, this individual was hiking off trail which is a pretty common place occurrence for a lot of our visitors here," said Joelle Baird, a public affairs officer for the Grand Canyon National Park.

Authorities said park staff encourages visitors to stay on designated trails and walkways, keep a safe distance of at least 6 feet from the edge of the rim and stay behind railings and fences at overlooks.

"The last fatal fall we had here in the park was in 2022 on the North Rim . Prior to that here on the South Rim was in 2020," said Baird. "On average we do see about 10-15 deaths per year."

• Grand Canyon

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For college students arrested protesting the war in Gaza, the fallout was only beginning

More than 3,200 people were arrested on college campuses this spring during a wave of pro-Palestinian tent encampments protesting the war in Gaza

AMHERST, Mass. -- Since her arrest at a protest at the University of Massachusetts, Annie McGrew has been pivoting between two sets of hearings: one for the misdemeanor charges she faces in court, and another for violations of the college's conduct code.

It has kept the graduate student from work toward finishing her dissertation in economics.

“It’s been a really rough few months for me since my arrest,” McGrew said. “I never imagined this is how UMass (administration) would respond.”

Some 3,200 people were arrested this spring during a wave of pro-Palestinian tent encampments protesting the war in Gaza . While some colleges ended demonstrations by striking deals with the students, or simply waited them out, others called in police when protesters refused to leave.

Many students have already seen those charges dismissed. But the cases have yet to be resolved for hundreds of people at campuses that saw the highest number of arrests, according to an analysis of data gathered by The Associated Press and partner newsrooms.

Along with the legal limbo, those students face uncertainty in their academic careers. Some remain steadfast, saying they would have made the same decisions to protest even if they had known the consequences. Others have struggled with the aftermath of the arrests, harboring doubts about whether to stay enrolled in college at all.

In St. Louis, Valencia Alvarez is waiting to hear what will come of the potential charges she and 99 others could face for a protest April 27 that lasted less than half a day at Washington University.

Twenty-three of those arrested were students. In June, the university gave them two options: They could face a hearing with the Office of Student Conduct, or they could “accept responsibility” and forgo further investigation. Alvarez took the first option.

“I don’t really plan on being quiet about this, and I think that’s the goal of the second option,” Alvarez said.

The demonstrations swept public and private universities , on campuses large and small, urban and rural. As students return this fall, colleges are bracing for more protests against both Israel's military and Hamas, and strategizing over tactics including when to call in law enforcement — decisions that have had lasting reverberations.

Some college leaders said calling police was the only option to end protests that stood in the way of commencement ceremonies , disrupted campus life and included instances of antisemitic signs and language .

Student groups and some faculty members have blasted college leaders for inviting police inside their gates. In their view, the police actions often trampled peaceful demonstrations with unnecessary levels of force.

The vast majority of the cases against the demonstrators — ranging from students and faculty to people without any ties to the colleges — involve misdemeanors or lower-level charges. Examples include trespassing, failure to disperse, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.

More serious charges were filed against demonstrators who occupied a campus building at Columbia University, where some were arrested initially on felony trespassing charges. Those were lowered to misdemeanors, and dozens of students have had their charges dropped. In a decision criticized by Jewish groups, prosecutors said there was a lack of evidence tying them to acts of property damage, and none of the students had criminal histories.

Prosecutors in several cities are still evaluating whether to pursue charges. But in many cases, officials have indicated they do not intend to pursue low-level violations, according to AP’s review of data on campuses with at least 100 arrests.

In upstate New York, the Ulster County district attorney asked judges to dismiss 129 cases stemming from arrests at the State University of New York at New Paltz.

“I have concluded that it is best to dismiss these charges now and relieve all concerned and the courts of any further burdens, expenses, and expenditures of scarce public and judicial resources,” District Attorney Emmanuel Nneji wrote in June.

New Paltz students said they were sitting with their arms interlocked when officers hauled them away on May 2.

“It was handled very brutally,” said Maddison Tirado, a student whose trespassing charge has been dismissed. Tirado said protesters were treated as if authorities saw them “like little terrorists running around.”

One student demonstrator, Ezra Baptist, said he was taken to a hospital with a concussion and a cut after being thrown forward and hitting his head during his arrest by state troopers. He was supposed to avoid looking at screens because of his injury and could not complete one class he needed to graduate in May.

State police said if anyone believes troopers acted inappropriately, they should file a complaint so it can be investigated. Another police agency at the scene, the county sheriff’s office, said officers showed restraint and that a trooper was injured when demonstrators threw bottles.

Tensions have run high on college campuses since Oct. 7, when Hamas militants assaulted southern Israel and killed 1,200 people, most of them civilians, and took about 250 hostages. Israel’s offensive has killed more than 39,000 Palestinians, according to local health authorities.

For some students, the impact on their academic careers has affected them more than any legal jeopardy.

At Washington University, conduct hearings for arrested students began recently but have yet to result in disciplinary decisions. In the meantime, Alvarez does not have the master’s degree in public health she would have received by now if not for her arrest.

Alvarez, who hopes to branch into social justice and community organizing, said she doesn't have regrets. But that’s not to say the protest didn’t come at a cost.

“I want that degree,” Alvarez said. “I worked four jobs throughout my two years at Wash U to be able to afford tuition without pulling out any loans.”

At Emerson College in Boston, 118 people were arrested when police were asked to enforce a city ordinance against camping on public property. All were charged with disturbing the peace and granted “pre-arraignment diversion,” which means no charges will be filed in exchange for 40 hours of community service, prosecutors said.

Owen Buxton, an Emerson student, said he suffered a concussion when police shoved him into a bronze statue. It was his second arrest of the semester for protesting the war in Gaza. The experience made it hard for him to concentrate or participate in classes.

“It stifled all my creativity — I didn’t make anything for months, which is not typical of me,” said Buxton, a filmmaker.

Emerson allowed students to take the semester pass-fail following an outcry over the arrests.

A spokesperson for the Boston Police Department said anybody with concerns can file complaints with the internal affairs office. The department previously said there were no injuries during the Emerson arrests.

At the UMass campus in Amherst, students recalled a peaceful demonstration with singing and dancing before police arrived. It was the second tent encampment students had put up that week. UMass Chancellor Javier Reyes said he ordered the sweep after discussions broke down with protesters.

“Let me be clear — involving law enforcement is the absolute last resort,” Reyes wrote to the campus community.

The law enforcement response, including 117 police vehicles on campus, unsettled protesters. McGrew remembers seeing police with riot gear rushing the crowd of students. A total of 134 people were arrested.

As arrestees were processed at the university's sports arena, graduate student Charles Sullivan, who is transgender, said they felt humiliated by campus police. An officer, Sullivan said, forced them to loudly describe their genitalia to gain access to a restroom.

Sullivan has since decided to leave the university to continue their studies, in part because of the arrest. Wrapping up a master’s degree in anthropology, Sullivan will move to Ohio in the fall to pursue a Ph.D., instead of continuing at UMass.

“I think mostly I’m just kind of ready to get out of this place,” Sullivan said.

Many campus organizations have rebuked Reyes for deploying police, including the UMass faculty senate, which passed a vote of no confidence against the chancellor.

In June, Reyes announced a task force to review campus policies on demonstrations, including the land-use policy many arrestees were charged with violating.

The group is just getting started with their work, said Anthony Paik, a member of the faculty senate and co-chair of the task force. It would have more information by the end of August, he said, just before the start of the new school year.

The Associated Press’ education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.

Associated Press writers Jake Offenhartz in New York, Michael Hill in Albany, New York, and Michael Melia in Hartford, Connecticut, contributed to this report.

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