15 Free Websites & Apps for Students

If you're reading this, you have a phone or computer - why not use it to help you study, keep you organized, and manage your money? These 15 free websites and apps are must-haves for every Pitt student, and help save you tons of time and money.

1. RateMyProfessors. Getting stuck with a bad professor, or even just one that doesn't teach to your particular learning style, can cost you tons in wasted books and failed credits. Use RateMyProfessors to read reviews on professors, find out how much work you're in for, and whether you need to buy the book. 

   

   The pepper speaks for itself.

   
   
2. Google Drive. Write and edit documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and surveys. After you make a document there, you can access, edit, and download it on any phone or computer. Data loss is real, so keeping your assignments and notes in the cloud is a must! You can also upload any file to the cloud and create PDF scans by taking pictures in the app. Plus, it has great tools for sharing and collaborating in real time.

   

   Collaborate with partners in real time.

3. Google Calendar. Same deal - access your calendar anywhere. This is incredibly useful when you have to divide your time between classes, a job, studying, clubs, meals, and Netflix. Schedule in your classes and club meetings as recurring events. Overbooking is incredibly common for freshman, and a good calendar can show you how much time you actually have. 

   

   College students have busy schedules.

4. IFTTT (If This Than That). IFTTT allows you to create "recipes" for your phone and online life. Get a text or email when it's going to rain, automatically mute your phone when you get to class, log how much time you spend sitting in your dorm, or keep a searchable spreadsheet of every text you receive. 

   

   A space wallpaper a day keeps the doctor away.

5. Doodle. Create polls to find out what time everyone in your group is available to meet up. Since everybody in college has a crazy schedule this is more useful than you might think, especially for coordinating groups with 10 or more people.

   

   With busy schedules comes complicated scheduling.

6. GroupMe. Create group chats between iPhone, Android, and their website. This is great for working in group projects and clubs. 

   

   You can view your messages online or on the app.

7. Quizlet. Create flashcard sets and then use their different games and quizzes to help you study. This is my favorite way to memorize vocabulary words or formulas, and it's accessible online or on the app. 

   

   Their Space Race game makes learning fun.

   
   
8. Duolingo. Duolingo helps you learn over 10 different languages with proven study tools. Learn them on your own, or use it to help you study for your language courses at Pitt. It was created by CMU students, and is guaranteed to stay free forever. 

   

   They even offer Esperanto!

9. WolframAlpha. Get step by step solutions on your math, physics, engineering, and statistics problems. You can also research hundreds of other fields. 

   

   Hundreds of other fields, like Doctor Who-ology.

10. Khan Academy. Khan Academy claims it can teach you anything, any that's pretty much true. Browse free videos and study guides to help you study for classes like math, science, economics, programming, and even art history. They also offer free help for graduate school entrance exams like the MCAT or GMAT. 

    

    You'll go from subtraction to linear equations in no time!

11. EasyBib. Search for the book, article, or other resource you're using, and automatically create an MLA citation for your bibliographies. If you input multiple resources, it will even alphabetize it for you - all you have to do is copy and paste. 

    

    Why memorize MLA when you can have a computer do it for you?

12. PittCat+. The Pitt Library offers free eBooks and research articles. You can also use their catalog to search for CDs, DVDs, magazines, and print books in any of the school's physical libraries. Also check Google Scholar for more free research articles, and if you don't go to Pitt, see if your school has a similar resource of its own. 

    

    What better way to read free books on the wives of Henry VIII?

13. Your bank's Mobile Banking app. A study found that over 30% of students avoided checking their bank account balance because they were afraid of what they would see - don't let this be you! Mobile Banking makes it extremely easy for you to stay in control of your money. 

    

    I wish my account had this much money.

14. Mint. Mint is a must-have money management app. Input all your bank accounts, loans, and bills, and it will let you track how much you're spending and how much you have left to save. Set savings goals for everything from a next semester's textbooks to a week-long Spring Break vacation. 

    

    Keep track of how poor you are - on the go!

15. Reddit's /r/college and /r/Pitt forums. Reddit is a great resource to ask real students any questions you may have. The /r/Pittsburgh subreddit is also useful for staying updated on cool events in the city. If you don't go to Pitt, here's a list of all the other college subreddits. 

    

    Talk to real students, eager to answer your questions for imaginary internet points.