Five most practical apps for students

When you are supposed to be studying Philosophy and the only thing you have on your mind is whether or not someone has “liked” your photo on Facebook, the app just seems to be calling your name. You check your phone 34 times a day out of habit and/or compulsion anyway. If you’d rather make the most of your procrastination, try going to the app store to get these practical apps.

1. Twitter. If used correctly, it can keep you updated and informed on almost everything going on in the world. From the latest breaking news from all of your favorite sources that might include ABC, NBC, CBS, Associated Press, CNN or the BBC, to hearing what everyone around the world thought about Beyonce’s “Bootylicious” performance at the Super Bowl, Twitter has your back. If you choose to use it as a social media outlet, it can connect you with everyday moments from your friends across the world. If you choose to use it professionally, it can help you network with officials and leaders from your dream job. Any way you choose, Twitter can help you become an informed college student ready to take on the world. #Thingstomakeyourlifeeasier  ops logo

2. Pandora. You don’t have to pay for it, lengthy advertisements aren’t a factor and it fits your mood. Sometimes you just don’t feel like being your own disc jockey. Leave it to Pandora. Enough said.

3. TextNow. Going abroad can be a lot less scary (and expensive) with the free texting app TextNow. No need for long distance messaging charges when you can use this Wi-Fi-based app to help beat homesickness or even just to get around buying a international phone. Yes, the iPhone’s iMessage system may work well for those on the Apple bandwagon, but when you’re trying to communicate for free outside the Macintosh realm, TextNow is your answer. Sign up, create a username, enter your area code and you will be assigned a random phone number to text from when connected to Wi-Fi. This factor might be the app’s biggest downfall, but really, who needs to text constantly when you’re relaxing on the lawn in front of the Eiffel Tower or boating across a lake on top of a volcano in Ecuador anyway?

4. Chipotle. Let’s be honest. The majority of our eXpress money goes to the Chipotle restaurant on Ford Parkway. Just thinking about the steaming rice and seasoned carnitas makes the mouth water. What college student has time to cook? Because Chipotle’s a popular joint, there’s nothing more infuriating than seeing a line out the door for the dinner-time rush. How to beat the crowd? Here’s a secret: there’s an app for that. To get started, simply choose the Chipotle nearest you and enter your order as if you were going through the actual restaurant line. All menu options are listed. You then enter in your payment info and what time you’re picking it up. Now, you’ll be getting a line-full of evil eyes when you go straight to the cash register to pick up your fat burrito and tortilla chips.

5. MyFitnessPal. If there was ever a savior for the college student’s diet, it’s MyFitnessPal, an app that uses calorie tracking as weight goal tool. The daily calorie diary can be a wake-up call to food choices. One piece of Domino’s pizza for dinner rarely leaves me satisfied, but tacks on a whopping 280 calories to the daily calorie count. On the other hand, I could eat nearly 135 carrots, all for under 280 calories, and definitely be more than stuffed. Thanks to MyFitnessPal, I’ll stick with with the carrots. The instant gratification of a daily net calorie count is more practical for long-term success than a stubborn number on the scale. Nothing is more satisfying after a hard workout than seeing the app subtract the amount of calories burned.

Now you have it. Five apps that can make your procrastination worthwhile.

Hannah Anderson, Hayley Schnell, Briggs LeSavage and Heidi Enninga collaborated for this report.