I'm now nearing the end of my 3rd semester at The University of North Texas and I'd say I've learned a thing or two about how to thrive academically since I started last August. I'm by no means a perfect student, but I feel like I have finally found a study method that works for me and it's wonderful watching my hard work pay off. So without further ado, I'd love to share my school essentials with you. Keep in mind that I went paperless last year, so I really only use technology. I understand that not everyone can do this, but it has worked well for me! Going paperless is a great way to save trees, stay organized, and save time, so I absolutely recommend it to anyone who has the resources.
My Apple "Ecosystem"
I have an iPhone, iPad Air, Magic Keyboard, Apple Pencil, & AirPod Pros. I use each of these products almost every single day, and I have rarely ever needed to reach for my old PC since starting college. The only time a PC has been necessary for me has been on the rare occasion that an exam requires a lockdown browser, but in every other situation, my iPad has been more than capable. I hand-wrote all of my notes with the Apple Pencil last school year, but I now exclusively type them using the Magic Keyboard. I love both of those products, but if you're on a tight budget there are plenty of dupes that perform similarly! I also have a Paperfeel screen protector, which I would recommend to anyone planning on using the apple pencil. My AirPods have been another essential, but if I hadn't received them as a gift I probably wouldn't have purchased a pair on my own budget. My wired headphones work just fine in a pinch, but the AirPod Pros have incredible noise cancellation and sound quality. Sometimes I have long walks to class and having music playing in my ears makes that experience infinitely more enjoyable.
Goodnotes
I'll be the first girl to admit that I used to prioritize my notes being aesthetically pleasing over all else. You know those TikToks where they'll be writing notes in pink cursive but the subject is something dark like The Black Death? Yeah, that's still me... But now that I use Goodnotes, I don't have to compromise aesthetics for accuracy anymore! I can type out my notes during lectures, catch up on my textbook readings when I get home, and then go back in later to organize it however I'd like to. I have designated colors for each class, custom-themed notebooks for each semester, & several planners in Goodnotes. The possibilities for what you can do in this app are endless & I couldn’t recommend it more! I tried several other notetaking apps at first and none of them even came close to Goodnotes. Their interface is straightforward and simple, but it provides pretty much every feature you could ask for in a notetaking app. They have even recently added a community feature in which you can share notes you've taken or templates that you've created!
Pomodoro Method Study With Me Videos
I've always struggled with time management and my ability to stay focused when studying, but this semester I finally cracked the code! I stumbled upon The Sherry Formula's Pomodoro Method videos on YouTube and I rarely study without them now. If you've never heard of the Pomodoro Method, it's a study method in which you break your work time into chunks with small breaks in between. This usually means ~25 minute study sessions with ~5 minute breaks in between. My favorite video is about 3 hours long and I find this to be the perfect amount of time before I need to take a longer break. When I study with these videos I don't feel tempted to pick up my phone and start scrolling anymore! I just work through the designated study times and then 5 minutes is usually enough time for me to get my screen time in. I also love feeling like I have a study partner even if I'm all by myself. There's just something about it that's very motivating and if you've never tried this method before, I strongly urge you to give it a chance!
Quizlet
I'm gonna keep it real for a second... I almost never created my own Quizlet sets in high school. I'd use other people's that I found through searching or maybe my friends would share theirs with me, but I was just never proactive enough to make my own. Since starting college I have really learned how to utilize Quizlet and I'm so thankful for how much it has helped me improve my study habits. If my textbook has a list of vocabulary for each chapter, I'll make a Quizlet. If my professor makes a Kahoot review, I'll make a Quizlet. There are so many different features in the app that aid in memorization and I really believe there's something that works for every student. The regular flashcard feature is an oldie but a goodie, and I also love the matching feature. Quizlet can make practice quizzes for you, but this isn't the best option if your study sets are longer than 20 terms or so. If you want extra features like customized study plans or the ability to scan documents, you might be interested in a paid membership but I have never been let down by the classic app.
Grammarly
I'm generally pretty good with spelling and grammar, but for some reason, I'm also constantly anxious that my writing makes no sense. Is anyone with me? Luckily, Grammarly is always there to reassure me before I finalize my assignments! It isn't flawless so I don't follow its advice 100% of the time, but I still find it to be extremely helpful when I'm working on writing assignments. I probably would enjoy some of the premium features, but I've done just fine with the free version thus far. My favorite feature is definitely the tone reader because it really helps me get an idea of how my readers will understand and interpret my writing. There is also an iOS keyboard and Chrome extension, but I prefer to let Grammarly do its thing after I've done my own proofreading. If you struggle with spelling and punctuation, then you would probably really enjoy using the keyboard! I personally just rely more on Grammarly's suggestions for simplifying my writing and getting its tone to be appropriate.
If anyone is considering going paperless and has questions of any kind, feel free to contact me! I'm always trying out new apps and I'd love to share them with you! :)
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