If you find yourself shopping for highlighters and the best planners months before the school year starts— this article was made for you. Using a typical pen and paper for notes seems to be a thing of the past as more students switch over to using electronic devices and applications to take notes effortlessly and efficiently. There are a multitude of benefits to using apps including boosting productivity and reducing certain stressors associated with writing on paper.

The all-in-one app that takes the number one spot on our list is Notion. This app is free and accessible on any device and gives the user total control to create a custom workspace. The user interface of this app might seem daunting at first, however, there are a vast majority of downloadable templates and tutorials on the internet. The user Cozy K on Youtube has created an in-depth tutorial including the basic tools, tips, tricks, and ideas. She also shared her templates for public use in the description section of her video. This app is great because it is fully customizable to best suit your needs as a student. My notion includes an assignment list sorted by the due date, a course calendar, and a note-taking database perfect for storing and organizing notes from each class.

Using an iPad for note-taking allows you to save paper (good for the planet!) and effortlessly save your notes to a cloud-like database. This means never losing your work and having access to it everywhere you go. There are two main apps in this category, and we’ll break them both down for you. Both apps have virtually the same features, and the difference in user experience is what will influence the user’s choice.

The app GoodNotes allows the user to accomplish all of your goals wherever you are, since written notes are viewable and downloadable from any mobile device. The app requires an iPad and an Apple Pencil to take notes. Highlights of GoodNotes include the ability to import stickers to use in in-app notebooks and sorting capabilities using labeled folders and an array of colored notebooks. GoodNotes 5 is currently available to download for $7.99.

The app Notability is in the same category, but comes with slightly different features. Notability’s structure is more closely related to that of a “table of contents” navigation, where you can organize notes based on chapter, heading, subheading, etc. GoodNotes’ structure is more versatile in the sense that you could store a notebook directly on the first page. Notability is available for $8.99 on the App Store.

Sitting down and studying for the next big exam can be difficult at times, but there is a wide variety of study methods available to help you tackle these long study sessions, including the 45/15 rule. It’s easy–and far too common—to lose track of time while scrolling through social media during a study session. This is why Flipd is one of the best study apps out there to keep you on track. This app has multiple time tracking features including a general study timer, a Pomodoro technique timer, custom timers, and more. They also included the ability to create a link to share and use tracked study hours to compete with friends. Open this app the next time you’re completing assignments, studying for an exam, or just getting stuff done and watch your productivity skyrocket. This app and all aforementioned functions are free, but an in-app premium membership is available to unlock even more.

As we transition away from paper and into an electronic world, more and more features and functions become available to maximize productivity and increase efficiency. There are a wide variety of apps available and the options are endless. It is not necessary to purchase the most expensive device, but do utilize the endless applications available today. They allow for complete customization and are a great tool to help you succeed in college. Above all, remember to keep trying new methods to find what works best for you!

Written by: Kritsta Bryant, Photography: Flora Patteson, Design: Jade Sung, Social Media: Zoe Tsouklas

Paper Is In The Past