As the No. 1 school for computer science majors and a meager 50-mile hop away from Silicon Valley, UC Berkeley students are known for their tech savvy. Even if you are terrified of the very concept of coding, today’s smartphone apps allow for even the average Joe on campus to feel like a tech wizard. Here are a few of the most important apps to download on your smartphone to stay on top of your busy schedule:
Bank App
You’ve probably heard a million horror stories about the struggle that is the broke college student’s life. How do you make sure you don’t get swipe crazy and run through your tuition before school even begins? Download your bank’s app. Bank of America’s app, for example, allows you to see your bank statements and even allows you to deposit checks by simply taking a picture of them. This way, by regularly checking your account, you can see exactly how many Seniore’s runs you’re guilty of.
Todoist
The freedom that comes with college is often a blessing and a curse. While no one nags you about cleaning your room, teachers rarely hold your hand and remind you about the 40-page paper you haven’t started that is due in a week. By having an agenda of what to do when, you’ll avoid those late assignments and unnecessary grade deductions. It could even help you keep track of important dates and events — like the next big gameday.
Next Bus
If you haven’t already heard, as great as AC Transit is, it’s never on time. This app helps you predict when the next bus will arrive — which hopefully means you won’t miss it. But let’s face it, chances are, you will. It’s just a fact of life that you’ll have to swallow.
Venmo
We still don’t understand why the idea of “cash” exists. During an age in which cloning is a possibility, why isn’t everything plastic yet? For students who rarely carry cash but still want to be able to split a huge plate of rice at Tuk Tuk Thai, we recommend getting the Venmo app. It’s a great way to pay your friends back for food, alcohol, rent, etc. Unless you visit those pesky but delicious Asian Ghetto locations, you may never need to carry cash again.
Google Maps
You will get lost. Multiple times. Maybe even within campus. Google Maps will save your life by getting you from point A to point B.
Spotify
Music is expensive, and as we mentioned before, the average college student is broke. Spotify understands this and tries to help out by giving you access to free music. This app can keep you company on those long, lonely walks to your 8 a.m. classes.
Yelp
There are so many stores, restaurants and places of interest around Berkeley that the options can be overwhelming. If you don’t trust your crazy friends’ opinions on these locations, go ahead and check out Yelp for what strangers have to say about it. So far, we agree with their opinion that Brazil Cafe may be the best sandwich shop to ever exist.
Buzzfeed
We don’t advocate being distracted in class; but for those lectures where paying attention is just as realistic as seeing a reunion movie of F.R.I.E.N.D.S., download the Buzzfeed app. If these quizzes don’t keep you entertained during an hour of having to listen to exactly how Bonobos mate, you’ve reached a sad point of no return.
Find My Phone/Find My iPhone
College students are notorious for being dumb and losing things — especially when alcohol is in the mix. Did you leave your $500 iPhone at that one party and have no idea where it is now? Go to your laptop and access the Find My iPhone app to see the coordinates of where that sucker is.
Chegg
For $15 a month, Chegg gives students the opportunity to rent books online rather than buy them for ridiculous sums of money. With more than 2.5 million books in its library, it’s worth taking a look at. Just think about it this way — the more money you save by avoiding high textbook costs, the more money you have for Taco Tuesdays at Cafe Durant.