University is tough. Having to juggle between academics, job-hunting, extra-curricular commitments while adulting is no easy feat. But do not fret! Products exist to make our life better, so why not use them? From organising your life to enhancing your learning, here are 5 useful apps that will make your student life better.

1. Notion

Despite being relatively new, Notion has climbed its way up to become one of the top note-taking apps. It is known for its rich features and high level of customisation, allowing you to create effective notes easily. Additionally, its database feature makes it easier for you to navigate between your notes and organise your life.

Recently, Notion introduced NotionAI, an AI assistant that can help to ease your workflow. This includes summarising and extracting key points from your content, as well as auto filling tables with actionable items. This is a paid add-on feature for Notion members

Website: https://www.notion.so/

Available as: Web, desktop & mobile app

2. ChatPDF

Having trouble doing your readings? ChatPDF makes it easier by processing and breaking down the contents of your PDF for you. This free-to-use AI app works similarly to ChatGPT—just type in questions about your PDF in the chatbot, and it will answer your questions for you. Whether you want it to summarise a long research paper or answer specific questions relating to the paper’s contents, ChatPDF can do it all.

Website: https://www.chatpdf.com/

Available as: Web app

3. Forest

Forest is a well-known productivity app that makes use of the Pomodoro system, (elaborate on pomodoro). The app is simple—by setting a timer, users are not allowed to access other apps in their phone, hence helping users to stay focused and be present. By using the app, users can grow virtual trees and earn coins, which can then be used to help plant real trees in Africa. If you want to do some deep work while helping the environment, Forest is the app for you.

Website: https://www.forestapp.cc/y

Available as: Mobile app and browser extension

4. Read Aloud

Sometimes, we all need a breather from staring at our computers. Read Aloud is a browser extension that converts text-to-speech, so that you can consume articles, PDFs, EPUBs and more in an audio format. It also offers a variety of text-to-speech voices for you to choose from, so you can choose a voice that you like the most. If you are an auditory learner, or if you want to hear your readings recited to you, then Read Aloud is the extension for you.

Website: https://readaloud.app/

Available as: Browser extension

5. Canva

As students, many of us have probably had to create graphics or slide decks at some point. Canva is a simple but excellent tool that does just that. Whether you want to make publicity posters or aesthetic slide decks, Canva will allow you to do just that.

Canva is a freemium platform, but its free tier is often more than enough for the things you need. With Canva for Education, students are also entitled to a larger range of useful templates and designs for use.

Website: https://www.canva.com/

Available as: Web and mobile app

Conclusion

Whether it helps to organise your brain or ease your learning, such products can be very helpful for students. Why not make the best use of these resources?

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