Most college students these days have a smartphone. Whether you’re an incoming freshman looking for a way to connect with your fellow classmates or an upperclassman wanting to stay in shape or jam to music, these free apps can help get you through the semester.

KSU Mobile – For all things Kent State, the KSU Mobile app is what iPhone and Android users will want to download this fall. Students can find information about class schedules, grades, campus utilities, school events and more. KSU Mobile is a user-friendly service that can provide information in a quick setting.

KentWired – The best way to keep up with news from Kent State’s student media. The digital format of KentWired.com allows users to view articles anytime, and this app makes it even easier by putting information right at your fingertips. Recently updated, this app now runs smoother while providing readers easy access to recent and archived articles. 

Belly – Created by Kent State students, Belly is a great app to download this fall. Users can get points and prizes by going to restaurants and stores in downtown Kent and surrounding areas. Belly is a simple to use app that is ultimately rewarding for the customer.

Map My Run – Tracking exercise just became easier. Map My Run uses the GPS built into your smartphone to track fitness activities and stores the information to create a complete workout history. Available for iPhone, Android and limited capability for BlackBerry, this app records workout details including duration, distance, pace, speed, calories burned and route travelled.

Spotify – The Spotify app brings users million of songs, playlists, radio stations and sharable music all in one location. Available for download on mobile devices, tablets and computers, Spotify reaches the needs of its members and can be used at any event. There’s even a student discount for premium use that will eliminate those pesky ads. 

Flipboard – Keeping up with daily news and events can become difficult with busy college schedules. Flipboard customizes the stories and news users view depending on their interests and wants. Available on iPhone, Android, Kindle Fire and NOOK, Flipboard will be the way to keep up with personalized news from around the world.

Any.Do – A to-do-list app that is user friendly and can be managed across multiple devices. Filled with reminders, voice-control availability and web access, this app is the best way to have a checklist you know you can’t lose. Users can set a time to complete a task, and this app makes sure a to-do-list isn’t too overwhelming.

Urbanspoon – Going to college means possibly living in a new city or town. Urbanspoon is filled with more than a million restaurants and reviews. Users simply enter the location they want to search and Urbanspoon uses GPS to show the location and average price of  restaurants.

Dropbox – College students often use Dropbox to share documents with professors or classmates. The app allows users to share photos, documents and videos seamlessly across devices. Whether it is being used for personal memories or class requirements, Dropbox is a simple, and often faster, way for users to share information.

Blackboard Mobile: This app makes checking grades, read professor announcements, post to discussion boards and attach DropBox files to submit. For Kent State students this app is free because our school uses Blackboard. The app is easy to use, as each class is highlighted a different color and automatically updates each semester with new classes.

Google Drive: Google Drive is another aspect of sharing documents Kent State uses frequently. Downloading the app is free and documents, videos and photos can easily be shared across phones, tablets and computers. Google Drive backs up user files so they cannot be lost.

Taylor Williams is a web and copy editor for the Summer Kent Stater.

Contact Taylor at [email protected].