I'm in the process of back to school shopping and I think what bothers me the most about it, is that the things that are on sale are things that you don't really need. As a college student, you don't really need a binder or a notebook because you have a laptop. While some professors tell you not to use laptops in their class, they are few and far between. So, I would like to aid you, if you have a Mac (I think I'll release a PC version of this article soon), here are a few programs that you can use if you are feeling like you need a little organization for back to school.
1. Evernote (Free!)
I know I have spoken great praises about this program before in my post about the 5 Best Mac / Android Sync Apps; however, It has been very beneficial to me when I have needed to do research for a project, or even share notes with a classmate. It is set up into Notebooks, which in turn have Notes, like a notebook would have pages. The best thing about it is the versatility of it, there are plugins for the most popular browsers and applications for both PC and Mac and various mobile devices. A new feature that has been added with the newest update is audio notes, which makes recording lectures a breeze, letting one type notes, and fill in the rest later when reviewing.
2. Circus Ponies' Notebook (29.99, special education pricing)
Though it doesn't sync with anything but the iPhone, it is still a great notebook, with features such as search and a index that keeps track of the words used and in what quantity, and other great things. With a two different ways to search, this notebook is higher preferable to paper, because of the sheer ease of the search and of the organization. Instead of running out of paper when you make sections for each class in a five subject notebook, there is limitless space, (well as much as your hard drive can handle). With features, like sticky notes and graph making, it really is as handy as a real paper notebook, without the hassle of losing it, because of the auto save feature.
3. Opus Domini (8.99, Mac App Store)
This personal planner sync with iCal and gives one a place to plan out projects and goals. There is a lite (free) version of it as well, but they are pretty much the same thing. There is a section of blank space on each day which allows you take notes, write reminders for later, or anything else you want to do. It looks like a planner, and you will feel more organized when you use it.
4. Stickies (Comes with the Mac)
The little sticky notes can take permanent residence on your desktop, as a constant reminder of whatever it is that you need to do. You can make them into different colors and different sizes. I was never a big fan of sticky notes because they could never quite stick to the places that I wanted them to. Not sticky enough. However, this is perfect. Especially because it doesn't take up much RAM, which means that you have as many notes on your desktop as you want.
Because I'm not a PC user, I want to know what, you who are, use.
Post in the comments about applications that you have found that have helped you get organized over the years. The best ones will be featured in the next post.
1. Evernote (Free!)
I know I have spoken great praises about this program before in my post about the 5 Best Mac / Android Sync Apps; however, It has been very beneficial to me when I have needed to do research for a project, or even share notes with a classmate. It is set up into Notebooks, which in turn have Notes, like a notebook would have pages. The best thing about it is the versatility of it, there are plugins for the most popular browsers and applications for both PC and Mac and various mobile devices. A new feature that has been added with the newest update is audio notes, which makes recording lectures a breeze, letting one type notes, and fill in the rest later when reviewing.2. Circus Ponies' Notebook (29.99, special education pricing)
Though it doesn't sync with anything but the iPhone, it is still a great notebook, with features such as search and a index that keeps track of the words used and in what quantity, and other great things. With a two different ways to search, this notebook is higher preferable to paper, because of the sheer ease of the search and of the organization. Instead of running out of paper when you make sections for each class in a five subject notebook, there is limitless space, (well as much as your hard drive can handle). With features, like sticky notes and graph making, it really is as handy as a real paper notebook, without the hassle of losing it, because of the auto save feature.3. Opus Domini (8.99, Mac App Store)
This personal planner sync with iCal and gives one a place to plan out projects and goals. There is a lite (free) version of it as well, but they are pretty much the same thing. There is a section of blank space on each day which allows you take notes, write reminders for later, or anything else you want to do. It looks like a planner, and you will feel more organized when you use it.4. Stickies (Comes with the Mac)
The little sticky notes can take permanent residence on your desktop, as a constant reminder of whatever it is that you need to do. You can make them into different colors and different sizes. I was never a big fan of sticky notes because they could never quite stick to the places that I wanted them to. Not sticky enough. However, this is perfect. Especially because it doesn't take up much RAM, which means that you have as many notes on your desktop as you want.
Because I'm not a PC user, I want to know what, you who are, use.
Post in the comments about applications that you have found that have helped you get organized over the years. The best ones will be featured in the next post.
