15 Must-Have Apps for Every Penn Stater

When I first decided to come to Penn State, I know the first thing I did was go to the app store.  I wanted to find every college and Penn State themed app I could find so I would be prepared for my first day.  Of course, some of the apps I found are now collecting dust on my home screen.  Luckily for you, I’ve compiled a list of some of the most helpful apps I own (all free of course) in order to create the “15 Must-Have Apps for Every Penn Stater”. 

PENN STATE:

MyState (iPhone only)

If you can’t find your first class or just want to know where a nearby restaurant is, MyState has you covered.  It is extremely helpful for finding just about anything both on and off campus.  MyState will be a lifesaver when looking for your classroom buildings your first week!

Dining@PSU

Large campus = endless dining opportunities.  Dining@PSU makes it easy to see what’s on the menu at each of our four different dining commons.  You can even set it to notify you when your favorite meal is being served on campus.  It’s always a good day when I see Buffalo Chicken Pizza pop up on my phone. 

myStop

Because we have such a large campus, Penn State has a bus system (CATA bus) that can take you to various locations around campus.  The myStop app contains a map of the different bus routes and where each bus is currently located.  This is extremely helpful if you’re running late to that far-away class.  (Hint: The free buses are the Blue and White Loops)

myLinks at State

LionPath, Angel, Webmail.  Penn State has a numerous amount of important websites.  myLinks conveniently gathers them all onto one app.  This app was actually created by a current PSU computer science student!  

Penn State Sports Gameday Live

If you’re a die-hard PSU sports fan, this app makes your fanatics a little easier to manage.  It has everything you’ll need to know about Penn State athletics.  Game times, scores, rosters, and much more!  

SCHOOL/ORGANIZATION:

The Homework App (iPhone only)

The HW app is the best way to keep track of your homework assignments and exam dates.  It is color coordinated for each subject, can be set to remind you of important due dates, and is extremely user-friendly.  This is by far my most used app during the school year.

Pocket Points

Pocket Points is a great way to keep you off your phone during classes.  If you open the app, it will detect if you are in a classroom and begin giving you “points” as soon as you lock your phone.  The longer you’re locked; the more points you earn.  The points can be exchanged for various discounts at local stores and restaurants. 

GroupMe

GroupMe is a necessity for every Penn Stater.  It is a group messaging app widely used across campus.  It is the easiest way to work on group projects or organize club meetings without your phone constantly buzzing.

Office Lens

Office Lens is great for online homework submissions.  You simply take a picture of your written homework and the app will clean up the picture by cropping and enhancing it.  The picture can then be instantly converted into a PDF, the file type most professors will ask for. 

Evernote

Evernote is one of the best notetaking apps on the market.  It makes it extremely simple to bring an iPad, for example, to class and free yourself of a notebook.  This also makes it super easy to access your notes on any of your devices.

Miscellaneous

Mint

As college will be the first time most of you are living on your own, Mint will be a very beneficial tool.  It helps you to manage your money and budget your spending.  With Mint, you’ll be able to enjoy dining out without worrying about affordability! 

Venmo

Venmo is the easiest way to split costs or pay back your friends at school.  It connects to your bank account so you can easily deposit into other accounts.  Whether you’re sharing an Uber ride or forgot to bring your wallet to dinner, Venmo makes the process of paying your friends back much simpler.

AccuWeather

The weather in Happy Valley can be extremely unpredictable.  I have personally been caught in the rain without an umbrella one too many times.  Therefore, I would strongly recommend a reliable weather app.  Any in-depth weather app will do, but AccuWeather is a great choice, especially since it’s headquartered in State College!

Timely (Android only)

Timely is an app for the heavy sleepers worried about sleeping through their early morning classes.  My roommate swears by this app.  It gradually wakes you up by first softly playing an alarm before the time you want to be awake.  Little by little it gets louder so as to progressively wake you up on time.

MyFitnessPal

The freshman 15 is a real and dangerous threat.  MyFitnessPal helps you to track your food intake to keep yourself healthy and focused!  You can enter your meals and exercise to manage your calories and stay on a fit track. Fitness is extremely important to a strong mind, and can be easily overlooked if you’re not careful. 

These apps have really helped me throughout my time at Penn State so far.  I hope they help you as much as they did for me and aid in making your transition here a little easier.  Now start downloading!

Mary Hicks is a junior majoring in Computer Science and is a Mentor for WEPO'16!

How to Survive and Imperfect Roommate

You've been dreaming of your first day of college for as long as you can remember.  You picked your major, posters are hung, classes are scheduled, and, best of all, your roommate is perfect.  But what if she's not?  Don't panic!  Here are five helpful "How to Survive an Imperfect Roommate" tips.

1. STAY POSITIVE          

It's tempting to let everyday annoyances get the best of you.  Try to keep things in perspective and you'd be surprised at how a positive disposition can overcome almost anything.  Along with positivity comes respect.  Respect is often reciprocated; so she'll likely mirror your upbeat attitude.

2. COMMUNICATE

Sometimes, it all comes down to being able to communicate with one another.  Obviously that means talking to one another about what's on your mind, no matter how trivial.  Silence can be dangerous.  If you don't speak up, the little quirks will turn into major issues.

3. HAVE AN OUTLET

Maybe you thought it was idyllic to spend every waking moment with your roommate; think again.  Sometimes you need a place (or a person) to vent that won't cause hurt feelings.  This could be a friend from home, a parent, a journal, or even an hour at the gym.  Don't ever let it get to the point where you're about to explode.

4. ASK FOR HELP

You're not the first person to have this problem and there are resources especially for this situation.  Don't be too timid to take advantage of them.  For example, your RA is very qualified and experienced in dorm life.  Your WEPO mentor is another person you can turn to for guidance.

The point is, you're not alone and help is always near.

5. KNOW WHEN TO MAKE A CHANGE

While it's a good idea to try to work through your compatibility issues, it's not a good idea to risk your happiness for the sake of not giving up.  If your roommate problem escalates to the point where it interferes with your schoolwork, health (can't sleep; anxious), or overall peace of mind then don't ignore these more serious signs. You're allowed to make a change, and you probably should.

Mary Hicks is a sophomore majoring in Computer Science, and is a Rover for WEPO'15!