Hey everyone! It’s great to be back in Iowa City after a long summer filled with friends, pools, and campfires, and it’s equally as exciting to now be a sophomore!

Coming back, though, wasn’t nearly as hard as trying to decide what I wanted to write about for my first blog post back in town. I considered writing something about returning to dorm life since I decided to live in the dorms again this year, but I couldn’t seem to find an angle that hasn’t already been done before. For those of you who are already familiar with my page, you know that my posts aren’t always… typical.

Frustrated after I spent a couple days brainstorming this post, I sat back in my chair and reached for my phone. I was looking for a distraction but ended up coming up with an idea instead. Every day, in some way, shape, or form, I use my phone here at Iowa. Okay, yes, I like to check how many comments I got on my Insta post, or just scroll mindlessly on TikTok, but here at Iowa, technology is becoming an avenue to help make your adjustment to college just a bit easier. And for me, there are ten apps in particular that I think are worth downloading before you step foot on campus.

HawkTools

This may be a required app here you need to download, but that’s because it offers so much right at your fingertips! For incoming students, you’re able to find a variety of maps to explore campus, instructions on how to figure out the Iowa City bus system, the menus for all the dining halls, news on any upcoming events and where they’d be, and the application for NiteRide; basically free Uber for UIowa students anywhere in the city! It’s all things Iowa in one place which, for people who are new to the city and college in general, can be incredibly helpful.

Transit

As I just mentioned, the Hawktools app may give you instructions on how to read the bus system, but Transit is the actual app that the system is on! I remember last year how hard it was trying to figure out the app by myself, but once I did, there was no going back! I use the app on cold Iowa winter mornings when I’m too lazy to walk the five to ten minutes downtown, or sometimes, I take it as far as Fieldhouse on the west side of campus to get a good workout in. Knowing the bus system has allowed me to stay warm, save some energy, and yes, made me feel like an adult in a city. There are even some buses that will take even you to the Coralville mall if you’re interested in getting out of Iowa City and doing some shopping or watching a new movie in the theater with friends. Overall, it’s just a great app to have!

The Starbucks App

I know my teenage girl side is coming out right now, but listen… this is essential. For those of you who don’t know, there is a Starbucks located right across the street from Voxman, the School of Music. Since it’s so close to campus, everyone makes it a point to snatch their favorite Starbucks drink before heading to class which can sometimes lead to long lines. So, rather than being late to class because you had to wait in a line nearly out the door, I’d definitely download the Starbucks app to stay hydrated and punctual.

(For those of you who are Dunkin lovers, don’t worry, there is also a Dunkin Donuts about two blocks down and across from the Pentacrest.)

Dispo

Okay, another app that really isn’t “necessary,” but I swear by it. I mentioned earlier that I like having a strong Insta game here, and an app I recently discovered this summer that’s helped with that is Dispo! Over the summer, all of me and my friends downloaded the app, took pictures that the app would filter, and which gave them such a cute and fun summer vibe! The other cool feature in Dispo is the ability to create a film “roll” with your friends who also have the app, which is a great way to share photos without having to message them to everyone separately. I definitely recommend getting the app if you’re looking to give your Insta a nice spin for your college years.

Huji

Yes, I know, another app that isn’t reallyyyy necessary, but it is great for pictures. This one has a vintage filter put over it, and again, it’s super cute if you want to spice up your social media game. You can’t share rolls with your friends in this app, but I still think it’s cool to have.

GroupMe

Back to actual college essentials, this is definitely one of them. If you decide to join a club or organization on campus (I highly recommend you do!) you’ll quickly find that most of them use GroupMe to communicate. You can download the app on your phone and your laptop, or both. It serves as a great way to reach people who may not have the same phone types and serves as an efficient way to get in touch.

Slack

I guarantee that if the club you join doesn’t use GroupMe, they definitely use Slack. Slack is another app used to communicate and is actually making its way into the workforce. Nice way to get ahead, you know? It’s also accessible on your phone and laptop, and it’s just an overall way to make everyone connected under one app.

Venmo

There will be a day when you’re with your friends, craving some Pancheros, and have a dollar and twenty-three cents in your pocket. The nice thing about Venmo is that you can connect your bank account/credit card to the app, add your friends, and easily pay people back when they buy a classic Pancheros meal for you. It’s a lot quicker than trying to scour dollar bills in your dorm room or trying to keep track of how many people you owe money to. I promise, pretty much every college student has Venmo, so don’t be the one person left behind!

Life360

I’m sure the parents reading this are nodding their heads and grinning while the students are frowning at the screen, but I promise, you can have fun with this app! I and my group of friends have our own separate group on the app, and we’ve had a lot of fun changing the names of certain locations and making it so we get a notification when someone reaches those places. Yes, the app is used for safety, which is always good to have anywhere you go, but there’s no harm in using it for a good laugh to see when your friends are spending way too much money at their favorite store.

BeReal

Last but not least, one of my favorite apps at the moment is BeReal. It’s taken the world by storm over the past couple of months, and for good reason! This is another silly one to add, but if you get all of your college friends (and hometown ones!) on the app, it’s a really cool way to see what people are up to at random points of the day. I also think it’s a great way to show that people do the mundane; their lives aren’t always glamorous and fun when they’re studying! I definitely recommend getting the app so that you have something to look forward to every day.

Conclusion

That’s all I have for some essential apps I recommend for college. If you download some of these apps before you step onto campus, I guarantee your life will be a bit easier as you adjust to your new life. Thanks for sticking it out and I hope this was helpful!