Going off to school can be a pretty exciting time, but it can be scary, too. You are on your own, with no one to take care of you or help you out. Fortunately, most of the things you need to survive away from home are often just a mobile app away. Below is a list of (mostly) free apps a student’s survival kit should include.

1) Merriam-Webster Dictionary

One of the first things you need is an English dictionary. You can look up unfamiliar words, find synonyms, listen to how a word is pronounced correctly, or see how it is spelled. The app makes it easy to do all these things, and even offer quizzes and word of the day to help you beef up on your vocabulary. It is free to use with iOS, Android, and Windows device.

Pro: This online dictionary has voice search, which allows you to search for a word without spelling it.

Con: It may be a useful app, but it as limitation of 1,000-word query per day.

Rating: 4.5/5

2) Goodbudget

Budget keeping may not be your best strength, so you need to have something like this app to keep you from overspending. Available free for iOS and Android devices, this personal budget software lets you plan your budget instead of just keeping track of it. It uses the envelope method for divvying up your money for rent, utilities, groceries, emergencies, and so on. You just have to sign up for the free account, which comes with 20 (10 regular+10 more) envelopes and syncs up to two devices.

Pro: This app would show you where your money was being spent, with pie charts to help you analyze your spending habits.

Con: Self-control might require more than good advice from the Internet.

Rating: 4/5

3) CampusBooks

Need a book right now, and have no idea where to get it? CampusBooks comes to the rescue! Available for iOS and Android users, it searches for the lowest prices for books and textbooks (rent or buy) and the nearest places from which to get them. Additionally, it will help you offload your old textbooks for the highest prices possible.

Pro: This app saves you time and money, as it shows prices from different sites.

Con: You may rely on your local library when it comes to hard-to-find titles, and you might need it right away.

Rating: 3.5/5

4) Sleep Cycle

Getting the right kind of sleep is all-important when it comes to learning, so the free version of this app is the perfect companion for you. Available for iOS and Android users, it monitors your sleep rhythm using your smartphone’s microphone and accelerometer (when available) to determine when to wake you up within the period you set. This ensures you get the best sleep quality possible without making you late for your classes.

Pro: You'll be able to keep track of a regular sleeping schedule.

Con: There are nights when it takes you longer to fall asleep, even insomnia in one (or two) instances. It happens.

Rating: 5/5

5) Circle of 6

Nervous about being away from home? The Circle of 6 app bands you with up to six of your closest friends so you can keep each other safe. Available for iOS and Android users, different icons represent different pre-programmed texts to send to your circle using two taps. For example, the Pin icon asks for a pickup at your GPS location., while the Phone icon sends a request for a call back for a needed interruption.

Pro: Isolation or safety won't be a problem, as you have six trusted people to rely on.

Con: The app can give a sense of false assurance at times. It's also hard to tell if your so-called friends are sincere at all.

Rating: 4/5

6) Office Lens

This free app for Windows, iOS, and Android devices is your best friend when it comes to taking down notes. It takes a photo of anything with text such as the blackboard or documents and saves it as editable and shareable text (Word, PDF, or PowerPoint) on your device. You no longer have to deal with cramps writing down notes, or lug around hard copies of lecture notes and textbooks.

Pro: You can scan documents, whiteboard, and cards, making them readable and editable.

Con: You'll have a problem with curved surfaces, even complicated business cards.

Rating: 3.5/5

7) myHomework Student Planner

Staying organized can be tough when you have to juggle classes, extracurricular activities, and a social life. This free app for iOS, Android, Windows, and Chromebook keeps you on the straight and narrow by organizing the schedule of your classes, homework, tests, project deadlines, and other academic requirements. The free plan does all this, but if you want to sync it with your other calendars or add attachments, fork over $4.99 for the premium version.

Pro: Coursework may be a walk in a park.

Con: Some students see it as perfect, but it's still a work in progress. It will be minor issues only.

Rating: 4.5/5

8) Mathway

If you struggle with math as most people on the planet do, you will love this free math problem solver app for iOS and Android. Simply snap a photo or type in the math problem giving you a headache and the app will solve it for you if it can. You can get the answer for different types of math problems, from Basic Math to Calculus. If you need a step-by-step guide on how to get the answer, though, you will have to pay.

Pro: Students struggling with math have the opportunity to learn more after class is over.

Con: This app provides solutions, and some students may use it to "cheat" their way to a good mark.

Rating: 4.5/5

9) Simplemind

Do you have a paper to write? Of course you do, and probably more than one with the same deadline. The biggest problem is not the writing, however. It is organizing your thoughts and materials so you can visually map out your strategy for tackling each project. Simplemind is a simple yet powerful mind mapping software that does precisely that, even with the free version. You can create a mind map manually or using an auto layout directly on your smartphone and save to Dropbox.

Pro: Understanding complex concepts won't be a problem anymore.

Con: Some students think best whenever they are away from the computer screen.

Rating: 4/5

10) EasyBib No one likes to do the bibliography or reference pages for academic papers. It takes a long time to do, and it is easy to make a mistake. You can send it to a service such as Essays scholaradvisor to do it for you, or you can try out the free EasyBib app for Android and iOS. It automatically generates citations in 55 different formats when you put in the title or URL of the source, or scan the ISBN using your camera. You do have to check if the fields are filled in completely, and if you happen to need it in APA or other advanced formats, you need the paid version.

Pro: Creating bibliography will be a painless process, as you only need to fill in book titles.

Con: Some sites may be better - and free.

Rating: 4/5

Laura Buckler is a writer and a part-time English teacher. She regularly contributes helpful articles to the school blog as well as other student-oriented sites to help them cope with school life.

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It’s tough to gain admission to Yale University, and it’s getting even tougher for international students as standout students from around the world set their sights on Yale.

The Yale Dale News, the campus newspaper, takes a look at the situation here.

Read the full story here.

Ruth Chane, a computer science major from Ethiopia, writes about her experiences settling into student life at Whitman College in the U.S. state of Washington.

"The community at Whitman College made sure I felt welcomed even before I stepped foot on campus," she says.

Read her essay here.

In The Student Life, the student newspaper for the Claremont Colleges, a consortium of five liberal art colleges and two graduate schools in Claremont, California, student Rochelle Lu writes about readjusting to her Shanghai home after spending a semester in the United States.

Read the full story here.

Cedarville University in the U.S. state of Ohio says it’s got more than 140 international students representing 44 countries.

Here, the school interviews Jonathan Sutton, director of international student services. He talks about his job and the opportunities for international students on campus.

Read the full article here.

Morehouse College, a private, historically Black liberal arts college in the U.S. state of Georgia, offers a guide for international students interested in attending the school.

Among the tips to apply and thrive at Morehouse:

• Take advantage of the school’s orientation program
• Turn to the school’s Center for Academic Success for tutoring, support and more
• Immerse yourself in campus life via clubs and societies

Read the full article here.

The administration of President Donald Trump said on Monday it will review Columbia University's federal contracts and grants over allegations of antisemitism, which it says the educational institution has shown inaction in tackling.

Rights advocates note rising antisemitism, Islamophobia and anti-Arab bias since U.S. ally Israel's devastating military assault on Gaza began after Palestinian Hamas militants' deadly October 2023 attack.

The Justice Department said a month ago it formed a task force to fight antisemitism. The U.S. Departments of Health and Education and the General Services Administration jointly made the review announcement on Monday.

"The Federal Government's Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism is considering Stop Work Orders for $51.4 million in contracts between Columbia University and the Federal Government," the joint statement said.

The agencies said no contracting actions had been taken yet.

"The task force will also conduct a comprehensive review of the more than $5 billion in federal grant commitments to Columbia University."

The agencies did not respond to requests for comment on whether there were similar reviews over allegations of Islamophobia and anti-Arab bias.

Columbia had no immediate comment. It previously said it made efforts to tackle antisemitism.

College protests

Trump has signed an executive order to combat antisemitism and pledged to deport non-citizen college students and others who took part in pro-Palestinian protests.

Columbia was at the center of college protests in which demonstrators demanded an end to U.S. support for Israel due to the humanitarian crisis caused by Israel's assault on Gaza. There were allegations of antisemitism and Islamophobia in protests and counter-protests.

During last summer's demonstrations around the country, classes were canceled, some university administrators resigned and student protesters were suspended and arrested.

While the intensity of protests has decreased in recent months, there were some demonstrations last week in New York after the expulsion of two students at Columbia University-affiliated Barnard College and after New York Governor Kathy Hochul ordered the removal of a Palestinian studies job listing at Hunter College.

A third student at Barnard College has since been expelled, this one related to the occupation of the Hamilton Hall building at Columbia last year.

The Trump administration is opening new investigations into allegations of antisemitism at five U.S. universities including Columbia and the University of California, Berkeley, the Education Department announced Monday.

It's part of President Donald Trump's promise to take a tougher stance against campus antisemitism and deal out harsher penalties than the Biden administration, which settled a flurry of cases with universities in its final weeks. It comes the same day the Justice Department announced a new task force to root out antisemitism on college campuses.

In an order signed last week, Trump called for aggressive action to fight anti-Jewish bias on campuses, including the deportation of foreign students who have participated in pro-Palestinian protests.

Along with Columbia and Berkeley, the department is now investigating the University of Minnesota, Northwestern University and Portland State University. The cases were opened using the department's power to launch its own civil rights reviews, unlike the majority of investigations, which stem from complaints.

Messages seeking comment were left with all five universities.
A statement from the Education Department criticized colleges for tolerating antisemitism after Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel and a wave of pro-Palestinian protests that followed. It also criticized the Biden administration for negotiating "toothless" resolutions that failed to hold schools accountable.

"Today, the Department is putting universities, colleges, and K-12 schools on notice: this administration will not tolerate continued institutional indifference to the wellbeing of Jewish students on American campuses," said Craig Trainor, the agency's acting assistant secretary for civil rights.

The department didn't provide details about the inquiries or how it decided which schools are being targeted. Presidents of Columbia and Northwestern were among those called to testify on Capitol Hill last year as Republicans sought accountability for allegations of antisemitism. The hearings contributed to the resignation of multiple university presidents, including Columbia's Minouche Shafik.

An October report from House Republicans accused Columbia of failing to punish pro-Palestinian students who took over a campus building, and it called Northwestern's negotiations with student protesters a "stunning capitulation."

House Republicans applauded the new investigations. Representative Tim Walberg, chair of the Education and Workforce Committee, said he was "glad that we finally have an administration who is taking action to protect Jewish students."

Trump's order also calls for a full review of antisemitism complaints filed with the Education Department since Oct. 7, 2023, including pending and resolved cases from the Biden administration. It encourages the Justice Department to take action to enforce civil rights laws.

Last week's order drew backlash from civil rights groups who said it violated First Amendment rights that protect political speech.

The new task force announced Monday includes the Justice and Education departments along with Health and Human Services.

"The Department takes seriously our responsibility to eradicate this hatred wherever it is found," said Leo Terrell, assistant attorney general for civil rights. "The Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism is the first step in giving life to President Trump's renewed commitment to ending anti-Semitism in our schools."

The Times of India breaks down the most popular subjects for international students to study in the U.S.

STEM and business lead the pack. Read the full story here. (January 2025)

U.S. News & World report addresses some of the misconceptions about U.S. colleges and universities, including the difficulty of getting a visa.

Read the full story here. (January 2025)

US News & World Report details the three top factors in foreign students' decision to study in the U.S. They include research opportunities and the reputation of U.S. degrees. Read the full story here. (December 2024)

A British student who did a year abroad at Bowling Green State University in Ohio talks about adjusting to life in America in a TikTok video, Newsweek magazine reports.

Among the biggest surprises? Portion sizes, jaywalking laws and dorm room beds.

Read the full story here. (December 2024)

Harvard's T.H. Chan School of Public Health reaches out to international students by detailing the international student experience at the school.

Learn more about housing, life in Boston and more here.

China issued its first national action plan to build a "strong education nation" by 2035, which it said would help coordinate its education development, improve efficiencies in innovation and build a "strong country."

The plan, issued Sunday by the Communist Party's central committee and the State Council, aims to establish a "high quality education system" with accessibility and quality "among the best in the world."

The announcement was made after data on Friday showed China's population fell for a third consecutive year in 2024, with the number of deaths outpacing a slight increase in births, and experts cautioning that the downturn will worsen in the coming years.

High childcare and education costs have been a key factor for many young Chinese opting out of having children, at a time when many face uncertainty over their job prospects amid sluggish economic growth.

"By 2035, an education power will be built," the official Xinhua news agency said, adding that China would explore gradually expanding the scope of free education, increase "high-quality" undergraduate enrolment, expand postgraduate education, and raise the proportion of doctoral students.

The plan aims to promote "healthy growth and all-round development of students," making sure primary and secondary school students have at least two hours of physical activity daily, to effectively control the myopia, or nearsightedness, and obesity rates.

"Popularizing" mental health education and establishing a national student mental health monitoring and early warning system would also be implemented, it said.

It also aims to narrow the gap between urban and rural areas to improve the operating conditions of small-scale rural schools and improve the care system for children with disabilities and those belonging to agricultural migrant populations.

The plan also aims to steadily increase the supply of kindergarten places and the accessibility of preschool education.

The Open Notebook, a site focusing on educating journalists who cover science, has complied a list of U.S. graduate program financial aid information for international students.

Read it here.