8 Study Apps for College-Bound Teens

Instead of study apps, let’s call these “eight college apps to help you get merit-aid scholarships”. Improving your GPA is the best way to qualify for merit aid, and the best way to improve your GPA is to study.

Here are eight study apps that should help you win merit-aid scholarships:

1. Quizlet

Offering a wide array of subjects, different study modes and a variety of test prep resources, Quizlet allows students to sign up and utilize its study tools free of charge. Students rave about the ease of using the app and the site, along with the awesome tools that Quizlet offers.

2. DuoLingo

This popular app uses gamification to make learning languages enjoyable — whether it's French, Spanish, or High Valyrian. DuoLingo uses bite-sized lessons, interactive exercises, and elements like points, badges, and leaderboards to engage and motivate. It's a great tool to supplement classroom learning or embark on a new language learning adventure entirely.

3. iStudiez Pro

Easily navigate the overwhelming aspects of student life by tracking your schedule, daily tasks, and upcoming assignments and deadlines. You can also track your grades and calculate your projected GPA for current and past semesters using a variety of grading scales. In addition, you can backup any data you enter by sending it directly to your email or by syncing to your other iOS devices.

4. Open Study

Free tutoring? Who doesn’t love that? Open Study launched a mobile app in May 2012 that gives students access to study assistance, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, gratis. Students can work together or get the help of a volunteer “hero” to solve challenging homework problems and complete assignments.

5. ExamTime

ExamTime allows you to create online Mind Maps, Flashcards, Online Notes and Quizzes. All of these online study tools are designed to help you improve your learning and prepare for exams. ExamTime also has a whole bunch of other tools such as Study Groups, Private Messaging, Online Calendar and Study Planner. ExamTime is a web-app, which means you can access it via the browser on your phone or mobile device. It is optimized for all types of touch devices and is easy and quick to access.

6. Forest

While technically not a study app, Forest is a unique productivity app designed to help you combat distractions and cultivate focus during study sessions. The app employs a gamified approach that fosters a sense of accomplishment and motivates you to stay on task. You set a timer and plant a virtual seed. The more you focus on the task at hand (and ignore your phone), the more the seed grows, eventually blossoming into a beautiful tree. You can also use the app to whitelist messaging or calls to ensure you don't miss important notifications while you're focused on studying.

7. TED-ed

TED-Ed is a captivating YouTube channel and educational resource known for its innovative approach to knowledge exploration. They create short, animated lessons that explain complex subjects in a clear, engaging, and visually stunning way.

8. Brainscape

Brainscape is a powerful flashcard app that takes memorization to the next level. Unlike traditional flashcards, Brainscape utilizes a scientifically proven method called spaced repetition. This algorithm optimizes your study schedule by strategically spacing out reviews based on your individual learning pace. The result? Stronger recall and less time wasted on cramming.

For students headed to college, grades are everything. And good study habits in high school will carry over into college.