Best Free iPhone Applications for College Students

Apple’s slogan, “There’s an app for that” is nothing short of the truth.. In fact, sometimes I feel like there may even be too many apps floating around out there. It’s become a challenge to sift through the millions of programs to find the certain few I want resting on my dashboard, ready to use at anytime. I thought I’d share my favorite applications with other college students to spread the word about great apps that they too can fall in love with. Oh yeah, and all these application are free to download!

Shazzam

Have you ever heard a song on the radio and wondered who sings it or what the title is? This application is an extremely easy way to discover more about music. All you have to do is hold the phone up to a speaker that is playing a great song and the application identifies the track for you. You can then either buy the song straight from the phone or go home and download it illegally… But that’s not all – Shazzam allows you look at the lyrics, find out the band’s tour information, and even sinks the song up to your Pandora account.

TOMS Takes It to the Next Level

TOMS has made quite a mark on the fashion world, especially since their shoes aren’t in the vein of sky-high heels or understatedly chic ballet slippers. Instead, TOMS shoes were built on the good intentions of others.

Here’s a quick background story about the company: TOMS was founded in 2006 by traveler Blake Mycoskie. He spent time in Argentina with a group of children who were too poor to afford any protection for their feet, leaving them exposed to disease and germs. With these memories in mind, Mycoskie went on to create the TOMS brand, which promises to give a pair of shoes to someone in need when a customer purchases any TOMS shoes. This campaign, known as “One for One,” is putting a greater meaning into buying fashionable shoes—in September 2010, the company donated its millionth pair—so how could it get any better?

Nerdiest Colleges in America

Nerds rule the world! Think about it: tons of the most influential and wealthy people in America like Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, and Warren Buffett are total nerds. You may think brainiacs are all in skyscrapers planning the next big break in technology, but did you know that there are college campuses where the average student is as comfortable talking about quantum physics as the newest Lady Gaga hit? Here are America’s classic nerd schools. Enjoy!

Massachusetts Institue of Technology

MIT students in an Intro to Robotics class had to build robotic arms and accompanying software for their final.

Known as “A Nerd’s Paradise”, there’s no way MIT couldn’t be at the top of this list. Tons of famous nerds went there: Ford Motor honcho William Ford, the guys from “Car Talk” on NPR, 30 astronauts, and 59 Nobel laureates. I mean heck, the World Wide Web was even invented in an MIT lab! This self-proclaimed “nerd reservation” is a place where nerdiness (or love of knowledge, whatever you want to call it) is incredibly unifying. The most popular clubs and societies on campus are computer or technology related. Take, for example, the MITERS (MIT Electronic Research Society), which exists for the sole purpose of creating and building neat stuff out of old materials. Wondering what MIT students do for fun during their downtime? Well, an MIT student’s idea of fun is cramming a semester’s worth of work into three days during the MIT Mystery Hunt, one of the most highly anticipated events of the year. The Mystery Hunt is a competition to see which team can solve a mega-complex puzzle first. After 72 hours of sleepless nights and code-cracking, the winning team gets honored with a prize: more work! They get to spend months devising next year’s hunt. Countless firms and mega companies have been founded by MIT grads. There’s no doubt in my mind that whatever the current students at MIT are fixated on at the moment will change all of our lives again soon.

Five Summer Music Festivals You Shouldn’t Miss

It time for you to schedule your first vacation from your summer job because summer music festivals are just around the corner. These festivals are jammed packed with all of your favorite artists and the best part is that they are happening all across the country. So whether you are in the North East, Midwest or on the West Coast, you can be sure there is a music festival happening near you. Take a look below at five of the biggest festivals happening in the upcoming months and take our advice when we say you don’t want to miss out on these!

Summerfest

June 29 – August 10 in Milwaukee, WI

As one of the biggest summer music festivals in the country, Summerfest is eleven days long. That is right ELEVEN. Each day features several headlining performers so you are almost guaranteed to see at least one of your favorite artists performing at this festival . Everyone from Matisyahu to Britney Spears and Nicki Minaj will be performing in Milwaukee so you should check out the full line up on the Summerfest website. Set along the banks of Lake Michigan and with over ten stages, the only problem you will have at this music festival is attending all your favorite performers.

Summer Trend: Statement Wedges

One of the summers biggest trend is the wedge sandal, and I could not be happier. Not only are they more comfortable than your average heel, wedges can be worn with almost any summer outfit. Because wedges come in so many heights, colors, styles and patterns, you can wear the shoe to a causal lunch or a fancy dinner. Wedges are a super easy way to add some flavor and spice up an outfit!

I am a huge fan of wearing heels, which I rarely throw on unless it is a special occasion. Wedges are an exception, I can put on a simple pair of wedges and not feel over dressed, or uncomfortable. Because the heel of the shoe supports the entire foot, I can wear them for a much longer time period without feeling like my foot is about to fall off.

From the catwalk to celebrities, to the average chica, wedges are everywhere this season!

America’s Best Cities to Find a Job 2011

Unemployment rates continue to skyrocket in most parts of America. Recent college grads with no ties to any particular location often search for jobs in big cities like Los Angeles, New York City, or Chicago. But are these the places where they’re most likely to land a job?

The answer is no. LA, New York City, and Chicago have some of the highest unemployment rates in the country. If the current job market has you down in the dumps, cheer up! There are some places that are actually hiring, but landing a job these days may require you to relocate. I’ve found several cities around the US that have managed to maintain sizeable job growth and low unemployment rates despite the bleak job market. Find out where you should be looking for your next job.

Salt Lake City, Utah

Unemployment Rate: 4.8%

Average salary: $40,610

Largest employers: The University of Utah, Intermountain Healthcare, and the Utah state government.

Salt Lake city boasts jaw-dropping scenery and is rich in natural resources, including one of the largest copper mines in the world. It is also the site of the 2002 Winter Olympics.

Eat Healthy at Fast Food Restaurants This Summer

Summer break is a great opportunity for college students to get their healthy eating habits back on track and possibly lose their “Freshman Fifteen”! However, it is definitely likely that you will be going out to dinner or stopping by fast food restaurants more in the summer than you would during the school year.

Declining dinner invitations and watching hungrily as your friends chow down on McDonald’s no longer has to happen with these tools and tips for healthy eating at restaurants and fast food stops!

Warning: Sometimes the items on the menu that you think are the healthiest, such as Chicken Sandwiches or Salads, turn out to be the choices with the highest fat or calorie counts. Many fast food restaurants’ salads include full fat dressing, full fat cheese, and other add-ins that skyrocket the calorie and fat levels. Don’t be fooled by fake “healthy choices”!

Relaxing Reads for Summertime

It’s officially summertime. Nothing is better than those first few nice days in June—the ones that fully acquaint us with the best weather of the year. My favorite thing about summer is relaxing. Even though I, like most undergrads, work often during the summer, it’s great to have free nights and weekends that aren’t dedicated to studying, homework and meetings. My favorite thing to do in the summer is hang out at a beach, park or pool and indulge in a book.

Here’s a list and quick description of a few books to put in your beach bag this summer. Some are sad, some are dramatic and some are hilarious—but all of them are page-turning reads perfect for June, July and August.

• Bossypants, Tina Fey: I went abroad this past semester and was beyond disappointed that I couldn’t read this the day it came out. Well, these feelings were completely justified. The comedian (and the brains behind Mean Girls) is just as hilarious in print—my personal favorite story is about how bizarre it is to go to a photo shoot as a “celebrity.” She also adds some surprisingly touching moments as well as some of her famous Sarah Palin dialogue.

A Summer Guide to the Nation’s Best Beaches and Lakes

Whether it is a day trip with friends and family or a well needed vacation from your bustling summer job, visiting a body of water on a hot summer day is always enjoyable. For countless years, traveling to a favorite beach or lake has always been the best way to relax, cool off, and to catch some rays. In honor of this long standing summer tradition, we compiled some of the best beaches and lakes across the country so that you can make the most of your summer break. Now, just don’t forget to pack that sunscreen!

Summer Essential: The Playlist

There’s nothing better than sunbathing with a glass of lemonade and a great playlist in the summertime. Whether you’re stuck in the morning commute to your internship or you’re bored of watching “The Price is Right” at home, the right playlist can always spice things up!

Buying songs on Amazon or iTunes is a great way to build your playlist and makes it easy to find any song from any genre! Don’t forget to take advantage of 4% cash back with your Edhance discount on iTunes. iTunes has several “Top Charts” lists, as well as FREE or discounted songs and albums. I love the 69 cent songs and free singles of the week!

Another great FREE way to make playlists is on Grooveshark.com with their easy search method and pre-made “Popular” playlist! Whenever I’m scrambling to put music on for friends or while hanging outside, I always turn to the default “Popular” playlist because it includes songs from different genres. With the variety, everyone will be sure to hear at least one song that they like!