9 Apps to Help International Students Adjust to Life in the USA

 

The United States is one of the most sought after education hubs in the world, attracting students from all across the globe. Irrespective of culture, creed or nationality, students from all walks of life harbor the American dream of making it big by pursuing the degree of their choice from one of the best US universities.

While the number of international students seeking higher education in the US has increased by leaps and bounds in the last few years, the problems that they face while adjusting to life in the US is still the same. Adapting to life in a foreign university can be a daunting task as almost every international student struggles with budget issues, language problems, culture shock and many other hardships. But, thankfully, there are a few amazing apps that can make lives easier for international students in the US. Here are nine apps that every international student should have for speedy adjustment:

Google Maps

Google Maps is so popular that it needs no introduction. Whether it be it finding the shortest route to your class, cafeteria or the tourist attraction near you, Google Maps is the best way to navigate through your university or the city you’re in. Exploring a new city can be super exciting with Google Maps in your pocket.

Grammar Up

Quite a few international students struggle to talk or write in English due to a poor grasp on grammar. Grammar Up is an app devised just for students struggling with English grammar. With over 1800 multiple choice quiz questions spanning across 20 categories, learning English grammar has never been this easy.    

Line

Whether you want to stay in touch with your family or interact with your peers in college, networking is very important for an international student. Line allows you to make free voice calls and video calls as well as send free text messages to your friends and family, no matter how far they are. That’s why most international students prefer Line over mobile operators that charge a large amount for calls and messages.    

Living Social

Apart from academics, international students usually look for fun activities to do in or around the city. And if these fun social events can be enjoyed at discounted prices, then it’s like gold dust to the student community. Living Social is a great app that can help international students save money by offering them huge discounts for social events in and around the city. If you are looking for cheap concert tickets or game tickets that don’t burn a hole in your pocket, then Living Social is the app you need to check.    

Cram

Apart from grammar, the other important aspect of language learning is developing your vocabulary. And what better way to build your vocabulary than using flashcards? Cram is an amazing flashcard app that allows students to create and share flashcards, assisting you in learning new words and American slang in no time. It can also be used to review your preparation for tests on various subjects.    

Free USA Citizenship Test 2017 Practice Question

Not every international student pursuing higher education in the US has dreams of settling there and becoming a US citizen. But there are a significant number of foreign students who wish to become US citizens. Free USA Citizenship Test 2017 Practice Question is an app that tests your knowledge about the United States by conducting a quiz with questions that might be asked during the Citizenship interview.   

Evernote

A lot goes on in college. Every college student has to juggle between lectures, lab work, research, extracurriculars, and a lot more. Evernote helps you make most of your time by allowing you to take notes of important things on the go and later accessing it from any device like mobile phones, laptops, iPads, etc.   

Google Drive

Google Drive is another popular app from Google that has become a very important part of our lives. Google Drive allows students to save their work instantly in the form of a Word document, Excel sheet or PowerPoint presentation without the fear of losing the document. It also allows students to access their documents from any mobile or laptop device without the need of emailing it to yourself.   

Foodler – Food Delivery

Foodler is like a cashback card or rewards card in the world of online food ordering. This app allows you to earn points with every order you make that can later be redeemed in future orders. It is a great way to enjoy food of your choice at discounted prices.  

The apps that I have mentioned above are my personal favorites. There are plenty of apps out there that can be of great help for international students. Explore the wonderful world of apps and choose the ones that suit you the best.

 

Ethan Miller is an online ESL tutor. Apart from his passion for teaching, he loves to write and holds a degree in creative writing. When he is not teaching or working on his book, Miller loves to blog and is a huge fan of educational technology. You can follow Miller on Twitter and check out his blog.

This article was shared with us by CollegeWeekLive.