Brightspace is a virtual classroom platform that helps students stay connected and organized throughout the semester. Students can access course materials, submit assignments, participate in discussions, check announcements, view grades, and stay up to date with deadlines all in one place. Brightspace makes it easier for students to manage their classes and communicate with professors while keeping track of their academic progress.

Degree Works is a helpful academic planning tool that allows students to track their progress toward graduation. Students can view completed credits, remaining course requirements, major and minor requirements, general education categories, and overall academic progress in one organized system. Degree Works helps students stay informed about what classes they still need and supports better course planning each semester.

Zoom is a helpful tool for students to attend virtual classes, meetings, tutoring sessions, and group projects from anywhere. It allows students to stay connected with professors, classmates, advisors, and campus resources throughout the school year. Zoom also makes collaboration more accessible by supporting screen sharing, presentations, and real-time communication for both academic and professional settings.

Canva is a highly versatile design tool that helps students create professional and creative projects for school and beyond. Students can use Canva to design presentation slides, videos, infographics, flyers, and social media graphics using easy drag-and-drop features and customizable templates. Its wide variety of formats and design options make it useful for both academic assignments and personal projects, helping students present their ideas in a more engaging and visually appealing way.

LinkedIn is an essential platform for students looking to build professional connections and prepare for their future careers. Students can use LinkedIn to create a professional profile, showcase experiences and achievements, connect with classmates, professors, recruiters, and professionals in their field of interest. Networking is important because it can lead to internships, mentorship opportunities, career advice, and future job opportunities. LinkedIn also allows students to stay informed about opportunities related to their goals.

NotebookLM is a helpful academic tool that supports students with studying, organizing information, and understanding course material more efficiently. Students can upload notes, articles, lecture slides, or research sources and use NotebookLM to summarize information, generate study guides, answer questions, and organize ideas in one place. It is especially useful for managing large amounts of information during busy semesters and can help students improve productivity. 

Eventbrite is a useful app for college students looking to discover events, activities, workshops, and opportunities both on and off campus. Students can search for events based on their interests, save events they want to attend, access digital tickets, and explore free opportunities in their area. As a freshman, Eventbrite can be especially helpful because students can filter events by category, location, and price to find free college-related events, networking opportunities, career workshops, social events, and community activities that help them get more involved and connected during their college experience.

Handshake is a career and networking platform designed specifically for college students and recent graduates. Students can use Handshake to find internships, part-time jobs, entry-level positions, and career development opportunities related to their interests and major. The platform also allows students to connect directly with recruiters, attend career fairs and workshops, and receive personalized job recommendations. Handshake is a valuable resource for students looking to gain experience, build professional connections, and prepare for their future careers while still in college.

Instagram can be a helpful tool for college students to connect with their campus community and stay updated on school life. Many colleges and student organizations use Instagram to share important announcements, event information, club opportunities, deadlines, and campus resources. By following official college pages, departments, and student groups, students can “find their college online” and stay in the loop about what’s happening on campus. Instagram also helps students discover events, get involved in activities, and feel more connected to their school community in a fun and accessible way.