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As millions of college students prepare to head back to school, parents are arming their undergraduates with all the supplies they need to start the year off on the right foot. In addition to textbooks and an extensive supply of Ramen noodles, this year parents will want to add some new supplies to the list that they won’t find at the store.
“Getting ready for college used to mean signing up for a calling card, stocking up on dorm room necessities and buying the required books at the campus book store,” says James Coch, new business development marketing manager for MWV, the leading manufacturer of school supplies such as Mead and Five Star. “Today’s reliance on all things tech means more and more Internet services are available to help with the transition to college.”
There are dozens of inexpensive and easy-to-use Internet services that will help students with everything from homework and scholarships to communication and entertainment. Among some of the most popular must-haves for the coming school year:
Skype: Now they will have no excuse not to call home no matter where they go to school! Skype (www.skype.com) is an online application that allows subscribers to use the computer to make free phone calls to other Skype accounts around the globe or to make inexpensive calls to cell phones or landlines. Monthly subscriptions or pre-paid credits are available for easy payment.
Mead Map: One of the most important transitions from high school to college is managing the demands of coursework and figuring out the best note taking, and studying systems. Mead Map (www.meadmap.com) helps smooth that transition through an innovative, easy-to-use platform that is redefining the way students take notes and manage group projects. Mead Map allows users to instantly access their notes, research and group projects from any computer with an Internet connection – no downloads required. Plus, it allows for real-time updates and collaborations, perfect for group projects. Mead Map subscriptions are just $15 for six months or $25 for a year. The free 30-day trial is perfect for testing the service out on your first big college assignment.
Snapfish or Webshots: These photo-sharing services are a great way for college students to keep in touch with family and friends. Utilizing Snapfish (www.snapfish.com), users can share and store their photos for free and create prints and personalized photo gifts online. In addition, Webshots (www.webshots.com) helps students share photos, videos and slideshows. Both services allow friends and family members to order prints.
CollegeNET: Current or future college students can win scholarships just for voicing their opinions on this free Web forum (www.collegenet.com). Just create a profile, pick a topic and voice your opinion. If you earn the most voting points you can win one of several monthly scholarships.
Organize.com: Still in need of some dorm room necessities? College students can create a dorm registry at www.organize.com and then share their wish list with family and friends. Students can choose from bath solutions to desk products and everything in between. Registering is quick and easy, and shoppers can arrange to have products delivered directly to the dorm as students arrive on campus.
In addition to these resources, there are countless other helpful services available to college students online. Do some advance preparation via the World Wide Web this year. Just be sure you send students off to school with a list of user names and passwords.
- Courtesy of StatePoint Media
