As a college student, I’m always trying to think of new ways to stay on top of my school work. I’d be lying if I said that, while studying for a difficult test, I didn’t sometimes think, “I can’t wait till I graduate and don’t have to deal with this anymore.” But you know what? Somebody once reminded me that education doesn’t end once you graduate: “You’re always taking tests, no matter how old you are.” And while that may seem like a bit of an exaggeration at first, it’s also kind of hard to deny.

Whether it’s an 8^th grade Spanish test, the MCATs, or a job-related aptitude test, it seems as though we are always doomed to be faced with some sort of examination in life. But don’t fret. There is light at the end of the tunnel – and in the form of an iPhone application no less!

StudyBlue is an awesome online service with an accompanying iPhone app. Basically, it allows you to create virtual flashcards and take notes that are all stored “in the cloud.” What’s more, you can upload anything from text to video and audio. The website can then test you with flashcards as well as quizzes based on the info you provided.

What sets this website apart from the other study aids out there is the fact that all your notes and flashcards are accessible on your iPhone. This is really cool because most people have their handsets on them all the time, but I don’t know very many people who carry a stack of flash cards with them wherever they go. (Not that I’d hang out with anyone who would. Just joking. Kind of.)

The fact that this app is easy to use and accessible anytime, anywhere is incredibly handy. I could see it benefitting all sorts of people, but for students, this is really an indispensable tool. StudyBlue has literally saved my butt on more than one occasion.

Just last semester, I had the misfortune of taking an art history course. No offense to any art buffs out there — I’m sure this subject has its place, but it just isn’t for me. (To top it off, my professor was the sort who always smiled in a never-quite-happy kind of way… like when a doctor approaches you for a shot. You know he’s trying to be reassuring when he flashes you a smile, but it just comes off creepy — like a crazy, needle-wielding maniac. Yea, it was that bad.) So you might think that the combo of that coursework and this prof would be a recipe for failure. Not so! I used StudyBlue to make tons of flashcards with art paintings on one side and the info on the other. It saved a lot of time, even more paper, and my sanity as well, since it got me through the class.

One of the greatest things about iOS, in my opinion, is how versatile it is. Two people can have the same exact phone and easily use it for completely different purposes.

My iPhone is loaded with games and social networking apps, but my dad’s is all about business (Bloomberg app, stocks app, etc). Thanks to the App Store, the iPhone can really be whatever you want it to be. When most people hear the word “iPhone,” the first thing that comes to mind isn’t usually “academia.” But with StudyBlue, I can transform my phone from an angry-birding-twittering-shazaming machine to a really useful study tool.

This app is definitely a big help for anyone who needs to familiarize themselves with new terms or other curricula. If you’re interested in StudyBlue, you can get more info on it by hitting up the website here or the app in the App Store here. (And if this is not interesting to you, you’ll be pleased to know this article is almost over, lol.)

Thanks for reading this far. You know, I’ve been vlogging for TiP for a while now, and now I’m looking forward to stretching my writing muscles too in these periodic iUniversity segments. (Don’t worry, the articles will not all be about education. These will be geared toward college students or anyone else who’s learning how to navigate stuff like heavy deadlines, studying/training, living alongside others and how to go out and have fun without blowing your morning classes/meetings — you know, the important stuff.)

So if you have any comments or suggestions about this or future articles, definitely let me know in the comments section below.

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