Netted | 14 must-have back-to-school apps

Ah, college. What’s better than spending your days playing club frisbee and your nights reciting Nietzsche as your own original thoughts.

Whether you’re majoring in theater tech or getting a PhD in Microbiology, navigating university and campus life has its challenges. But these tools should make studying, and managing time and expenses, a bit easier.

Flip through our Ultimate Guide for Students for 14 apps and services to check out before heading off to school this fall. (Jump to the full guide.)

That part-time job at the campus coffee shop probably isn't going to float your textbook expenses. Use Chegg's textbook rental service for up to 90 percent off bookstore prices. Plus, you can forget the hassle of selling back at the end of the semester.

No. 1 rule: Don’t get caught at school without your books… or your Rosetta Stone app. Ace your language classes with Rosetta Stone’s intuitive lessons, speech-recognition technology, and more. With access to 24 languages and downloadable lessons in your pocket, you’ll skip right to the head of the class.

In terms of life decisions, choosing a college is up there with getting married and deciding on a breakfast sandwich. Stay informed with The College Scorecard, a search engine from the US Department of Education. It lets you input your preferences and gives you a list of schools that match them.

Freshman year of college makes high school look like puppet show day in kindergarten. Yeah, turns out you do need to study. Socratic (iOS) is your go-to when you’re stumped: Just snap a photo of your homework question, and it’ll break down key terms, explain concepts with videos, and scan the web for answers.

College students might be broke, but there's more cheap food out there than ramen in a cup: Check RoverTown to see where you can score student discounts at local retailers and restaurants, and online, by showing your ID. You can still eat ramen, though, if that’s your thing.