The ONLY 3 Apps To Get You Through College

3 Must-Have AI Apps for College Students

Are you tired of the age-old dilemma of balancing good grades, sleep, and a social life?

College students often hear that they can only excel in two out of these three areas. But with the right AI tools, you can excel in all three! Hi, I’m Aaron, also known as Mr. Makelky if you’ve ever attended my class. As a school teacher, I help my students use AI to improve their grades without the stress. In this post, I’ll share the three essential apps that will help you breeze through college.

1. Perplexity

Why use Perplexity?

Perplexity AI is a powerful research tool. It simplifies the process of finding academic sources and formatting citations. Here's how you can get started:

• Web Browser: Search for Perplexity AI and sign in using your Google account. The free version is highly effective, offering up to five pro searches daily.
• Mobile App: Available in the app store, the interface syncs your searches between the web and mobile versions.

Features and Benefits:

• Easy Research: Copy and paste your research instructions, and Perplexity will provide scholarly sources and summaries.
• Automated Citations: Formats footnotes and work cited pages effortlessly.
• Content Summarization: Summarize YouTube videos and other digital content.

2. Microsoft Copilot

Why use Microsoft Copilot?

Microsoft Copilot is a versatile AI tool, akin to a Swiss Army knife. From brainstorming to study sessions, and even generating images, it has got you covered.

Features and Benefits:

• Widespread Accessibility: It's rarely blocked by school filters, unlike other AI tools.
• Creative Flexibility: Adjust the creativity in its responses with simple slider controls.
• Pre-Made Models: Features pre-made models for art, fitness, meal planning, and more.
• Follow-Up Questions: AI suggests follow-up questions to facilitate deeper learning.
• Image Generation: Comparable to paid services, it’s perfect for creating artistic or design-related content.
• Notebook Mode: Offers a full-screen text interface, ideal for extensive prompts.

3. ChatGPT

Why use ChatGPT?

ChatGPT is the ultimate Swiss Army knife of AI tools. While not necessarily the best at any single task, it excels due to its extensive feature set and early access to new updates.

Features and Benefits:

• Custom GPT Library: Access hundreds of thousands of pre-made custom GPTs, designed for specific tasks such as tutoring or academic writing.
• User-Friendly Mac Integration: Available as a desktop app, it offers easy shortcuts and a seamless experience.
• Extensive Tutorials: Being the most popular AI tool, it has tons tutorials and user guides.

Special Mention: Custom GPTs

Custom GPTs on ChatGPT can drastically enhance your productivity. Tailor these models to mimic your writing style or focus on specific subjects to get relevant prompts and outputs without additional context setup. If you lack the time or expertise to create one, ask a more experienced user or reach out to me—I regularly build these for my students.

Summary

AI can be a game-changer for college students. By integrating Perplexity, Microsoft Copilot, and ChatGPT into your study routine, you can achieve good grades, sleep well, and have a social life. If you're new to AI, I recommend starting with Microsoft Copilot for its ease of use and comprehensive feature set.

Don't forget to experiment with custom GPTs if you're using ChatGPT. They can significantly boost your efficiency and match your AI use to fit your unique needs.

Let me know your thoughts or any questions you have by reaching out through my social media handles. Happy studying!