By Emma Martin, Student at Ithaca College

It’s always unfortunate that as the weather gets warmer, our backpacks do not get lighter. Spring is so close you can almost taste it, but that does not mean professors will be easing up for the end of the term.

Time to attempt to avoid spring fever! Rather than getting caught texting during class (and receiving the all-knowing "I’m Disappointed in You" scowl), download some applications to your smartphone to help you get through the end of the semester. Plus, it’s time for us to prove to all the technology haters that our cellphones are actually capable of making us more productive!

1. Sleep Cycle

This one has been heavily recommended to me by several friends, and I think it’s time for me to give it a go! This alarm clock claims to track your nightly phases by monitoring your movements in bed. Utilizing a 30-minute window set by you, the clock will wake you up when you’re in your lightest phase, allowing you to ease into the long day ahead. An alarm clock is essential when you’re a college kid trying to make it to an 8 a.m. class, so this simple application seems like the ultimate solution to the morning blues.

2. Dropbox

Transform your smartphone into a USB drive! Download your PDFs, movies or pictures directly to your phone. This is a GENIUS idea — my inbox is cluttered with countless files I’ve sent to myself. This option will eliminate that issue all together, and you never have to worry about accidentally not attaching the file or having too large of a file.

3. Dictionary

This may not be the most exciting app offered to the world, but it is crucial to have. If you hear a word you don’t know, look it up. If you’re not sure how to spell something, check it. Don’t make yourself look like incompetent at your internship or during a conversation with a professor.

4. iStudiezPro

This is the ultimate calendar for planning freaks like me. It keeps track of your homework assignments and daily schedule, and you can even track grades and GPA. Just sync the application between your phone and computer super easily for ultimate productivity. Did I mention everything can be color coded? Oh, the possibilities …

5. Amazon Student

This application will save you money! Simply scan a barcode to find a sell-back rate or compare prices elsewhere. Next time you find yourself in the campus bookstore, grab your phone and see how much you can save online and then purchase the book with a single click. And be sure to check your current book’s optimum return price when summertime rolls around. That extra change will be worth it!

And of course, don’t forget to download SnapChat for fun study breaks and Pandora or Spotify to create the ultimate homework playlist. Happy app-ing!

Image from the Apple Store