20 Websites Every College Student Needs In Their Life

From budgeting to homework motivation, you need these websites in your life.

So maybe last semester didn't go exactly as you had planned. You came back from summer vacation with glowing skin and all the best intentions. This was going to be the year, you said. You were going to focus on classes and get that GPA up to something Mom would be proud of. Unfortunately, good intentions only go so far. But no matter how your first semester went, a whole new semester is now upon us, which means you still have a chance to turn this school year around. But don't worry, you won't have to do it alone. Check out these websites with shortcuts, tools, and motivational tricks to help you be on top of your game this year.

1. Mint

Can't figure out where that 50 dollars in your checking account went? There's an app for that! Mint helps you track your spending, make budgets, and even check your credit. It tracks all your transactions, so you won't blow your monthly allowance at Starbucks.

2. Prezi

Terrified of public speaking? Use Prezi! The awesome graphics and professional layouts will amaze your professor so much that he won't even notice you're reading straight from your notecards.

3. The Skimm

We're getting to that point in our lives where we're expected to know what's going on in the world, but it can be overwhelming to try to surf all of the articles on news sites. The Skimm is a free daily email that summarizes all the top news stories for you with a bit of sassy humor.

4. Google Scholar

So much easier than trying to navigate all the confusing databases your school's library provides. It's just like regular Google, but it has credible sources you can use in your papers.

5. InternMatch

As much as you may try to ignore it, the fact is that we're all going to need to get a job sooner or later. And for most of us, it's sooner. Luckily, modern technology is here to pick up the slack. InternMatch allows you to find interships and entry-level jobs that match up with your interests.

6.Keep Me Out

Don't have the willpower to stay off your favorite social media sites while doing your homework? There's a website for that. No really, this site will prevent you from accessing your favorite sites for a length of time that you set.

7. Quizlet

This website saves my life weekly. They even have a mobile app now that I may or may not have on my phone. Quizlet fulfills all of your studying needs -- it has flashcards, quizzes you on terms, offers practice tests, and even has fun games to help you learn the material.

8. Student Rate

This site is your shopping BFF. It literally gives you discounts on everything from clothing to textbooks, just for being a student.

9. Alarmy

You might be able to get away with hitting snooze and skipping your lecture hall, but your future boss isn't going to appreciate you "sleeping past your alarm." If getting out of your bed isn't your thing, then this is the app for you.

10. Rate My Professor

THIS WEBSITE WILL SAVE YOUR LIFE. If you don't already use it, you're not doing college right. This site has all the details on all your future professors so you can dodge the crazies and sign up for the classes that give A's.

11. RealCalc

These days, you need a new calculator for every math class you take. Skip the expensive ones and download this app -- it does it all for you for free.

12. Wolfram-Alpha

This website has saved my ass on a multitude of occasions. It basically answers all of your homework questions for you, or will point you towards helpful resources than can help. It can even help solve your math problems, which is great if you don't remember anything from your high school math classes.

13. Written Kitten

If you ever find yourself lacking motivation to write that term paper, this website will be your savior. You set a word count, and whenever you've typed that many words, you're rewarded with a new picture of a kitten. Who says writing papers can't be fun?

14. Bibme

Seems like professors always want different citations and bibliographies for their assignments, but they never actually show you how to do them. Whether it's APA, MLA, or anything in between, Bibme helps you compile your sources in the proper format.

15. Stack Exchange

Stuck on a homework question that you just can't figure out? Stack Exchange is like the more accurate version of Yahoo Answers, with a community of experts available to answer your questions.

16. Roger Hub

Around final exam time, Roger will be your new best friend. This site can calculate what you need on your final exam to get a certain grade, whether your professor uses points, weighting, or percentages. It can even help you figure things out when your lowest grade is dropped

17. UStream

If you're feeling down, this website is guaranteed to cheer you up. It streams live videos of all kinds of cute animals.

18. SkyDrive

Group projects are unavoidable in college. But with SkyDrive, there's no need to battle everyone's schedules to arrange a meeting time. SkyDrive allows everyone to upload and work on the project whenever is convenient, and it works much better than Google Docs.

19. TED.com

Ted Talks are awesome. You can watch them to procrastinate, to get ideas for your next paper, or even to use as a reference source. They cover a wide range of topics, and explain complicated topics in a way that's easy for anyone to understand.

20. Amazon Student

With a student email, you get six months of Amazon Prime for free! Which means free two-day shipping, cheap textbook rentals, and discounts on anything from electronics to clothing. You can also earn $5 for each friend you refer, and they'll get $5 credit as well.