6 Websites I Wish I Knew About in College

Let’s set the scene: it’s 2 AM, you’ve got a midterm tomorrow, a paper due in six hours, and your resume still looks like it was made in 2016. You’re Googling “how to stop procrastinating” while downing a questionable amount of iced coffee.

Been there. Survived that. Barely.

College is chaotic enough without trying to figure everything out on your own. So here’s a list of websites I seriously wish someone had told me about earlier - the ones that make studying, job hunting, organizing your life, and staying sane actually doable.

1️⃣ Pomofocus: For When You Can't Stop Scrolling but Still Have a Paper Due

If you’ve ever stared at your laptop for 45 minutes “getting ready to start,” this one’s for you. Pomofocus uses the Pomodoro technique (work for 25 mins, break for 5) to trick your brain into being productive. It’s like a timer... but with ✨vibes✨.

You can customize tasks, track your sessions, and actually see your progress (which makes it oddly satisfying). Plus, watching that little red timer tick down is lowkey motivational in a “let’s-get-this-over-with” kind of way.

Use it when:

• You have a paper due at midnight

• You need to read 37 pages of dense econ text

• You’ve been “cleaning your room” for 3 hours but haven’t touched a single sock

2️⃣ Home From College: The Hidden Gem for Paid Gigs and Career Advice

This one? Criminally underrated. Home From College is your one-stop scroll for paid GIGs, career inspo, and life advice AND actually useful blogs on resumes, interviews, and figuring out WTF to do with your life.

Their GIG board has jobs that don’t require 3 years of experience and a LinkedIn following. And their resource section? Gold mine. Think: templates, checklists, and tips written like your cool older cousin who just graduated.

Use it when:

• You need $$$ but also need something flexible

• You’re building your resume from scratch

• You want career tips without corporate jargon
  

3️⃣ Notion: The Planner App That Finally Made Me Organized 

Think of Notion as your digital brain. It’s a mix of planner, to-do list, habit tracker, and mood board. You can build pages for literally anything: class notes, job apps, meal plans, study schedules, side hustle ideas...

If you like aesthetic productivity (and who doesn’t), this is your holy grail.

Pro tip: Look up Notion templates for students - someone already did the hard part for you.

Use it when:

• Your Google Drive looks like a tornado

• You keep forgetting deadlines (same)

• You want to feel like a boss in control of their life

4️⃣ Quizlet: Still Elite, Still Saving Grades

You probably already know this one, but if you're not fully using it — you're missing out. Quizlet is the GOAT for flashcards, especially when you're cramming for that gen ed you forgot you were taking.

Even better? Most of your classmates have already made flashcard sets for your exact class. Just search the course code and boom — free study guide.

Use it when:

• You have to memorize 150 bio terms in two days

• You're bored of your own notes

• You need to pass a quiz you definitely didn’t read for
  

5️⃣ Google Scholar: Because Regular Google Isn’t Citing Sources for You

Your professors will love this one — and so will your GPA. Google Scholar is a search engine just for academic stuff: journal articles, theses, legit research papers — basically the stuff your profs want you to reference instead of BuzzFeed quizzes.

Bonus: It auto-generates citations in MLA/APA, so you don’t have to scroll through Purdue OWL at 3 AM again.

Use it when:

• You’re writing a research paper

• You need sources that sound smart

• You want to stop paying for JSTOR (you never had to, btw)

6️⃣ TED: For When You’re Spiraling and Need a Dose of “Main Character Energy”

Look, sometimes you don’t need another study tool or job board — you just need a 10-minute video to remind you you’re not a complete mess. That’s where TED (yes, the “Ideas Worth Spreading” people) comes in.

TED Talks cover everything from mental health and motivation to productivity hacks and how to stop procrastinating without deleting TikTok. Whether you’re in a quarter-life crisis or just need a little background inspo while folding laundry, there’s a talk for that.

✨ Bonus: Some of these talks are the exact kind of “I’m so well-rounded and self-aware” content professors love when you quote in essays or presentations.

Use it when:

• You need a pep talk but your friends are all busy

• You’re thinking “what am I even doing with my life?”

• You want to feel intellectual while avoiding your real to-do list

Some faves to start with:

• Inside the Mind of a Master Procrastinator (Relatable™)

• The Power of Vulnerability (Will make you feel things)

• Your Body Language May Shape Who You Are (Lowkey changes how you give presentations)
  

Final Thoughts: Save These Now, Thank Yourself Later

College doesn’t come with a manual — but it should come with a list of websites like this. These tools won’t solve everything (you still have to go to class, sorry), but they will make the chaos a little more manageable.

So do your future self a favor: bookmark a few, set up an account, and start using them before finals week hits. Your brain, your GPA, and your future paycheck will thank you.