There’s just about an app for everything now. This comes in handy as balancing academics, extracurriculars and social life at the University proves hectic. Whether you’re a freshman still trying to navigate college or a senior perfecting the art of time management, The Daily Texan curated a list of must-have apps to make the Longhorn experience smoother, smarter and much more fun.

Thrive at UT

Small changes can lead to big results, and with the Thrive app, students can cultivate mindfulness, navigate challenges and strengthen friendships. UT students, counselors and faculty collaborated to create the app. Eight topic areas feature short videos of students sharing their personal experiences alongside interactive activities designed to help students better understand themselves.

Cove

UT alumnus and current staffer Johnson Dinh created Cove to simplify the way students discover events on campus with his app, allowing users to browse public events tailored to their interests. Whether users are looking for career fairs, social parties or food festivals, the app categorizes events by type, ensuring there’s something for everyone. 

LH Eats

Created by UT students for UT students, LH Eats offers real-time menus, nutrition facts and popular items at JCL, J2 and Kinsolving dining halls. Forget the hassle of logging into the dining hall website — this app puts everything Longhorns need at their fingertips, making it easier than ever to check options on the go.

Forest

Having a difficult time putting down the phone? Forest turns staying on task into a game using the Pomodoro technique. Each time students stay focused, a virtual tree grows. But, if students exit the app, the tree withers. Over time, productivity can transform into a thriving virtual forest. Plus, Forest takes things one step further — virtual coins earned in-app can be spent on planting real trees through its partnership with a tree-planting organization.

BoBo

Say goodbye to unwashed dishes and messy floors with BoBo. The app was created and staffed by UT alumni Salette Rios, Phillip Baek and Mario Hernandez, and takes the stress out of managing roommate responsibilities. Instead of relying on passive-aggressive reminders, BoBo allows users to create custom chore schedules, tracks completion and ensures tasks get distributed fairly. The app adds a fun twist with a “shared pet” system, where roommates earn rewards by completing tasks to care for a virtual pet and foster teamwork. Users can also earn points redeemable for rewards from local businesses.

My Pollen Forecast

Thanks to its varied flora and warm weather, some people call Central Texas the “Allergy Capital of the World.” Austin’s pollen counts skyrockets year-round, making allergies a constant challenge. This app helps students stay ahead with upcoming pollen forecasts. This allows users to keep a diary of symptoms to stay prepared and informed about any allergy difficulties coming their way.