Back to School – Tech and Tools

Here at NextStepU, we know that getting your school year started off on the right foot can make or break your year. Having the wrong gear on the first day or showing up to your dorm without an alarm clock can make you feel like you’ve failed already, but these are things that can easily be worked out with a bit of preparation.

We’ve taken the guess work out of it by finding some amazing companies and products just for you!

The Phiaton: PS 20 NC earphones block out 95% of outside noise, ideal for those noisy roommates and studying in crowded areas. They feature "half in-ear” design and the “EverPlay” feature allows you to continue listening to music even when the battery runs out. Available in glossy white or glossy black.
Price: $129
Available at: Amazon, BestBuy, NewEgg

Going to class will be fun with trendy bags, totes and laptop sleeves from Carolina Pad. You know you'll have tons of books to carry to class — why not look amazing doing it?
Price: Varies by product.
Available at: BestBuy, Walmart, Meijer, Office Max and online.

Smartphones are expensive enough without having to worry about replacing one you accidentally broke. Protect your iPhone with the Pelican ProGear™ Vault case which defends against snow and rain all while being slimmer than other bulky smartphone cases. Available in Dark Grey/Red, White, Green, Purple and Black.
Price: $79.95

Clocky & Tocky are trendy looking alarm clocks that literally leap off the nightstand and roll away — making it nearly impossible to sleep through your morning class. Some of the clocks allow music, others can be altered with color tints and they are all about 3 inches high.
Price: $45-$58
Available at: www.nandahome.com/products

Safely Go by Location Labs is free app that helps drivers stay focused by locking their phone while on the road. It informs those who call or text that you are on the road by sending automatic text replies and also limits your access to apps while driving.
Available at: GooglePlay store
Price: FREE

“Say This, NOT That To Your Professor: 36 Talking Tips for College Success” is written by award-winning communication professor Ellen Bremen. The book is formatted by each "problem," so you can look in the table of contents for any sticky situation with your professor. You'll be sure to impress your professors after you learn the inside tips on how to communicate.
Available at: Amazon
Price: $15.95 or less
To read more about this book, check out NextStepU’s book review at: http://www.nextstepu.com/plan-for-college/college-life/say-this-not-that-to-your-professor.htm

Next Step Academy is an online life skills school — a place where you can go to hit the ground running with tools for a high-achieving life. You can find courses such as Paying for College, Distracted Driving, Entrepreneurship, Fitness and Understanding Credit. Once on the site, follow the link "Have a free access code? Login here" and enter code "nsa_social" to access these courses for free.
Price: $50 per year, but use the code "nsa_social" to get it free — our gift to you!

Learn That Word has custom training modules that help you to prepare for the SAT, build an academic vocabulary, or prepare for the TOEFL or IELTS exam. You can also add your own lists of words or find ready-made lists in the word list archive. Enter code "NextStepU" into the "How did you hear" field at registration or checkout and you'll get a 10% discount on premium features.
Price: Free for most features. Premium membership offers vary from $2.49 to $9.50 per month.

> Visit blog.nextstepu.com to see the infographics for these products. Join in on our Freebie Friday giveaways and you could win prizes from Pelican ProGear and Carolina Pad.