Do you ever wonder what people who are constantly on their phones are doing? Here’s some insight into what innovative and helpful applications are popular among students.

It’s no surprise that Instagram, Pandora, and Netflix are all among the Apple Store’s top free apps, but students are constantly finding new apps and putting them to good use. Apps like MyVCCCD and Uber are helping students both in school and in their personal lives.

Whether it is to stay in touch with friends or stalk a trending celebrity, social media apps like Instagram have given users the opportunity to share thoughts and photos quickly and effectively.

“I love photos,” said Bethany Halstead, a 19-year-old music therapy major. “It’s a good way to keep in touch with my friends that don’t live near me.”

Some students have discovered the MyVCCCD app that has been provided by the Ventura County Community College District. This app offers several features, among them: a campus map, access to campus announcements and a student schedule.

“I used it to find my classes,” said Carly Pearlman, 18. “It’s an easy way to contact my professors.”

Pearlman also uses a study app called Quizlet where users can make flashcards and share their study material with other classmates.

“It’s useful and it’s a good studying tool,” said Pearlman. “It helped me with Spanish.”

For the caffeine junkies and foodies out there, apps like Urbanspoon and Starbucks can be very beneficial.

The free app Urbanspoon has over 20 million mobile installs, according to Google Play, and provides reviews for food establishments in the user’s area while also providing an estimated price. You can filter a search by cuisine, distance or even price range.

For those tired of standing in long coffee lines, the Starbucks app features an online order option with pick up at your desired location. The app also includes free music and app downloads each week and a store locator.

Don’t forget safe means of transportation! Students have found apps like Waze and Uber to be very helpful.

Waze is a traffic and navigation app that aids in making users’ commutes as easy as possible. The app features things like road hazards, construction and even nearby police. Through the app, users can also share their estimated time of arrival with friends.

Some people want to avoid the drive altogether and Uber has provided a great way to do that. Users can request rides and schedule a pick up location quickly and easily from their smartphones. It also provides employment opportunities for those students who meet the criteria to be an Uber driver.

Hillel Carmi, a 22-year old communication major, uses Uber as a reliable tool when she doesn’t have a ride or want to drive.

“If you’re drinking you obviously don’t want to drive,” said Carmi. “If you don’t have someone to call to pick you up, it [Uber] is always there for you.”

As most college students know, cash can be short sometimes and apps like RetailMeNot and Groupon have come to the rescue.

RetailMeNot offers a variety of different features to help its users save money. While out shopping, the app can locate stores that are having sales and also access coupons to your favorite places.

Groupon is like a virtual coupon book. It provides students with discounts to almost anything you can imagine.

Whatever you could need, there’s an app for it!