Sketching, taking notes, and organizing all of your random thoughts and ideas in one easy-to-find place is a breeze with Paper (Free, iPad). This minimalistic but stylish journal app lets you create and design beautiful custom sketchbooks for scrawling to your hearts content. It's also a great way to cut down on some of that unnecessary dorm room clutter.

Prepping for midterms and quizzes can be a real drag, but Flashcards+ (Free, iPad) takes some of the sting out of cram sessions by letting you create your own custom flashcards for fast-paced studying. Once you've inputted all of test card info or downloaded pre-made decks by subject, you can easily flip through, quiz yourself, and check your answers.

If you're looking to expand your knowledge outside of your current course load or hunt down research fodder for papers or projects, then iTunes U (Free, Universal) is a good spot to start looking. This killer resource is jam-packed with free college courses, podcasts, and videos on a wide range of subjects from tons of top-tier schools.

We don't necessarily recommend using Wikipedia as a citation without cross-checking info against reputable sources, but it can certainly be very useful for gleaning a quick bit of info on a subject to jump-start your research. Wikipanion (Free, Universal) is a well-made app that puts Wikipedia at your fingertips in an intuitive interface.

A healthy social life can be just as important as being studiousness, and it's important to get out and have some fun. When you're looking to find a good bar, dance club, or restaurant to unwind at, Yelp (Free, Universal) is hands-down the app of choice. Besides searching for venues in your immediate area, Yelp's user reviews help pin down the best local hotspots.

Taking some art classes? You'll love the way ArtRage ($2.99, Universal) lets you hone your painting chops without all of the messiness that comes from dabbling in real paint. This amazing paint program simulates the feel of using real paint, and is loaded with some powerful tools for maximum creativity. It's fun to noodle around with, and useful for class too.

With a full course load, staying on top of your schedule, homework, and other appointments can be a real challenge. iHomework ($0.99, Universal) will help you stay on track and avoid missing crucial deadlines while staying organized. This all-in-one app serves as a calendar for homework assignments, courses, teachers, and important reminders.

Nobody likes to lug around a huge pile of heavy books from class to class. iBooks (Free, Universal) lets you nab digital books, including some textbooks, at a much cheaper price than you'll find at the campus bookstore -- and it also cuts way down on the strain of carrying a big load. Plus, if you keep your iPad handy, you won't ever forget a book for class again. Score!