10 iPhone Apps to Get You Back to School

Aug. 26, 2010— -- As August nights get cooler, we begin begrudgingly counting down the remaining summer days. Once Labor Day passes, it's back to school time for millions.

The best part of going back to school is clearly the shopping. Even though a new notebook can go a long way in preparing you for the new year, the iPhone also has a ton of apps that will help to get you organized and in the right mind-space to focus and learn.

Last year we brought you 10 awesome applications and now we are updating and adding to that list, ensuring you have a smooth transition when returning to those hallowed halls.

From the college-bound to those who are still lucky enough to enjoy recess, here is a list of the best back to school apps.

1. Open Culture

Going back to school can be a shock to the system. You've probably spent the last few months relaxing, hanging out with friends, or transitioning from summer job mode. Hours of classes, papers and assignments can be rough, so to get yourself in a more intellectual space, you can check out Open Culture, which gives you free access to a huge selection of educational and intellectual audio and video collections.

Because acing school often has to do with time management, this app can really help you out in the multitasking department. Choose from a decent list of classics available as audio books while you do your laundry or hit the gym. The "Ideas and Culture" option has a lengthy list of podcasts and radio shows that will tune you into some striking commentary and analysis from some of today's most interesting thinkers. There is also access to free university lectures plus foreign language lessons and scientific tutorials; as if you didn't have enough to deal with.

2. Mental Case

Those first tests are but a few weeks away, and it's up to you to make studying for them as easy as possible. For $4.99, Mental Case lets you create oh-so-handy flashcards on your iPhone. If you're still leaning toward making them out of paper, then the added bonus of being able to record audio and insert images to the cards may sway your thoughts.

In addition to making your own custom flashcards, you also have access to FlashcardExchange where you can choose from over 21 million cards on a huge range of topics.

If you'd rather not spend all your time studying from your phone, you can download the flash cards to your computer.