I am always salvaging the web for new and cool apps to use. However, I always keep my eye out for apps related to work or school. The Mac can use all the school related applications it can get, and I went out and rounded up the best of the best - the apps I found most useful for school.

1. iFlash (Loopware, $14.95) When it comes to making flash cards, it’s a pain. So why not virtual flash cards? iFlash lets the user create virtual flashcards, store decks, and even upload decks to their online datavase. You can visit the database and download home made decks by other users, or upload your own. iFlash, if told to, even auto-defines vocabulary words you put on the front of the flash card.

2. Soulver (Acqualia, $13.95) Let’s face it - OS X’s built in calculator isn’t that great. Introducing Soulver, a simple yet very advanced calculator. Soulver lets you do calculations in a plain text box, with the answer appearing next to the problem. It generates the answers instantly, and also auto-calculates the square root, the mean, the average, the mode, and much more.

3. Sidenote (Pierre Chatel, Free) Stickies is a great application for jotting notes and such. In time, the stickies consume your desktop, cluttering it. Sidenote is a great alternative. Sidenote is a little notepad that sits on the edge of your screen, and only appears when you move your cursor towards the screen edge. (Of course, there is an option to have it open all the time) Sidenote has the ability to store many notes, change fonts, etc. It is a nice tool for jotting down little notes, and the best part: it’s free.

4. Assignment Planner (Logan Design, $5.00) I used to use iCal for assignments, but iCal was not built for handling assignments and work. Assignment Planner is iCal for assignments. Assignment Planner allows you to jot down assignments in a calendar-style layout or a list layout. You can file assignments into categories, sort them by complete and incomplete, and insert “metadata” for the assignments, including course, textbook, and type. Assigmment Planner also comes with a Dashboard widget, allowing you to view upcoming assignments in your dashboard.

5. OmniOutliner (The Omni Group, $39.95, $69.95 for Pro version) Word used to be my primary app for outlining, until I tried out OmniOutliner. Created by The Omni Group, OmniOutliner allows the user to create good looking outlines without the hassle. Outlines can include photos, attachments, and groups. You can collapse and expand portions of the outline, and have multiple columns in the outline. This allows more information to be entered, and allows better organisation.

These five applications will allow the user to be more productive and more organised. From taking notes and making outlines, to jotting down homework assignments and solving equations, these apps will help you out.