Did you realize that having an email address with an EDU extension can be useful for you as a college student? By signing up with your school email address, you can obtain access to thousands of dollars worth of original software at no cost, saving you over a grand.

In a nutshell, EDU Email is a service provided by universities in collaboration with major companies that offer great support to students from around the world in various fields by giving some discounts that the student can quickly obtain after registering on their websites with their university email.

• Try out some popular applications and shopping sites to find some discounts. Some online organizations offer no-cost enrollment in their training programs. As a student, you can use your university email as your official email address on your resume.

• Research Gate, which is a bit like LinkedIn, allows students to network with experts in a wide range of subjects all over the world. Regardless of your area of interest, there will always be someone who shares your area of expertise and can help you out.

• The “Autodesk” software suite, including AutoCAD, 3D Studio Max, and other graphic design programs, is available for download.

• The “Prezi” website offers an educational tool called “Prezi for Education,” which may be used to create and deliver presentations.

• Get useful software and apps from the GitHub repository.

• Benefit from Amazon’s offerings, such as the 50% off Amazon Prime membership.

• The “JetBrains” website offers free software valued at over $300 to those pursuing a career in the field of programming.

• The New York Times and the Washington Post, among others, both feature substantial student-oriented content.

• Use your EDU email address for discounted cell phone plans from Apple, Samsung, and Best Buy. As the last recommendation, check out UNiDAYS, a fantastic app that offers exclusive deals to students.

Written by Arwa A. Mohsinah (amohsinah@albany.edu)