Connected College Life Infographic

Connected College Life Infographic

Asurion, the connected life services company, recently surveyed more than 1,000 students heading to colleges and universities across the nation to determine how they use their electronic devices while at college. The Asurion Connected College Life survey revealed that from laptops and tablets to cell phones and headphones, tech dominates college life, both on and off campus.

"College is often the first time students move away from home and are expected to be responsible for themselves and their personal technology without their parents looking over their shoulders," said Bettie Colombo, Asurion spokesperson. "Our Connected College Life survey has generated insights into how this new independence is helping to shape the ways students use and think about their technology both in and out of the classroom."

Key insights from the Asurion Connected College Life survey

Paying Attention in Class?: Nearly half (47 percent) of college students have ordered food while in class. Seven out of 10 college students (70 percent) have shopped online during lectures, and more than half (57 percent) have taken a selfie.

The New 'Dog Ate My Homework': Laptops, tablets and phones have become a vital component of student life and college studies. In fact, missing and broken computers, tablets and mobile phones are the new "dog ate my homework" excuse. One-third (33 percent) of college students report missing a class or college deadline because the electronic device they use for studies was lost or broken. Further, 15 percent of college students report lying that their computer or laptop was missing or broken to get out of a college deadline.

College Students Rarely Call: For all the time spent on their cell phones, one-third of college students say they never make calls. Instead, much of the time college students spend on their cell phones is focused on texting (20 percent), socializing on networking sites (17 percent), browsing the internet (12 percent) and listening to music (11 percent). While nine out of 10 college students prefer to hang out with their friends face-to-face versus connecting with them online, technology still rules their communication habits.