can you write college papers on ipad

Pages for iPad supports headers, footnotes, numbering, etc. Pages for iPad is very advanced in what you can use it to create. This link shows some features

http://help.apple.com/pages/ipad/1.6.2/#tan72488da0

I've used this app to write tons of papers, case studies and lab reports. There are other apps available in the App Store for the people that refuse to give up microsoft's way of life.

If you have a word processing app, sure. and may/may not need a keyboard (depends on how well you type on the on screen keyboard.

I use documents to go but there are plenty of other word processing apps out there

You can but it would be slow using the on-screen keyboard. Much easier if you get a bluetooth wireless connected keyboard. Then you would have to be able to print from the iPad, or transfer the file to your computer.

 Cheers, Tom 😉

jr9618, you can definitely write papers using the iPad. I use Apple's Pages app. If you are a student, say goodbye to lugging your laptop to class, the iPad does it all. If you are accustomed to typing on the iPad, a keyboard won't be necessary. I have had an iPad since the iPad 1st gen, you get used to typing on the screen and your speed picks up. I stopped using my Apple bluetooth keyboard long ago. Enjoy!

I think the answer depends on the type of papers you need to write. There are a variety of word processing apps but most do not support footnotes, end notes, the easy creation of indexes or complex formatting like chapters and subsections. For complex formatting you'll need to use a computer.