10 Student-Created Solutions to Build a Better NYU
Recently, NYU’s finest techies got together for the Create a Better NYU Hackathon. The challenge? To develop an app in one day that would help create a better NYU student experience. Although only one group could be declared the winner, we can guarantee they all had incredible ideas — you can see for yourself!
1. Studor, Hackathon Winner, matches NYU students with tutors quickly and effectively. It works with the existing University Learning Center by collecting NYU’s tutors information into handy profiles and allowing students to schedule appointments. There’s even an option to add a meeting to your Google Calendar so that you definitely won’t forget.
2. Engaging_AR, Creativity Award recipient, is an interactive campus map that puts Google Maps to shame. The app uses your camera to find campus locations around you in any direction you point, and helps you find them super easily. Cute bonus: the Bobcat acts as your guide!
3. Emerging Solutions, Impact Award recipient, allows students to submit issues or concerns within the University, like a broken printer. Other students can upvote the problems they’ve also encountered so that they can be fixed more quickly. The app quite literally helps create a better NYU, and that’s what this is all about.
4. 5 Swipe Bob, Utility Award recipient, is a platform where you can check every course option available in your major. No need to sort through multiple websites or meet with your advisor to find out what you can take for those four elective credits — Bob’s got your back.
5. Facebook Event Aggregator groups all of your NYU events together in a practical and helpful way. You can add and sort them based on groups or area of interest. In a campus where so much is going on all the time, it’s nice to track all your options so you won't miss out! #FOMO
6. CreateNYU is a platform for creative collaboration between students and alumni. Have a class project that requires web design skills you don’t have? Post it, tag it, and find yourself a helper just like that! You can also browse through available projects to return the favor and put your skills to good use.
7. Project Finder is a chat-like platform where you can submit an idea and see who’s interested in making it a reality. This is a great way to allow the NYU entrepreneurial spirit to flourish and spread!
8. DestinyU tells you how crowded campus facilities are, based on what students are saying. Ever endlessly circled around Bobst trying to find a study spot? Or gone to a dining hall only to find it unexpectedly full? Or didn’t go to the gym because you didn’t know if there’d be room for you (because that's the real reason...)? DestinyU solves all of that and more.
9. Check-in App is a simple way to check attendance at NYU events. Just swipe your NYU card with an event organizer and enjoy your program!
10. NYU Life Saver lets anyone in distress send out a signal to NYU students and faculty within a distance of three kilometers. It's about crowdsourcing information to help keep our community safe at all times.
